British Uzbek Society Newsletter
The British Uzbek Society Film Competition on Uzbek Cuisine In this Issue: The British Uzbek Society is announcing an invitation for the most BUS Film interesting filmed presentation of the art of Uzbek cooking. Competition 1
Between now and September, over the course of 12 weeks, we welcome all Did you know? Facts interested participants - residents of both the UK and Uzbekistan - to about Uzbekistan 2 submit their short 5-8 minute videos showcasing the art and technique of Uzbek cuisine. The film can be in any form, created via a smartphone, UK youth visits camera, laptop, or even a camcorder, and can be submitted via any digital Tashkent 3 communication channel to the Society. This is not a professional film Remembering contest, and we welcome amateur films from passionate food-appreciating Muhammad Ali in contestants. Uzbekistan 4
All entries will be judged on creativity, quality and the ability to convey the Member Spotlight: delicacy of Uzbek dishes such as plov, somsa and shurpa amongst others. Hospitality Travel 5 We hope the films will allow people to recreate Uzbek dishes at home and become more interested in the Uzbek culture and cuisine.
The awarding ceremony for the winning entry will be held in October, to which all participants will be invited, and where the film will be screened as part of the Society's Cultural Agenda of events, in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in London. The winner will be awarded with a certificate of honour and recognition signed by the chairman of the Society and the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the UK, as well as a monetary prize worth £150-200.
A separate jury prize will be awarded to the most-liked film - a dinner for two at Samarkand, the n e w U z b e k Re s t a u r a n t o n Charlotte Street.
To register your interest, please follow this link
If you would like to enquire further, please contact the editor, at [email protected]
1 Did you know? - Interesting Facts About Uzbekistan:
You may know that the population of Uzbekistan is diverse in ethnicities, but did you know that there is also a very small ethnic minority of Jews living in Bukhara? Once, Central Asia was home to 45,000 Bukharian Jews: an ethno-religious group—speaking a dialect known as Judeo-Tajik —centered in this city. They worked as merchants and craftsmen, trading along the Silk Road. This close-knit community of Bukharan Jews traces its history back 2,500 years to their expulsion from Jerusalem. They wandered, first settling in Babylon and then moving to present- day Iran before finally settling around 2,000 Chashma Ayub mausoleum in Bukhara years ago along various paths of the Silk Road threading through Central Asia. Today, however, Bukhara is also home to many historical sights, after mass emigration, there are only around and myths associated with them. Besides major 100 Jews are left in Bukhara; most have sights such as the Poi Kalan complex, the Ismael emigrated to the U.S and Israel, after the Samani mausoleum, the Bolo Hauz mosque and collapse of the Soviet Union. Today there still the Ark Fortress, visitors of Bukhara can also exists a synagogue in Central Bukhara, close to take a look at a small mausoleum which the Lyab-i Hausz architectural ensemble. The according to local beliefs was the final resting- synagogue is more than 400 years old, and it is place of a biblical figure - Job, or as the Persians said that it exists thanks to a Jewish widow who called him - Ayub. The mausoleum - Chashma gave up her house which the local authorities Ayub meaning the Spring of Job was built by the wanted, in return for a construction of a order of Karakhanid rulers in the 12th century synagogue. and derives its name from a legend of the Prophet Job. It is said that long before Bukhara Read more. even existed the region was struck by a terrible drought. As the people perished of thirst around him, Job struck the earth with his staff and a source of cool spring water erupted to the surface. The most unusual feature of the mausoleum is a conical cupola, rare for the region. Inside, the Spring (or well) of Job still provides water which is said to be imbued with beneficial qualities. Many people come here on pilgrimages both to drink the water straight from the well and to fill bottles to take home. Some women apparently believe that drinking the water will help them conceive children. The last Jewish Synagogue in Bukhara
2 NatGeo praises New art gallery for Uzbekistan Uzbekistan’s The National Geographic has published a list of independence day: countries which may not be the first that come On the eve of the 25th anniversary of to mind when planning a summer adventure, Independence of Uzbekistan a new fallery of but which nevertheless are just as breathtaking. Fine and Applied Arts “Autograph” opens in It includes Uzbekistan and notes the country’s Tashkent. Among the pieces presented in the rich history and historical context as the spacious, bright rooms of the gallery, are works epicentre of the legendary Silk Road. of prominent art masters as well as gifted young “Uzbekistan is one of the most stunning, artists, sculptors and designers. The gallery historically rich destinations in Central Asia” the boasts a variety of styles and types of article notes. “It offers not just extraordinary contemporary fine art, created with striking natural and architectural beauty, but gleeful, craftsmanship, originality and preservation