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Biography in Uzbek. Alisher Navoi: biography of an outstanding figure

Alisher Navoi(Uzb. Alisher Navoiy; Uyg. lshir Nava "i/; Pers. ;) ( Nizamaddin Mir Alisher) (February 9, 1441, Herat - January 3, 1501, ibid.) - Turkic poet, Sufi philosopher, statesman of Timurid Khorasan.

He created his main works under the pseudonym Navoi (melodic) in the literary Chagatai language, on the development of which he had a noticeable influence; under the pseudonym Fani (perishable) he wrote in Farsi. His work gave a powerful impetus to the development of literature in the Turkic languages, especially Chagatai and the traditions of literature in the Uzbek and Uyghur languages that adopted it.

According to sources, Alisher Navoi is an ethnic Uzbek, but according to some scholars he is a Uyghur.

Origin

Alisher Navoi's mentor and friend Abdurakhman Jami (1414-1492), emphasizing his Turkic origin, wrote:

According to the opinions of A. A. Semenov and Muhammad Haydar Dulati (1499-1551), Alisher Navoi came from the Uyghur bakhshes, that is, from the secretaries and clerks of the Uyghurs, who, according to tradition and under the Timurids, wrote some official papers in the Uyghur language. There is also a version that he came from the Turkified Mongolian Barlas tribe. Academician S.E. Malov in his work about Alisher Navoi writes that:

Mir Alisher Navoi opposed himself to the Uzbeks; he was a Turk - Barlas - Chagatai, according to the terminology of the 15th century. We have no particular reason to change this historical terminology if we do not want to blur and obscure its specificity, filled with its special content, and if we do not have sufficient and valid reasons.

In his poems, Alisher Navoi writes the following about the Turks as his people:

But the people enjoyed “Arbain” only in Farsi,

But the Turks could not usefully comprehend poetry.

Then I set a goal for myself: for my people,

I will rearrange the poems without missing anything from Arbain

Alisher Navoi repeatedly mentions Uzbeks in his works. For example, in the poem “Iskander’s Wall” he writes:

On the Shah's crowns and magnificent clothes

I'm tired of watching

One simple Uzbek of mine is enough for me,

who has a skullcap on his head and a robe on his shoulders.

In historiography Soviet period Alisher Navoi has been interpreted as an Uzbek poet.

Biography

Nizamaddin Mir Alisher was born into the family of Giyasaddin Kichkine, an official in the Timurid state, whose house was visited by prominent figures of philosophical thought and art of that time. Mir Alisher's uncle - Abu Said - was a poet; second uncle - Muhammad Ali - was known as a musician and calligrapher. From a young age, Alisher was brought up with the children of Timurid families; he was especially friendly with Sultan Hussein, later the head of the Khorasan state, also a poet and patron of the arts.

Navoi studied in Herat (together with the future ruler of Khorasan Hussein Bayqara, friendly relations with whom he kept for life), Mashhad and Samarkand. Among Navoi's teachers was Jami, who later became a friend and like-minded person of the poet. As a poet he showed himself already at the age of 15, and he wrote equally well in Turkic and Farsi).

In 1466-1469. Alisher Navoi lived in Samarkand and studied at a madrasah. Here he made many friends. After his friend, Timurid Hussein Baykara, came to power, Alisher Navoi returned to his native Herat.

In 1469, he was appointed to the position of keeper of the seal under the ruler of Khorasan, Hussein Bayqar, with whom he had friendly relations. In 1472 he received the rank of vizier and the title of emir. In 1476, he resigned, but remained close to the Sultan, who entrusted him with important affairs in Herat and, during the period of cooling of their relations, in Astrabad.

