“This Doctrine ... Originated from Ismailism, but It Has Moved so Far Away from It that I Positively Consider ‘Panj-Ten’ as a Very Special Religion...”: Materials on Pamir Ismailism Collected by A. A. Cherkasov in 1904
Abstract
The article takes into consideration the unique data about Pamir Ismailism collected by the secretary of the Imperial Political Agency in Bukhara the Baron A. A. Cherkasov in 1904. There are presented the main provisions of the data reported by A. A. Cherkasov, to having the science enriched by new data on Pamir Ismailism. There were given some features of the doctrine of the Pamir Ismailis and how special this form of Ismailism is in comparison with other forms of Islam. This information make it possible to present the attitude of the Ismaili Imam Aga Khan III to the policy of Russia and England in the region and Russian officials’ perception of the Pamir population, Ismailis and Ismailism in general. In addition, they are supplemented by the information reported by A. A. Bobrinsky, A. A. Semenov and A. E. Snesarev on the doctrine and customs of the Pamir Ismailis.