Previous Year Question
The name of which of the following countries closely means “country of 40 tribes”?
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan
Uzbekistan
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked country in Central Asia. The expression “country of 40 tribes” is associated with the tradition of the 40 tribes/clans of the Kyrgyz people.
The number 40 also has special significance in Kyrgyzstan's national symbolism. The 40 rays of the Sun on its national flag represent, according to Kyrgyz tradition, the unity of the 40 tribes.
The tradition of uniting these tribes is associated with Manas, the central figure of the famous Kyrgyz national epic and cultural tradition.
The suffix “-stan” means “place”, “country” or “land” in the Persian linguistic tradition. On the basis of this historical-cultural interpretation, Kyrgyzstan is associated in the question with the expression “country of 40 tribes.”