Navoi provided patronage and financial support to scientists, thinkers, artists, musicians, poets and calligraphers. Under him, a circle of scientists and creative people was formed in Herat, which, among others, included himself, Jami, the Sultan, who wrote poetry under the pseudonym Husaini, historians Mirkhond, Khondamir, Vasifi, Davlyatshah of Samarkandi, artist Kemaleddin Behzad, architect Kawam-ad -din. On the initiative of Navoi and under his leadership, construction was carried out in Herat: a madrasah, a khanqah, a library, and a hospital were erected on the banks of the Injil Canal.

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 ancient city Herat (modern Afghanistan) in 1441, at birth he was named Nizamiddin Mir Alisher. Historians have still not come to a precise opinion regarding his nationality: some consider him a Barlas or Chagatai, others consider him an Uzbek or Uyghur. However, we can say for sure 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 the Soviet era, Alisher Navoi was interpreted precisely as an Uzbek poet and thinker.

Poet's family

The poet's family was very wealthy, his father was a famous official at the Timurid court, and his dear uncle- a poet. For this reason, since childhood, Alisher Navoi (whose biography is closely connected 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 aspiring poet or scientist in every possible way.

Alisher Navoi: biography

The great figure belonged to the Sufi order of believers (Naqshbandi), who renounced worldly life (fani - the frailty of existence) 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. Navoi had the closest friendly relations with Hussein Bayqara (who later became the ruler of the Khorasan state), which lasted his entire 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 poet’s return, the ruler Hussein Baykara appointed him the chief Keeper of the Seal of the Khorasan state.

Throughout his life, Alisher Navoi, whose poems are still relevant today, served the state, wrote multifaceted poetic works, and also provided financial assistance to all poets, writers, artists and musicians. In the history of Central Asia, he is remembered as the main initiator of the construction of numerous madrasahs, hospitals and even libraries.

Works of Alisher Navoi

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

The poet's cultural heritage contains more than 3,000 works in various genre compositions. Perhaps one of the poet’s most famous works is “The Five,” which contains 5 dastans. “Leili and Majnun”, “Farhad and Shirin”, “Confusion of the Righteous” - these are the most widely read poems of Alisher Navoi.

Alisher Navoi: poems in Russian

Many of the poet’s works, written in Farsi and Chagatai, were translated into Russian. One of the most famous poems - "Two frisky gazelles.." - was translated by the Soviet poet. 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 could have brought the whole world to naught...”, “My soul always screams, as soon as it is offended by evil...”, “How smoke flows from hopeless sighs, look!..” and others.

In addition to lyrical poems, the poet also created historical treatises in which he described the lives of legendary cultural figures. For example, “Five of the Humble” was dedicated to his teacher and colleague Abdurahman 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 - “The 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 state structure. All works of Alisher Navoi are full of meaning and dedicated to the most different topics, ranging from love to politics and improving the social life of ordinary peasants.

Political activity

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 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, Baykara, to another region for his outspoken speeches against embezzlers and bribe-takers. In Astrabad, he continued his plans to improve the social life of the people.

Alisher Navoi made a huge contribution not only to the development of government, he had a significant impact on the improvement of 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, Herat, in 1501.

In Chagatai and Farsi.

"Treasury of Thoughts"- a poetic corpus compiled by the poet himself in -1499 on a chronological basis and including four divans corresponding to the four periods of the poet’s life: “Wonders of Childhood”, “Rarities of Youth”, “Wonders of Middle Ages”, “Admonitions of Old Age”. The poems belong to different lyrical genres, among which ghazals are especially numerous (more than 2600). The divans also contain poems of other genres - mukhammas, musaddas, mestazadas, kyty, rubai and tuyugs dating back to Turkic folk art.

Lyrical poems are difficult to date, since responses to the known facts of the poet’s life are captured in them quite rarely, and eventfulness is not characteristic of them at all. “Treasury of Thoughts” is a lyrical confession of the poet, conveying the whole gamut of his experiences. Along with the external love plan, they contain a higher one - spiritualized in a Sufi way and using traditional images of sensual lyrics in a metaphorical way. At the same time, Navoi’s original metaphors are intertwined with traditional ones, drawn from the rich tradition of eastern poetry.