of hospitable chaos”. The article praises the recent traditional national style with a modern twist. renovations of the extraordinary blue Miniatures depicting the full flavor of the tiled caravanserai complexes at Bukhara and customs and traditions of the local people, Samarkand, claiming the two cities “remain two incredible dolls dressed in impeccably detailed of the most outstanding examples of urban costumes, silver jewellery with natural stones, architecture from the Islamic world and provide wood decorated with gorgeous patterns - all this evocative glimpses of the centuries in which the and more are presented in the art gallery. steppes of Central Asia doubled as cosmopolitan capitals of learning, art, and trade”. The grand opening of the gallery in the heart of the capital saw famous artists, fashion designers Meanwhile, National Geographic’s traveler and were invited critics and connoisseurs of beauty journalist, Paul Salopek is set to walk through gather and appreciate the beauty of Uzbekistan, within the framework of his seven- contemporary Uzbek art. After the official year walking voyage around the world. Salopek opening ceremony the guests were pleasantly started his unique walking tour in 2013, and surprised by a fashion show of prominent Uzbek aims in seven years to cross 35 th. km, and fashion designers Elena Milberger and Madina repeat the 60,000-year history of the migration Kosimbaeva. The gallery plans to start holding of mankind. As planned, the journalist will reach regular workshops and Biennale, and to open the archipelago of Tierra del Fuego (South access to its extensive database of contemporary America) in 2020 where his journey finishes. traditional art of Uzbekistan for students of state During the seven-year journey the traveler plans art schools. to visit more than 30 countries. Paul travels exclusively on foot, allowing him to get acquainted with the life and traditions of the local people and visit places hidden from ordinary tourists. Paul will stay in Kazakhstan for two months, after which he will travel to Uzbekistan. He publishes his journey notes in the National National Geographic Magazine and on his website.
3 Remembering a legend - Muhammad Ali in Uzbekistan Last month, the world became saddened with the news of death of one the greatest boxing legends of all times - Muhammad Ali. As the world continues to mourn the loss of not just a great boxer, but also a passionate, deeply respectful and open minded human being who loved life and all it had to offer, let us remember his greatness and appreciation for world cultures. Ali in Uzbekistan, 1978
Not many may know, but Ali expressed great with tables creaking under the weight of fruit, interest in Uzbekistan, asking to visit the candy, wine, brandy and, inevitably, plov, to country during his visit to the Soviet Union in which he apparently took quite a liking. On his 1978. That year, legendary Ali, who died on return to Moscow, Ali claimed he had piled on June 3, was invited to visit the Soviet Union. On four kilograms during his stay in Uzbekistan. June 15, after a three-day stint in Moscow, Ali The highlight of the stay in Central Asia for Ali traveled onward to Uzbekistan. The republic was a trip to the city of Samarkand, where he was of particular interest to the boxer as an paid tribute at the mausoleum of 9th century important site of Islamic history and culture. Islamic scholar Imam al-Bukhari and visited an Nuriddinmahsum Usmanov, now the imam at a observatory built by 15th century astronomer mosque in the Kashkadarya region, recalled Ulugbek. While in the city, he was taken to a seeing the news of Ali’s arrival on television. mosque and joined in with prayers — an event Back then, Usmanov was a student in Bukhara memorialized in a photograph showing the at the only active madrassa allowed in boxer alongside a dozen or so other Uzbekistan at the time. “We saw his arrival on congregants. For those old enough to remember Uzbek television and we were stunned that he the improbable excursion to Uzbekistan, the late was called Muhammad Ali,” Usmanov said. “We boxer is remembered with abiding fondness, were amazed, since it was the Soviet times and even if his behavior was perceived to be, at Islam was forbidden, and here is this man with a times, unorthodox. Muslim name.” “When I heard about his death, I posted a photo Usmanov said that the presence of an honoured from the archives on my Facebook page, Muslim guest was adopted as a badge of pride. showing Muhammad Ali standing next to his “After that, I began to watch his fights, and so wife wearing an Uzbek robe and a tyubeteika did many other students. He was a Muslim and [skull cap]. His wife was wearing a tyubeteika a world champion — it was amazing!” Ali was too,” Hurshid Dustmuhammad, a veteran Uzbek put up at the Tashkent Hotel, the most luxurious journalist who covered Ali’s visit said. "Whatever accommodations the city had to offer. His hosts his qualities may have been, may Allah take in noted that he took a particular liking to a vase his soul."s of cherries laid out for him and so he was plied with all manner of fruit for the remainder of his stay. At every event he attended, Ali was greeted
4 Member Spotlight For this month’s Spotlight, The British Uzbek Society takes note of one of our oldest and active members - Hospitality Tavel Limited. We sat down with Ramil Minullin, the CEO of the company, to talk to him about his participation in the society.
