The bukharan emirate and turkestan under russian rule in the revolutionary era: 1917-1924

2.7. Emir Alim Khan (Pro-Modernist but Anti-Reformist Character) 
Sayyid Mir Alim succeeded to the throne after his father Abd al Ahad’s death 
in 1910. He was very close to Russian lifestyle because he took education for four 
years in the Nikolaevsky Cadets in St. Petersburg. He had numerous Russian books 
in his library and he frequently visited Russia like his father. 
145
The Bukharan 
princes’ recognition and adoption to Russian life style and culture began in the reign 
of Emir Muzaffar . He sent his sons to St. Petersburg for travels and education. And 
then, Abd al Ahad did the same thing and sent his son Alim to Russia for education. 
144
Wheeler, Geoffrey, 
The Modern History of Soviet Central Asia
, (New York: Greenword Press, 
1964), 92. 
145
Becker, Seymour, 
Russia’s Protectorates in Central Asia: Bukhara and Khiva, 1865–1924
, 
(London &New York: Routledge Curzon, 2005), 163. 

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58 
The good relations and loyalty between St. Petersburg and the Emirs was encouraged 
through early education and frequent visits. Mission civilisatrice policy of Russia 
became successful over the Emir and his family. The Tsarist administration also 
appreciated the Emirs, because both Abd al Ahad and his son Alim took Russia’s 
approval before their succession to the throne. The Emirs were protected, helped and 
honored by Russia in consideration of their loyalty.
The tsarist Government not only helped the Emir against his own people, it 
understood also how to flatter his vanity.
146
A. Polovtsoff relates: “Later on, when 
the new railway line which linked his country through Orenburg to Russia was 
completed, he was given a large saloon car lacquered in cherry red and ornamented 
with reproduction of his Order of the Star of Bukhara, so that railway officials should 
know what an exalted passenger was inside. He was immensely proud of this 
imperial gift.
147
Since Alim seemed very Western and modern in his early years of sultanate, 
the reformers got content with his succession. They expected him to allow reforms 
and take side near reformers against the mullah class. But, it did not happen. Though 
he made several administrative reforms, the context of reforms remained limited and 
did not include freedoms. He pursued closer policies to mullah class and demands of 
Russians. On the other hand, Alim Khan was a real Jadid in terms of his background 
education and training though he was displayed as an enemy against Jadids. If he was 
a merchant’s son instead of a crown prince, he would have been a Jadid. For that 
reason, Alim Khan’s position near the Kadims (traditionalists) and against the Jadids 
146
Coates, Zelda K. and W.P.,
 Soviets in Central Asia,
(New York: Greenwood Press, Publishers, 
1951), 59. 
147
Coates, Zelda K. and W.P.,
 Soviets in Central Asia,
(New York: Greenwood Press, Publishers, 
1951), 59. 

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59 
was related to politics and rather than being related to ideas and opinions. The 
organizing of Jadidism as a strong political oppositional movement in Bukhara 
forced Alim Khan to take his side near the Kadims because they were hard advocates 
of monarchy.
148
As an orthodox Moslem state, Bukhara itself was embarrassed by the sultankhalifs proclamation of holy war against 
the Allies. Emir Alim demonstrated his loyalty to Russia by donating several million rubles to the Russian war effort; in 
September 1916 he journeyed in person to the front to present the emperor with a gift of one million rubles. At home the 
Bukharan government proved its loyalty by suppressing all opposition and forbidding the reading of newspapers or the 
discussion of current events
. 
149
It is a fact that Alim was a very pragmatic man. Even though he carried 
several spiritual ranks and titles such as a title of Emir (meaning Commander of 
Believers) and claimed to be a sayyid by tracing back to the prophet, he chose to 
remain an ally of Russia in the Great War although Ottoman Sultan and Caliph 
Sultan Mehmed V declared jihad for Muslims worldwide. In sum, although he was a 
modern and western styled man in accordance with his education and training in 
Russia, he had a responsibility to rule as a monarch in his country so it was crucial 
for him to take support of the mullah class, owning a strong authority over 
conservative and uneducated public and numerous madrasa students, the Russian 
officials. The bad destiny for him was that he could not guess the fall of Russian Tsar 
and increase of Bolshevism in Russia in next period.