Browsing by Author "Akhmetova, Elmira, PhD"

This research explores the historical and cultural significance of Bamiyan Buddha statues in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, their origins, features, and preservation. It mainly highlights the value of this unique heritage as a national asset of the country and the region of Bamiyan. The research examines the preservation of these statues throughout history in Afghanistan. It also aims at examining the cultural and archaeological legacy of Buddhism in Afghanistan and its preservation up to the present date on the example of two Bamiyan Buddha statues. To obtain these goals, this research utilized a qualitative method by textual analyses of primary and secondary sources. The first part of this research found that Afghanistan is a country of cultural crossroads that has been in constant contact through trade, immigration, imperialist structures, imitation, and ongoing conflict with the civilizations of Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and China. Therefore, all these various communications and periodic developments have led to the creation of unique historical and ancient treasures, architecture, art, and cultural heritage in Afghanistan, especially in the Bamiyan Valley. The second part of this research studied the spread of Buddhism in Afghanistan and particularly in Bamiyan region. The Buddhist artefacts and statues, their features, significance, and preservation were analysed as well. It was found that the ongoing wars had severely damaged the region's historical remnants, the most prominent of which is the destruction of Bamiyan Buddha statues. The study also examined ongoing threats to Bamiyan cultural and historical heritage and highlighted the necessity of serious efforts which are required to be undertaken to monitor their damage, prevention, and protection of ancient and historic sites. The research found that cultural and historical heritage can be an asset of any nation which can boost their economy by tourism industry as well as contribute positively in building national identity and cultural integrity.

This study explores and examine the historical relations between Tanzania and Malaysia from 1960 to 2015. It is a qualitative study which uses a descriptive and a historical-analytical method in analyzing Tanzania's past historical contact and relationship between Tanzania and Malaysia since the first century C.E. The study found that the relationship between the two countries started during the first century when the Austronesians were navigating from the Malay Archipelago to the East African coast of Indian ocean. These past relations were strengthened during the 8th century Arab-Muslim domination of trade within the large swath of Indian ocean with other major players like the Indian, Chinese, the Swahili people and the Malays. In this period until the 16th century, the two regions were bond by Islam which played an important role to the growing relationship in upholding the interest of the intercontinental integration in general and the universal Islamic brotherhood. Also, the study found that it was the emergence of western colonial relations that emerged during the 15th and 16th century that disturbed the relationship Tanzania and Malaysia at a time. The relations were boosted after the two countries attained their independences and they managed to forge and bond and mutual relations in various political platforms like at the United Nation, Commonwealth, South-South cooperation and Non-Aligned Movement. These platform has helped the two countries to help the countries in the southern hemisphere in solving different problems like the apartheid in South Africa, the Palestinian rights to have their homeland and many others. Lastly, the study finds that from 1980 to 2015, the two countries have changed the pattern of their relations from political standpoint into more of economic cooperation. This was achieved because of the effort of Tun Mahathir Muhamad and Mwalimu Julius Nyerere to commission a South-South commission which was entrusted to deal with economic problems of the southern hemisphere’s countries. This example of the growing relationship between Tanzania and Malaysia shows that similar relations between and among other southern countries could be beneficial for greater unity of the region.

The issue of culture and religion within the professional sphere is a common polemical global issue, including the case of the dress code for Muslim female healthcare personnel. Nurse uniforms in Malaysia have evolved tremendously since Malaysia gained its independence in 1957. Yet, there is a dearth of literature on the transformation of nurse uniforms in Malaysia vis-à-vis its cultural and religious context. In this qualitative historical-comparative cross-institutional case study, content analysis was conducted to examine the issue of nurse uniform transformation based on primary and secondary data retrieved from official records, books, newspaper reports, photos, videos, exhibits and interview transcripts of key informants identified through purposive and snowball sampling. The study was conducted at four selected institutions in Malaysia: Ministry of Health, Ministry of Defence, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia and Hospital Pusrawi Sdn. Bhd. The Malaysian nurse uniform manifests the maintenance of the colonial heritage in the early three decades of post-independent Malaysia followed by the gradual revival of the Malay-Muslim identity. The religious-related factors were the dominant motivation fuelling the transformation of nurse uniform in Malaysia. During the course, the strategies that the advocates of the uniform transformation used were manifold to resolve diverse deterrents related to the opposing parties, the potential problems of the proposed changes, and the morale of the advocates of the nurse uniform transformation to remain in the cause. The thesis postulates that the realisation of the transformation of nurse uniform ensued the combined efforts of numerous parties at various levels (from the individual level to the national level) using assorted strategies. The effects of the nurse uniform transformation were felt at the individual, institutional, and inter-institutional levels. Despite the principal concern on the infringement of hygiene and infection control standards due to the use of long sleeves and headscarves, no worsening of infection rates was observed by the participants succeeding the implementation of the long-sleeved ankle-length uniforms with headscarves. Although there are limitations due to the use of the qualitative approach and the use of interview as one of the data collection methods, thick description and triangulation of sources help to ensure reliability and validity of the findings and their relevance to other groups who share similar background and culture to the cases in this study. Based on the findings, a proposed framework for the decision making on the accommodation of religious rites or cultural norms is formulated. The decision-making matrix recommends weighing the tangible effect of the accommodation to the institution against the standing of the religious rites and cultural norms. The findings highlight the feasibility of assimilating the professional healthcare dress code with the local culture and religion without jeopardising the delivery of good practices in healthcare services.