Tell us a bit about Hospitality Travel - What services do you provide and what do you consider your speciality?
Hospitality Travel Limited has been operating in the UK for more than 13 years. We provide a Ramil Minullin, CEO, Hospitality Travel Ltd wide array of services – hotel reservations, organisation of tours in the UK with professional donated them to sick children left without guides, educational services and placements in parents in orphanages in the Republic of schools, colleges and universities. Our speciality Tatarstan. (read more here) first and foremost is promotion of the hospitality industry in the UK, promotion of the British What do you think is the future trend of culture and history, as well as attraction of travel to Uzbekistan and the Central Asian investment and large businesses into the UK Region? market, property and joint ventures. Central Asia is the Pearl of the Orient, we have You're primarily serving the London market, to try to implement all possible projects, any plans on expanding your services to including charity, then people, - through word of Central Asia? mouth which is the main tool for publicity - will become interested and will see for themselves Well considering that I come from Asia, we that in fact there is no world of such hospitality, would of course like to expand our tourism respect for people and multiplicity of Asian services to Central Asia and collaborate with cuisine, mouthwatering delicious fruit and plov, major tour operators. A great way of doing this I like that of Central Asia. This land, these think would be a partnership between Central people, this water… can only be found in the Asian tourism companies and operators Asia and East and nowhere else! Hospitality Travel Limited in a charity project to use our profit to support those who need help Why did Hospitality Travel join the BUS? the most - Children's homes for sick children and the elderly people in Uzbekistan to not only Since coming to the UK in 1998, I’ve taken part show Europeans travellers our strong intentions, in all the major Uzbek Embassy events, but also so that they take interest willingness to particularly our independence day celebrations. support the project and attract investors to this In 2012, I organised the first Tatar "Sabantuy" in unique charity program from the tourism British history. Being a native of Uzbekistan, I industry in Central Asia. For the past few years organised our traditional Uzbek plov at the we’ve raised funds through our public events - celebration which the guests really enjoyed. My Navruz and Sabantuy - here in the UK and friends from Tashkent sent me a huge kazan for
5 1000 people which I gladly shared with the BUS learn more about the UK current affairs. when we were organising our traditional Navruz in 2013; so in my case, you see, food really does How do you think BUS can improve on what connect people! As I was actively engaged in the we do? organisation of our Annual Navruz events, which grew from 200 guests to more than 2000, I think the creation of this very member we were offered to join the society and happily spotlight section is itself an improvement of the accepted. communication the BUS does, so many thanks for organising this – I feel this novelty will What do you think are the benefits of BUS create and drive engagements of BUS membership? participants to show patriotism and a desire to improve our organisation, as well as identifying I think for all natives of Uzbekistan, BUS is a passive participants who do not bring anything piece of our home, our link to our homeland, to the society’s development.This I think is the where we can remember our culture, our first step – identifying active and passive language and share our values with various participants to try to engage with the latter guests and members of the public. BUS events more, perhaps through a survey or a are a great opportunity to meet people with questionnaire. A survey can reveal our weak similar backgrounds and widen your social spots or introduce fresh ideas proposals which circle, as the Central Asian community grows the executive committee can consider and then year by year, highlight corporate work that we take action. I have no doubt that the BUS is do as members of the community, and promote capable of strengthening further appreciation your business – if you have a small business like and respect for Uzbekistan and Uzbek people, as me, for example. It also creates a great well as for the UK and its diverse population, networking opportunity to meet our British and promoting mutual understanding between partners and engage in cultural exchange and our countries.
Future Events: July 27 - BUS Summer Garden Party - availability limited to first 30 acceptances, please get in touch to be added to the Guest List. Sept 19 - Independence Day Reception Oct 19 - Awarding ceremony for best entry for Uzbek Film competition BRITISH-UZBEK SOCIETY Dear BUS members, The Old Hall Farnham Broom Norwich We appreciate your contribution to the British Uzbek Norfolk Society, and thank you for continuing to to be involved in NR9 4DB Society matters. As such We’d love to get your views and hear about individuals who, in your judgement, are worthy of becoming BUS members. If you have an organisation or 01953604466 an individual in mind that would benefit from BUS [email protected] membership, let us know, and we’d be delighted to welcome them into our BUS family.
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For all newsletter enquiries and details of past events please contact Nigina at [email protected]
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