Love for Navoi is a simultaneous high, spiritual and exquisitely erotic, earthly feeling that subjugates a person and deprives him of freedom. And, at the same time, this does not give rise to pessimism in the poet, since Navoi understands love suffering as the basis of spiritual rebirth.

Navoi considered one of his main tasks to be the development of the literary Chagatai language (Turkic). It was in the poet’s lyrics that Turkic verse reached its heights artistic expression: his ghazals amaze with the filigree finishing of details, masterly compliance with formal rules, semantic play, freshness of images, allegories and metaphors. Thanks to Navoi's lyrics, Farsi is losing its status as the only literary language. Babur in his book of memoirs said this about his language:

The poet also composed the so-called "Sofa Fani"- a collection of lyrical poems in Farsi.

“Forty Hadiths” (“Arbain Kirk Hadith”)- a work of a different type. These are 40 quatrains in the Turkic language, written on the themes of the hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad. The basis of the work was Jami’s work of the same name in Farsi (in essence, Navoi’s work is a free translation).

"Five" represents a “response” (nazir) to the “Quintuples” of Nizami Ganjavi and the Indo-Persian poet Amir Khosrow Dehlavi (wrote in Farsi). Navoi reproduces the plots of their works, some formal features, but often gives a different interpretation of the themes and plot situations, a new interpretation of events and images.

"The Confusion of the Righteous"- the first poem of the cycle, a work of didactic-philosophical sense. It develops the motives of Nizami’s poem “Treasury of Secrets”. It consists of 64 chapters, which touch on issues of religion, morality and ethics. The poem exposes feudal strife, the cruelty of state nobles, the arbitrariness of the beks, and the hypocrisy of the sheikhs. The poet passionately affirms the ideals of justice.

"Seven Planets"- a poem that unites seven fairy-tale short stories within a common framework. In an allegorical form, the poem criticizes the entourage of Alisher Navoi, the rulers (Timurids), Sultan Hussein and his courtiers.

"Iskander's Wall"- the last poem of the cycle, written on a common semi-fantastic plot about the life of the ideal just ruler-sage Iskander (Alexander the Great is known in the East under this name).

Philological treatises

The richness of the Turkic language is proven by many facts. Talented poets coming from the people's environment should not demonstrate their abilities in the Persian language. If they can create in both languages, then it is still very desirable that they write more poetry in their own language.” And further: “It seems to me that I established the great truth before the worthy people of the Turkic people, and they, having learned true strength their speech and its expressions, the excellent qualities of their language and its words, got rid of the disparaging attacks on their language and speech from those who composed poetry in Persian.

Issues of literary theory and versification are raised in the treatise "Size scales". The theoretical provisions and the creativity of Alisher Navoi had a huge impact both on the development of Uzbek and Uyghur literature in the Chagatai language, and on the development of other Turkic-language literatures (Turkmen, Azerbaijani, Turkish, Tatar).

Historical writings

At the end of his life, Alisher Navoi writes an allegorical poem "The language of birds"(“Parliament of Birds” or “Simurgh”) () and a philosophical and allegorical treatise "Beloved of Hearts"(), dedicated to the best structure of society. The book reveals the influence of the writings of Yusuf Balasaguni and Saadi's Gulistan. The book condemns cruel, ignorant and immoral rulers and affirms the idea of centralizing power in the hands of a just, enlightened ruler. Throughout his life, Alisher Navoi combined literary activities with political ones. Being a man of high position, he made a significant contribution to the improvement of the socio-economic life of the country; patronage of science, art, and literature; always tried to establish peace and harmony.

