Kurmanjan Datka (1811-1907) is the most famous woman leader in Kyrgyz history who was dubbed “the Queen of the Altai Mountains” in 19th century. Kurmanjan Datka was born in 1811 in a nomadic Muslim family in the Altai region, the southern Kyrgyzstan. She left her first husband breaking Kyrgyz traditions and fled back to her family. Afterward, she married with Alymbek Datka (1800-1863), a ruler of the Altai Kyrgyz tribes. After his assassination, she succeeded him as the first women leader of southern Kyrgyz tribes. She played a significant role in building diplomacy to protect her people from Russian Empire's colonization into the Kyrgyz territories. The research explores not only her life history and political career, but also contemporary consciousness about Kurmanjan Datka from three different aspects below;
1. Ethnographic analysis of uniqueness of her socio-political roles from the nomadic context
2. Oral history documentation from her direct descendants and in Osh, and the southern Kyrgyz
3. Youth conscious and influences about her in contemporary Kyrgyz society
Then, the research tries to re-evaluate her strong mind, will, and decision as implications for solution of Today’s gender issue and women empowerment in Silk Road societies The presence of Kurmanjan Datka, the woman leader in the late 19th century, is very implicative as if an inserting light which will potentially bring about a socio-historical turn of the gender minds and old traditions in the Islamic and nomadic society across the Silk Road.

Authors:
Takuya Soma, Kyoto University, Japan
Aizada Tynyeva, American University of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan
Yumi Takahashi, American University of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan

About the Presenter(s)
Professor Takuya SOMA is a University Associate Professor/Senior Lecturer at Kyoto University in Japan

See this presentation on the full schedule – Monday Schedule

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