Today in some countries sharp discussions on wearing hijab is taking place. At the same time, hijab is not really popular in the Caucasus. But silk headscarf (kalagai) and wool shawl are always relevant here.
In recent years it seems somebody wants to bring something foreign to the Caucasus and make its culture similar to their. And these people are not very educated. The worst thing in the policy is that it touches on sacred things, in which people of the Caucasus devotedly believe. How can one doubt in God, superiority of parents and holiness of mother?! Why do some people dare to explain us how our best half of society should dress? We are Caucasians, who preserve traditions for centuries, for whom notion of honor is penetrated by blood of ancestors and mother’s milk. We live in the society, where every person regards honor as of paramount importance, where you can die or even kill for protection of family’s honor.
Since childhood I have seen my grandmother, mother and sisters in silk headscarf, which is one of best achievements of the Caucasian craftsmen. Wars stopped when a woman threw a headscarf to the battlefield. In the land, where one is taught to be proud and daring, I heard from my grandfathers and fathers that a man should kneel in his life three times only: before God, when drinking water from a spring and before mother. Nobody has ever managed to enslave and subdue the Caucasus spiritually. The Caucasus and spiritual freedom are inseparable. Caucasians are hospitable masters of their beautiful land. We have always been free and will remain free forever. We respect all foreigners and will never teach them how to live or dress. But as masters of our home we won’t let anyone to teach us.
Ismail Agakishiyev, the head of the Scientific Information Center of the RSUH. Exclusively to VK
