Ever since he was a child, Alisher, 52, dreamed of becoming an art teacher. He grew up when Tajikistan was still part of the Soviet Union. In those days, teachers and artists were deemed elite representatives of society. Alisher studied, entered university, took part in art competitions, even won a few prizes. Before his time in college was through, the Soviet Union collapsed. Shortly after that, a civil war broke out. It would grind on for five years. “When I graduated from university, nobody needed the arts and teachers. Since I did not have a wife or children, or any particular family respo…