The place of Tatar Muslims from Volga in the framework of educational process in the Azerbaijan SSR in 1920s (from the Archives in the Republic of Azerbaijan)

Abstract

The article deals with the role of Muslim Tatars, which they played in the educational system of the Azerbaijan SSR. This is the first attempt to present a detailed picture of the wide range of activities as they come from various archival sources, such as opening of secondary schools and preschool institutions of Volga Tatars in Azerbaijan, the principles and routine of arranging teaching in the Tatar language as well as training the Tatar nationals to become teachers. Among the sources used to write this research paper are the materials from the State Archive of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Archives of Political Parties and Public Movements of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as some already published documents. The research has shown that the major influx of the Tatar nationals in Azerbaijan did happen in 1921–1922 mainly because of the famine in the Volga region. They refugees were provided with everything necessary: housing, work, the opportunity to learn in their native language. The problems that arose in the course of re-settlement of the Tatars were solved promptly and the whole process of their solving was controlled by the governmental bodies. The Azerbaijan communists considered the process of the Tatar adaptation as an important issue of their policy. The Tatars were continued to be educated within the framework of their national culture. The vehicle of education was the Tatar language. According to the statistical data from that period the literacy level among the Tatars was traditionally very high. To preserve it the Azerbaijani state made various efforts, including the arrangement of supply the Tatar schools with teaching aids in Tatar language. The state was interested in the high level of the public education and supported it.