Talishians, who are
they? Where are they from? Where are they living? How are
they doing?
As
well known, owners of the big lake (Caspian Sea), first inhabitants
of Azerbaijan and Persia (Iran) Talishians are the part of
the great Indho-European root, Aryan family that also includes;
Persians, Tajiks, Kurds, Daris, Osetins, Pashtos, Pamirs,
Mundjans, Yagnobics, Beludjs, Gilanids, Mazandaranis, Lurs,
Bahtiyars, Tats and ancient Persians, Midyans, Skifs.
It
is not known for sure when Talishians first came into the
modern regions of their habitation but one thing is clear
they/ Talishians were the first human beings to live live
in the regions of their modern habitation. This Talish regions
are: Entire southern part of modern Azerbaijan Republic (towns
of Ali Bayramli former Aliabad, Bilasuvar former Tolishazamin,
Jalilabad, Yardimli former Verkaduz, Lankaran, Lerik former
Zuand note: “this change was not made by Azeris in order to
Azerbaijanilize or Turkilize Talishians”, Astara) and northern
part of the Persian State (Iran) generally Iranian towns of
Astara, Ardabil and some northern towns of Gilan (Iranian
Province).
Total
number of Talishians is still unknown, in azerbaijan Republic
population of Yardimli, Calilabad almost lost their Talishian
identity this is a tragedy of the nation and unfair policy
of Azerbaijanian government aimed towards assimilating Talish
nation and this policy is still successfully carried out.
It is estimated that approximately 1.250.000 Talishians live
in 8.000.000 Azerbaijan Republic, generally in Talish Region
and also in Sumgayit and the villages of Baku City.
Approximately
2.500.000 Talishians live in Islamic Republic of Iran. So
normally 3.750.000 Talishians live on the earth of the world.
Here we have provided minimal numbers; some sources say that
total number of Talishians is 10.000.000 an other source says
4.000.000 and the other one 6.000.000 etc.
The
number of population is not important, the important thing
is the culture, own language, traditions, identity of the
nation and Talish nation has all of the above mentioned.
Talishians
are Aryans (like all Irani Languaged nationalities), moreover
this nation is one of the oldest nations with very ancient
culture, history, traditions.
Herodotus
wrote of this nation to be: Very friendly, hospitable, brave,
honored, loyal to friends and as Herodotus wrote Talishians
sometimes were ruthless to enemies. Not surprisingly Turks
(wild mongoloid tribes) while occupying ancient Greek, Azeri,
Persian, Armenian, Kurdish lands were killing all of this
cultured, sedent nations but Talishians were not attacked
by Turkish violent, wild tribes, because Turks saw so high
culture and treat that they did not dare to do something bad
against Talishians (we do remember this and appreciate this
very much).
As
these always were in now days Talishians are: Very loyal to
friends, hospitable (if a guest leaves Talish house without
satisfaction this is considered to be a scheme, insult for
a Talish person), cultured, kind, silent (non aggressive,
sedent), very smart and talented, open hearted, well wishing,
generous people.
It
sounds and looks like they are brilliant, of course they have
their shortages like; Talishians are too open hearted, trusting
for this reasons they have lost big part of their ancient
territories. It is easy for someone to deceive a Talishian
generally because they trust too much, they think of others
to be like a Talishian but this is not always like that because
Talishians generally surrounded by Turks (Azeris are not pure
Turks, according to the discoveries of many ethno graphs like
Iqrar Aliyev, Sara Ashurbayli, Solmaz Qashqayli, Kumilyov
etc Azeris are of Caucasus, Irani, Turkish, Arab mix, but
unfortunately they have been Turkilized in XII century by
Seljug Turkish tribes, they have still preserved their Persi/Irani
culture) not Indho-Europeans. Modern educated Talish is not
so naive but every Talishian inside of his heart is gentleman,
gentlewoman, he/she is a Talishian. He/she simply do not suit
modern reality, specialy if the reality for a Talishian is
a Turkilized, Turkish reality. Unfortunately nation that has
always had its state or played key roles in the creation of
states do not have its own state not even a national autonomous
region, republic. Modern Talish do not have the rights to:
Speak at his beatifull language, publish newspapers at his
own language, broadcast TV & Radio at his mother language,
study his tremendous history, develop his being, culture,
language, poetry etc.
Talishians
at the moment dream of autonomous republic and as it seems
from Azeri internal policy this dream will not come true,
at least in the nearest future. Talishians say: “Azeris are
our sincere friends how we can struggle with our friends when
they have so many problems”. We wish one day Azeris will be
well wishing to Talishians as Talishians are doing this now
about Azeris. We hope to see Talishians and Talish civilization
safe and developing in the nearest future and this is up to
Talishians and generally it is up to Azeris to protect national
minority rights of Talish nation.
