1/ Approaching the end of the year I’m reflecting on books I read in 2022 which enhanced my knowledge of Central Asia, making me think about Uzbekistan & its neighbours in new ways. Here are 10 titles which impressed me: 2/ Atomic Steppe by @tkassenova is the gripping, real life story of Soviet nuclear testing and Kazakhstan’s campaign for nuclear disarmament. Painful but important reading.
Amazon: amzn.to/3EEi63R
Bookshop: bit.ly/3V9jToL

THREAD: In the UK we are currently celebrating #SouthAsianHeritageMonth so I thought I’d highlight some of the historic & cultural ties between Uzbekistan & South Asia. There are lots for me to choose from! /1 The Graeco-Bactrian Kingdom covered much of Central & South Asia. Their coins, statuary & urban planning are found in archeological sites across the region, demonstrating the movement of people, ideas, & goods. #SouthAsianHeritageMonth 2/

Uzbekistan’s Fergana Valley came top in my poll last week, so here’s the thread you’ve been waiting for.

This lush, fertile, & partly mountainous region is in the east of UZ, bordering Tajikistan & Kyrgyzstan. 1/ It‘s the agricultural heartland of Uzbekistan, famed for its fruits in particular. Agri-tourism is in its infancy, but in the Fergana Valley you’ll find sweet melons, nectarines and apricots which taste like honey, huge bunches of grapes, & fat, juicy strawberries. 2/