Year	Name	Original	Note
1483-1485	Five	Anchovy	The Confusion of the Righteous (Khairat al-Abrar), Farhad and Shirin (Farhad at Shirin), Leili and Majnun (Laili at Majnun), Seven Planets (Sab'a-yi sayyara), Iskandar's Wall (Sadd-i Iskandari)
1488	History of the rulers of Ajam	Tarikh-i muluk-i ajam
1492	Five Confused	Hamsat al-mutahayyirin
1491-1492, 1498-1499	Meeting of the Chosen	Majalis an-nafais	In 1498-1499 A. Navoi added to his work
1498	Treasury of Thoughts	Khaza'in al-ma'ani	The collection consists of four divans: Wonders of Childhood, Rarities of Youth, Curiosities of Middle Ages, Useful tips old age
1499	Bird language	Lisan at-tair
1499	Judgment about two languages	Muhaqamat al-Lughatayn
1500	Lover of Hearts	Mahbub al-qulub
after 1485	History of Prophets and Scientists	Tarihi anbiya wa hukama
after 1492	Weight dimensions	Mezan al-avzan	also possible translation "Size scales"
after 1493	Biography of Pakhlavan Muhammad	Manakib-i Pahlavan Muhammad
after 1489	Biography of Sayyid Hassan Ardasher	Manakib-i Sayyid Hasan-i Ardashir

Language of works:

Under a pseudonym Fani (perishable) wrote in Farsi, but created his main works under a pseudonym Navoi (melodic) in the literary Chagatai language, on the development of which he had a noticeable influence. His work gave a powerful impetus to the evolution of literature in the Turkic languages, especially Chagatai and the traditions of literature in the Uzbek and Uyghur languages that adopted it.

Biography

Origin

Alisher Navoi’s mentor and friend Abdurakhman Jami (1414-1492), emphasizing his Turkic origin, wrote: “Even though he was a Turk and I was a Tajik, we were both close to each other.”

In his poems, Alisher Navoi writes the following about the Turks as his people:

But the people enjoyed “Arbain” only in Farsi,

But the Turks could not usefully comprehend poetry.

Then I set a goal for myself: for my people,

I will rearrange the poems without missing anything from Arbain

In the historiography of the Soviet period, Alisher Navoi was interpreted as an Uzbek poet.

Biography

In 1466-1469, Alisher Navoi lived in Samarkand and studied at a madrasah. Here he made many friends. After his friend, Timurid Hussein Baykara, came to power, Alisher Navoi returned to his native Herat.

Navoi provided patronage and financial support to scientists, thinkers, artists, musicians, poets and calligraphers. Under him, a circle of scientists and creative people was formed in Herat, which, among others, included himself, Jami, the Sultan, who wrote poetry under the pseudonym Husaini, historians Mirkhond, Khondamir, Vasifi, Davlyatshah Samarkandi, artist Behzad, architect Kawam-ad- din. On the initiative of Navoi and under his leadership, construction was carried out in Herat: a madrasah, a khanqah, a library, and a hospital were erected on the banks of the Injil Canal.

As a thinker, Alisher Navoi was a member of the Naqshbandi dervish Sufi order. Following the ethics of the Sufi, Navoi observed celibacy and did not have a harem.

Works

The creative heritage of Alisher Navoi is huge and multifaceted: it includes about 30 major works - divans (collections of poems), poems (dastans), philosophical and scientific treatises. Using centuries-old cultural traditions Muslim peoples of Central Asia and the Middle East, Alisher Navoi creates completely original works.

Lyrics

The poet's lyrical heritage is enormous. There are 3,150 known works of his in the ghazal genre, included in diwans in Chagatai and Farsi.

Navoi considered one of his main tasks to be the development of the literary Chagatai language (Turkic). It was in the poet’s lyrics that Turkic verse reached the heights of artistic expressiveness: his ghazals amaze with their filigree detailing, masterly compliance with formal rules, semantic play, and the freshness of images, allegories and metaphors. Thanks to Navoi's lyrics, Farsi is losing its status as the only literary language. Once Babur in the book “Babur-name” said about the Navoi language:

The poet also composed the so-called "Sofa Fani"- a collection of lyrical poems in Farsi.

