DUSHANBE, July 31, 2013, Asia-Plus — Dushanbe Mayor Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev has signed decree on demolishing a number of buildings adjacent to the Dousti (Friendship) Square, an official source at the Dushanbe mayor’s office told Asia-plus Wednesday afternoon.
According of him, the Gurminj Museum of Musical Instruments and the buildings of the Ismoili Somoni district court, Iranian embassy, ministry of agriculture and Dushanbe prosecutor’s office are liable to demolition.
“Besides, 29 residential buildings, shops and social facilities located at Roudaki, Bokhtar, Pushkin and Rustaveli streets will also be demolished as part of municipal redevelopment plan that includes the construction of modern buildings,” the source noted.
Meanwhile, four buildings located in downtown Dushanbe namely the buildings of Presidential Palace, Parliament, National Library named after Firdavsi and Opera and Ballet Theater name after Ayni that have cultural and historical values will be preserved.
The Gurminj Museum of Musical Instruments (or Gurminj Museum) is a museum located in the center of Dushanbe, behind the mayor’s office on Bokhtar Street. The museum was founded by Gurminj Zavqibekov (1929–2003), known Tajik actor and musician, in 1990.
There are about 100 musical instruments in the Museum collection mostly representing the Pamiri and Badakhshani musical tradition. The collection is dominated by string instruments, such as the tar, rubab, Pamiri rubab, tanbur, dutor, setor, qashqar, and ghizhak. There are also number of drums such as tabl, daf, and doyra. The collection was gathered by Gurminj Zavqibekov during his trips to his native Gorno Badakhshan. There are number of other instruments that do not belong to the Pamiri traditional instruments and some other casual items of antiques are for display at the museum. The museum also hosts a variety of cultural gatherings and events.
