April 4, 2026
Shukrullah Rezaie was born in 1956 in Jaghori District, Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. Growing up in a Hazara community during a period of significant political and social transformation, his life experiences reflect broader histories of education, migration, religious life, and community resilience within Afghanistan and the Hazara diaspora.
In this oral history interview, Rezaie reflects on his childhood and family life in Jaghori, describing the values, customs, and social structures that shaped his early years. He shares memories of local educational practices, religious instruction, and the important role that family discipline, mutual support, and community relationships played in everyday life. Through personal recollections, he documents aspects of village life that are often absent from official historical records.
A significant portion of the interview focuses on the political changes that affected Hazara communities throughout the twentieth century. Rezaie discusses his experiences and observations related to different periods of Afghan governance, including the Daoud Khan era and subsequent decades of conflict and instability. He reflects on issues of inequality, social exclusion, and the challenges faced by Hazara communities in accessing education, employment, and public participation.
Rezaie also recounts experiences of migration and adaptation, offering insight into the ways Hazara families navigated displacement while preserving cultural identity and community ties. His testimony highlights the importance of faith, perseverance, and collective responsibility in sustaining families through periods of uncertainty and change.
Throughout the interview, Rezaie describes cultural practices and religious traditions observed within Hazara communities, including Muharram commemorations, marriage customs, community gatherings, and forms of social cooperation that reinforced collective belonging. He also emphasizes the importance of education, ethical conduct, and intergenerational knowledge transmission as foundations for individual and community development.
Reviewed and amended by the narrator following the interview, Rezaie's testimony provides a valuable contribution to the documentation of Hazara history, community memory, and the lived experiences of social transformation across generations.
Hazara Heritage. Hazara Heritage Oral History Project. Oral history interview with Shukrullah Rezaei conducted by Fatima Framarz. April 4, 2026. HH-OH-004.
Hazara Heritage Oral History Project Interview Collection.
Narrator-reviewed Persian Transcript.
Oral History Audio Recording.
Muslims in Canada Archives (MiCA).
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.