Uzbekistan honors prominent poets and cultural figures with state orders

Uzbekistan’s People’s Poet Rauf Parfi (Tursunali Parfiyev), poet Tora Sulaymon (Tura Sulaymonov), poet Muhammad Yusuf (Muhammadjon Yusupov), and other distinguished cultural figures have been posthumously awarded the Order for Selfless Services. The decree was signed today, August 23, by President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

According to the decree, the following were awarded the Order for Selfless Services:

•  Vali Gafurov – Honored Cultural Worker of Uzbekistan, writer
•  Tukhtasin Jalolov – Literary scholar, translator, member of the Writers’ Union of Uzbekistan
•  Begali Qosimov – Scholar of Jadidism, scientist of Uzbekistan
•  Quddus Muhamedov (Quddus Muhammadiy) – People’s Poet of Uzbekistan
•  Alibek Rustamov (Alibek Rustamiy) – Academician of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, literary scholar

With the Order of Mehnat Shuhrati (Order of Labor Glory):

•  Anvar Obidjon (Anvarjon Obidjonov) – People’s Poet of Uzbekistan

Rauf Parfi was born on September 27, 1943, in Tashkent Region into a peasant family. His first poem was published in 1957. His major poetry collections include “Caravan Road” (1968), “Echo” (1970), “Image” (1973), “Memory” (1974), “Eyes” (1976), “Return” (1981), “Tree of Patience” (1986), “Silence” (1991), and “Repentance” (2001). He was also a prolific translator, bringing works such as Byron’s “Manfred,” Nozim Hikmat’s “Human Landscapes,” and Carlo Kaladze’s “Sea Dream” into Uzbek. He was named People’s Poet of Uzbekistan in 1999 and died of a heart attack in Tashkent on March 28, 2005.

Muhammad Yusuf was born on April 26, 1954, in Andijan Region. A graduate of the Tashkent Institute of Russian Language and Literature in 1978, he worked at the Republican Society of Book Lovers, the newspaper “Tashkent Akshomi,” the Literature and Art Publishing House, the magazine “Tafakkur,” and the newspaper “Oʻzbekiston Ovozi.” His first poem appeared in 1976, and his debut collection “Famous Poplars” was published in 1985. He was named People’s Poet of Uzbekistan in 1998 and awarded the Order of Friendship. Among his notable collections are “Bulbulga Bir Gapim Bor,” “Uyqudagi Qiz,” “Ishq Kesami,” “Erka Kiyik,” and “Ulugʻimsan, Vatanim.” He died of a heart attack on July 29, 2001, during a creative trip to Ellikkal’a District and was buried in Andijan.

Tora Sulaymon was born on February 15, 1934, in Jizzakh Region. He studied at the Faculty of Journalism of Tashkent State University between 1958 and 1964. He worked for the newspapers “Guliston” and “Syrdaryo Haqiqati,” and from 1972 to 1977 served as executive secretary of the Syrdarya regional branch of the Writers’ Union of Uzbekistan. From 1977 to 1981, he was a literary consultant, continuing in this position until the end of his life.

Earlier, Honored Artist of Uzbekistan Okhunjon Madaliyev was posthumously awarded the Order of Mehnat Shuhrati, while Honored Artist Muhriddin Kholikov was posthumously awarded the Order for Selfless Services.