"Five" represents a “response” (nazir) to the “Finaries” of Nizami Ganjavi and the Indo-Persian poet Amir Khosrow Dehlavi (wrote in Farsi). Navoi reproduces the plots of their works, some formal features, but often gives a different interpretation of the themes and plot situations, a new interpretation of events and images.

"Leili and Majnun"- a poem based on the plot of a medieval Arabic legend (also developed by Nizami Ganjavi, Amir Khosrow, Jami) about the sad love of the young poet Qays for the beautiful Leili. The piercing emotionality of the conflict and exquisite poetic language the poems made it widely popular among Eastern readers. The poem had big influence on the literature of the East and Uzbek folklore.

"Farhad and Shirin"- a heroic-romantic poem based on an old plot about the love of the hero Farhad for the Armenian beauty Shirin, who is claimed by the Persian Shah Khosrow. The plot was developed by Nizami Ganjavi, but Navoi's poem is distinguished by the fact that the author refocused his attention from Shah Khosrow to the hero Farhad, making him an ideal epic hero. This was possible due to the fact that Alisher Navoi used the techniques of folk poetics and the traditions of folk tales (dastans).

"Wall of Iskandar"- the last poem of the cycle, written on a common semi-fantastic plot about the life of the ideal just ruler-sage Iskandar (Alexander the Great is known in the East under this name).

Philological treatises

The richness of the Turkic language is proven by many facts. Talented poets coming from the people's environment should not demonstrate their abilities in the Persian language. If they can create in both languages, then it is still very desirable that they write more poetry in their own language.” And further: “It seems to me that I established the great truth before the worthy people of the Turkic people, and they, having learned the true power of their speech and its expressions, the wonderful qualities of their language and its words, got rid of the disparaging attacks on their language and speech from the constituents poems in Persian.

Historical writings

Alisher Navoi is the author of biographical and historical books: "Five Troubled"() dedicated to Jami; anthology "Gathering of the Refined"(-) contains brief characteristics writers - contemporaries of Navoi; "The History of the Iranian Kings" And "The History of Prophets and Sages", contains information about legendary and historical figures of the East, about Zoroastrian and Koranic mythology.

Later works about the state

At the end of his life, Alisher Navoi writes an allegorical poem "The Language of Birds"(“Parliament of Birds” or “Simurgh”) () and a philosophical and allegorical treatise "Beloved of Hearts"(), dedicated to the best structure of society. The book reveals the influence of the writings of Yusuf Balasaguni and Saadi's Gulistan. The book condemns cruel, ignorant and immoral rulers and affirms the idea of centralizing power in the hands of a just, enlightened ruler. Throughout his life, Alisher Navoi combined literary activities with political ones. Being a man of high position, he made a significant contribution to the improvement of the socio-economic life of the country; patronage of science, art, and literature; always tried to establish peace and harmony.

Year	Name	Original	Note
1483-1485	Five	Anchovy	Confusion of the righteous (Khairat al-abrar), Farhad and Shirin (Farhad from Shirin), Leili and Majnun (Laili from Majnun), Seven planets (Sab "a-yi sayyara), Wall of Iskandar (Sadd-i Iskandari)
1488	History of the rulers of Ajam	Tarikh-i muluk-i ajam
1492	Five Confused	Hamsat al-mutahayyirin
1491-1492, 1498-1499	Meeting of the Chosen	Majalis an-nafais	In 1498-1499 A. Navoi added to his work
1498	Treasury of Thoughts	Khaza "in al-ma"ani	The collection consists of four divans: Wonders of childhood, Rarities of youth, Curiosities of middle age, Useful tips for old age
1499	Bird language	Lisan at-tair
1499	Judgment about two languages	Muhaqamat al-Lughatayn
1500	Lover of Hearts	Mahbub al-qulub
after 1485	History of Prophets and Scientists	Tarihi anbiya wa hukama
after 1492	Weight dimensions	Mezan al-avzan	also possible translation "Size scales"
after 1493	Biography of Pakhlavan Muhammad	Manakib-i Pahlavan Muhammad
after 1489	Biography of Sayyid Hassan Ardasher	Manakib-i Sayyid Hasan-i Ardashir

