Depshaar, which translates as "Town of Giants," is a tiny Kyrgyz village in the Jerge-Tal district of Tajikistan. The place has never really enjoyed the potential benefits from its proximity to Ismoil Somoni, the summit of the Pamir Mountains, which was known during the Soviet era as "The Peak of Communism." The village was depopulated by Stalinist deportations, and it now faces an exodus of residents to neighboring Kyrgyzstan. (Photos by Janyl Jusupjan)
Tajikistan's Dwindling 'Town Of Giants'
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Bed covers embroidered by Avaz’s wife, Dilbarkan.
The handiwork of women in Jerge-Tal is exceptional, but Dilbarkan’s daughters are not interested in learning this heritage of their ancestors.
The handiwork of women in Jerge-Tal is exceptional, but Dilbarkan’s daughters are not interested in learning this heritage of their ancestors.
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The household of Avaz.
Meals are cooked on a stove fire around the year. When electricity is provided in the evening for a few hours, villagers watch satellite TV programs from Uzbekistan and Iran. No video signals reach them from Kyrgyzstan or Tajikistan.
Meals are cooked on a stove fire around the year. When electricity is provided in the evening for a few hours, villagers watch satellite TV programs from Uzbekistan and Iran. No video signals reach them from Kyrgyzstan or Tajikistan.
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Salim, a resident of Depshaar, next to his potato cellar.
Salim was born in Shaar-Tuz in southern Tajikstan where his family was deported. In the spring of 1992, he was sent to Depshaar to build a family house. A few months later, the civil war erupted and he was forced to remain in Depshaar. One of his sisters lives in Kyrgyzstan, but his father and eight other siblings still live in Shaar-Tuz.
Salim was born in Shaar-Tuz in southern Tajikstan where his family was deported. In the spring of 1992, he was sent to Depshaar to build a family house. A few months later, the civil war erupted and he was forced to remain in Depshaar. One of his sisters lives in Kyrgyzstan, but his father and eight other siblings still live in Shaar-Tuz.
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A view of Salim's house, where he lives with his wife.
He grows potatoes and takes them to Shaar-Tuz to sell. It's an excuse to visit his family in his town of his birth. He studied in a Kyrgyz school in Shaar-Tuz and had many Uzbek friends who were also deported to the cotton plantation from the north of Tajikstan.
He grows potatoes and takes them to Shaar-Tuz to sell. It's an excuse to visit his family in his town of his birth. He studied in a Kyrgyz school in Shaar-Tuz and had many Uzbek friends who were also deported to the cotton plantation from the north of Tajikstan.