On January 20th 1921 the All-Russian Central Executive Committee (the supreme legislative, executive, and controlling body of the state power of the Russian Soviet Republic) adopted a decree on the formation of the Dagestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. People in Dagestan believe that the event is crucial for all peoples of the multinational republic where dozens of ethnic groups and representatives of different religions live.
Gadzhimet Safaraliev, the chairman of the State Duma Committee on Nationalities, thinks that the most important thing is that Dagestan received statehood 95 years ago: “While Dagestan had existed since ancient times, and there was the Albanian kingdom, there were separate Khanates, principalities within the territory which we call Dagestan, although Dagestan also had a specific name, a specific area called Dagestan. Other territories were called a little differently, but now we have joined them. And for the past 95 years Dagestan has existed in these borders, in the form in which it is.”
Speaking about how much had been done before the October Revolution by the Russian Empire in Dagestan, and how much has been done in the modern period, during these 95 years, Safaraliev states that these are completely different things: “In the course of 95 years industrialization has actually been carried out. It was not even an agrarian republic; these were some areas that were taken on the Gulistan Treaty. Factories were established, actual production has been created just in these 95 years. During these 95 years the Dagestani Russian intelligentsia was created – scientists, writers. We all know Rasul Gamzatov, representing the face of Dagestan, naturally. But there are so many writers. Recently, unfortunately, the last of the Mohicans, Phazu Aliyeva, our wonderful poet, passed away. Dagestan was always distinguished by its attitude towards education, science, poetry. In Dagestan, before the revolution, somewhere in 1913-1914, I do not remember exactly, there were about 1163 schools. Yes, they were in mosques, but they were schools where children were receiving some education. Now in Dagestan there are six large state universities. Around 100,000 students study there.”
Safaraliev says that now there are three million people in the republic: “In the summer we celebrated the Day of the Constitution of Dagestan and the three-millionth child who was born in Makhachkala. This is a huge scientific and industrial potential. Unfortunately, in the previous 15-25 years it was not possible, we have lost a lot, but, nevertheless, there is serious potential for development. A special program of the socio-economic development of the Republic of Dagestan has been created. In spite of the difficult times, the sanctions and the economic crisis, the program is working. The main projects are connected with the economy, the social environment, education and health. I don’t understand the phrase ‘Dagestan is a part of Russia'. Dagestan is Russia. This is the most southern part of the Russian Federation, which is the immediate subject of the federation, which follows all federal laws.”