Posthumous recognition

Gallery

Bibliography

Alisher Navoi. - T.: “Fan”, 1968-1970. - T. 1-10. - 3095 pp. - no ISBN
Navoi A. Poems and poems. - M., 1965.
Navoi A. Works. - T. 1-10. - Tashkent, 1968-70.
Navoi A. Five poems. - M.: Artist. lit., 1972. (BVL)
Navoi A. Selected lyrics. - Tashkent: Publishing House of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Uzbekistan, 1978.
Navoi A. Iskander’s Wall / Retelling by I. Makhsumov. - Tashkent: Literary Publishing House. and art, 1978.
Navoi A. Poems and poems / Introduction. Art. Kamila Yashen; Comp. and note. A.P. Kayumova. - L.: Sov. writer, 1983. - 920 p. Circulation 40,000 copies. (Poet's Library. Large series. Second edition)
Navoi A. Beloved of hearts. - Tashkent: Literary Publishing House. and art, 1983.
Navoi A. Book. 1-2. - Tashkent: Publishing House of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Uzbekistan, 1983.
Navoi A. Aphorisms. - Tashkent: Publishing House of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Uzbekistan, 1985.
Navoi A. Aphorisms of Alisher Navoi. - Tashkent: Literary Publishing House. and art, 1988.
Navoi A. I didn’t find a friend: Gazelle. - Tashkent: Literary Publishing House. and art, 1988.
Navoi A. Iskander’s Wall / Trans. from Uzbek N. Aishov. - Alma-Ata: Zhazushy, 1989.
Navoi A. Aphorisms. - Tashkent: Ukituvchi, 1991.
Navoi A. Zenitsa oka: [Poems]. - Tashkent Publishing house. about them. Gafur Gulyama, 1991.
Navoi A. Language of birds / Trans. S.N. Ivanov. - 2nd ed. - St. Petersburg: Science, 2007

About Alisher Navoi

Abdullaev V. Navoi in Samarkand. - Samarkand, 1941.
Bertels E.E. Navoi. Experience creative biography. - M. - L., 1948.
Bertels E.E. Favorite works. Navoi and Jami. - M., 1965.
Pulyavin A.A. Genius in the Hearts, 1978.
Boldyrev A.N. Persian translations of “Majalis an-Nafais” by Navoi // Scientific notes of Leningrad State University. - L., 1952. - Ser. 128. - Issue. 3.
Zahidov V. The world of ideas and images of Alisher Navoi. - Tashkent, 1961.
Svidina E.D. Alisher Navoi. Biobibliography (1917-1966). - Tashkent, 1968.
Khaitmetov A. Navoi’s creative method. - Tashkent, 1965.

Notes

Links

TSB (Russian). Archived from the original on February 29, 2012.

Categories:

Personalities in alphabetical order
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Born on February 9
Born in 1441
Born in Herat
Died January 3
Died in 1501
Died in Herat
Poets in alphabetical order
Chagatai poets
Turkic poets
Persian poets
Poets of Khorasan
Poets of the 15th century
Philosophers in alphabetical order
Philosophers of the 15th century
Historians by alphabet
Historians of the 15th century
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Persons:Herat
Persons:Khorasan
Alisher Navoi

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Introduction

The biography of Alisher Navoi, this most talented poet and outstanding thinker of his era, has long attracted the attention of many oriental historians and literary scholars. Entire works are devoted to its study, and in the poet’s homeland, a school of Navoi studies was even created. But the relevance of studying this topic does not decrease over time, since it would probably be worth devoting volumes to the analysis of each work of this author, whose poetics are extremely interesting and varied in techniques, and whose views are unusually progressive for a representative of medieval Eastern civilization.

