Alisher Navoi: biography of an outstanding figure

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

There are many legends about the world-famous poet, whose name is Alisher Navoi. His biography is full of various myths, but we will try to dispel them and bring some clarity to his life story.

Homeland of the great poet

Navoi was born in the ancient city of Herat (modern Afghanistan) in 1441, at birth he was named Nizamiddin Mir Alisher. Historians have not yet come to an exact opinion regarding his nationality: some consider him a barlas or a chagatai, others consider him an Uzbek or a Uighur. However, we can definitely say that by origin he belongs to the Turkic peoples. This is evidenced, in addition to the poems of his close friend Abdurakhman Jami (which say "even though I was a Persian, and he was a Turk, we were best friends"), his personal works, where he wrote that his native people are Turkic. During Soviet times, Alisher Navoi was interpreted precisely as an Uzbek poet and thinker.

Poet's family

The poet's family was very we althy, his father was a well-known official at the court of the Timurids, and his uncle was a poet. For this reason, since childhood, Alisher Navoi (whose biography is closelyassociated with public administration) wrote poems on a variety of topics. From 1466 to 1469, the young poet lived and studied in Samarkand, taught for some time in a madrasah and supported every beginning poet or scientist in every possible way.

Alisher Navoi: biography

The great figure belonged to the Sufi order of believers (Naqshbandi), who refused worldly life (fani - the frailty of being) and therefore never started a family. Like any member of the holy order, Alisher Navoi (whose poems also describe this circumstance, for example, "Lisun ut-tayir") believed that there is only one love - for Allah, so he was not interested in women and marriage.

The great poet grew up and was brought up in the same courtyard with the children of the Timurid clans. With Hussein Baykara (who later became the ruler of the Khorasan state), Navoi had the closest friendly relations that lasted all his life. And the reason that Alisher Navoi (his biography changed dramatically as a result of this decision) returned from Samarkand to his native Herat was precisely the coronation of his friend Hussein. In 1469, upon the return of the poet, the ruler Hussein Baykara appointed him the Chief Keeper of the Seal of the Khorasan State.

All his life, Alisher Navoi, whose poems are still relevant today, served the state, wrote many-sided poetic works, and also provided material assistance to all poets, writers, artists and musicians. In the history of Central Asia, he was remembered as the main initiator of the construction of numerousmadrasas, hospitals and even libraries.

Works by Alisher Navoi

The great poet and thinker wrote most of his works in the Chagatai language, taking the pseudonym Alisher Navoi (in Uzbek it means "melodious, melodious"). He wrote his first poem at the age of 15. The poet had a huge impact on the development of the literary language, made an invaluable contribution to improving the structure of the Chagatai dialect, and later the Uzbek language.

The cultural heritage of the poet contains more than 3,000 works in various genre compositions. Perhaps one of the most famous works of the poet is "Five", which contains 5 dastans. "Leyli and Majnun", "Farhad and Shirin", "Confusion of the Righteous" are the most widely read poems by Alisher Navoi.

Alisher Navoi: Poems in Russian

Many of the poet's works written in Farsi and Chagatai have been translated into Russian. One of the most famous poems - "Two frisky gazelles.." - was translated by the Soviet poet Vsevolod Rozhdestvensky. Despite the fact that Alisher Navoi denied love and other feelings for women, he still wrote very sensual poems. Among them - "On that night of my sadness, a sigh of the whole world could nullify …", "My soul always screams, as soon as it is offended by evil …", "Smoke flows from hopeless sighs, look!.." and others.

However, the author also raised social and philosophical problems ( The homeless man in ragsdressed…”, “Meet with wine both evening and sunrise…”, “Give everything away, depriving yourself…”, etc.)

In addition to lyrical poems, the poet also created historical treatises in which he described the life of legendary cultural figures. For example, "The Five of the Humble" was dedicated to his teacher and colleague Abdurakhman Jami.

At the end of his creative activity, Alisher Navoi wrote two philosophical poems describing his ideas about the ideal structure of the state. One poem - "Language of Birds", or, as it is called, "Parliament of Birds: Semurg" - is the pinnacle of his work, this allegorical treatise ridicules all ignorant rulers who do not know the principles of the state. All the works of Alisher Navoi are full of meaning and are devoted to a variety of topics, ranging from love to politics and improving the social life of ordinary peasants.

Political activities

It can be noted that Alisher Navoi had liberal views on many things. For example, he always opposed medieval despotic laws, openly condemned officials who took bribes, and also tried to protect the interests of the poor class. In 1472, Navoi received the title of emir (becoming the vizier of the state), he used his powers to improve the lives of poor people. Despite his friendship with the ruler and other noble officials, Alisher Navoi was nevertheless exiled by the ruler of the Khorasan state, Baiqara, to another region for his frank speeches againstembezzlers and bribe takers. In Astrabad, he continued his plans to improve the social and social life of the people.

Alisher Navoi made a huge contribution not only to the development of the state system, he had a significant impact on improving the Uzbek language. His works are known in many eastern countries (Uzbekistan, Iran, Turkey and other countries of Central Asia). The great poet died in his homeland, in Herat, in 1501.