This article examines the role of culture in strengthening national identity and self-awareness, as well as the importance and place of national self-awareness in the context of state independence. Based on the analysis of various fragments of Tajik history, the authors discuss the role of history and philosophy in understanding the past and shaping Tajik national identity. Examining attitudes toward the cultural heritage of Central Asia, the authors analyze such phenomena as “мastering”, and “appropriation” and point out existing distortions in understanding the past and historical figures of this region. The article proposes the development of an effective strategy for the preservation and study of Tajik cultural heritage. In this regard, the authors emphasize the need to establish an International Center for the Protection and Preservation of the Cultural Heritage of the Tajik People, irrespective of the place of origin.