The Bashkirs
The Bashkirs are a Turkic people living in the southern Ural Mountains, primarily in the Bashkir ASSR and the Tatar ASSR. In all there are around 1.5 million Bashkirs in the USSR today. Their language is mutually intelligible to Tatar. It is a literary language using the Cyrillic script. The Bashkirs have been farmers and herdsmen for centuries. Over the years they have become known particularly for their prized bees and horses. Among the latter are breeds raised for riding, draft, pack and log hauling. The horses of the Bashkirs are valued both for their endurance and for the kumiss, or fermented mare's milk, which is drunk for both relaxation and ceremony. Today the vast majority of Bashkirs are scattered over 640 collectives and 150 state farms, but they still work with horses in a manner reminiscent of their ancestors. Only 20% live in towns and cities where they are outnumbered by Russians and Tatars. In fact, they are a minority of 25% in their own autonomous republic. Because of the vast reserves of oil in this area many outsiders have come to work in the oil fields and petrochemical plants and to manage the urban centres established around the reserves.

The Bashkirs have a long history of Islamic (Sunni) influence which began in the 14th century. In the 16th century they were brought under Russian domination and it was not until 1919 that they received their autonomous republic status. The Bashkirs, although predominantly Muslim, have always allowed their women more freedom than most Central Asians. Even before the advent of Soviet rule women were permitted to own property beyond that which was included in their dowries, and they were almost never required to wear a veil. For many Bashkirs today, being a Muslim has more to do with retaining family traditions than holding deep spiritual convictions. It is the older generation that adhere to their faith most fervently. Intrigued with more modern lifestyles, young Bashkirs are tending to gravitate away from traditional clothing and customs. Nevertheless, the Bashkir capital of Ufa remains one of the major Muslim religious centres of the Soviet Union today.

There is still a small population of Eastern Orthodox Christians called the Nakaibak, a remaining legacy of Russian Orthodox missions before the Russian revolution. In 1926 they numbered around 11,000.

Portions of the Bible were translated in 1902 and were recently reprinted. Work is under way to publish a New Testament before 1990.

PRAY:
-for the 1.5 million Bashkirs that they might be reached by a sovereign witness of God in days ahead.

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