Born in Herat, one of the main cultural centers of the then East, and from childhood having absorbed the beauty and sophistication of the literary language of Farsi, Alisher very early realized his mission - to become the founder of Uzbek literature. In his book “The Dispute of Two Languages,” he wrote that the Turks should stick to their native language: “If they have the ability to write in both languages, they should primarily write in their native language...” And although this was by no means accepted in his society , Navoi had the courage and intelligence to become a worthy example for the poets of his people.

In addition, Navoi believed: “Whoever devotes his life to serving science, his name will remain immortal even after death.” And the fact that the memory of Navoi as a wonderful multifaceted scientist and extraordinary statesman passed through the centuries, immortalizing his name, in my opinion, very eloquently testifies to the veracity of the words spoken.

But, since creative heritage Alisher Navoi is very rich and represents a huge historical and literary interest; I would like, first of all, in my work to show its diversity and diversity, dwelling in more detail on the most outstanding achievements of this extraordinary and truly bright personality, who made a significant contribution to the cultural and socio-political life of its time.

The wonders of childhood and the rarity of youth

The one who was destined under the poetic name Navoi to become the founder of Uzbek literature, an outstanding thinker and statesman, Nizamiddin Mir Alisher was born in Herat on February 9, 1441.

The boy came from the Turkic feudal nobility. His father Giyasuddin Kichkine during the reign of Sharukh was probably close to the court of the padishah and owned large lands. The mother was the daughter of one of the Kabul emirs - Sheikh Abusand Chang.

Little Alisher lived in contentment. The parents decided to give their lively and inquisitive child a good education. Almost from the age of four, Alisher attended one of the best schools in Herat. The historian Khondamir praises his studies.

The boy’s high cultural development was also influenced by his family. Thus, one of his uncles, Abu Said, wrote poetry under the nickname Kabuli, the second, Muhammad Ali, was a good musician, famous for his art of calligraphy and wrote poetry under the pseudonym Gharibi. Cousin Alisher, Seid-aka Haydar, bore the poetic nickname Sabuhi.

While studying at school, Alisher was fond of reading poetry, especially admiring the lines of “Gulistan” and “Bustan” by Saadi, as well as Fariduddin Attar’s poem “The Conversation of Birds.” And he began writing his poetry early, at the age of seven or eight. Thus, already in childhood the literary tastes and interests of the future great poet took shape.

Among Alisher's schoolmates was the future ruler of Herat, Hussein Baykara. The children were very friendly. But soon external circumstances separated them. When Shahrukh died in 1447 and an internecine struggle for power flared up in the country, Giyasuddin Kichkine decided to leave motherland and with a group of noble fellow countrymen move to Iraq.

Early years Alisher passed away from Herat. But the voluntary exile did not last long. In the 50s, some order was restored in the Timurid domains. Abulkasim Babur took possession of Khorasan with its capital Herat, and Abu Said reigned in Samarkand.

Alisher's family returned to Herat, and his father held a number of positions under Babur. At one time he was the ruler of the Khorasan city of Sebzevar.

When Alisher was fifteen years old, he entered the service of Abulkasim Babur.

The ruler of Khorasan, who loved poetry, encouraged the gifted young man’s poetic experiments. Alisher showed great ability to study languages and at that time was already as fluent in Persian and Arabic, as well as his native Turkic. He wrote poems in two languages, signing the Persian ones with the name Fani (“Frail”), and the Turkic ones with the name Navoi (“Melodious”).

At that time, some poets (Lutfi, Sakkaki) wrote in the Turkic language - contrary to the opinion established in aristocratic circles that in rough in native language You cannot express the subtlest thoughts and feelings.

Young Alisher once showed his poems to the elderly Lutfi, who was considered the most sophisticated Turkic poet. Lutfi was delighted with the young man’s ghazals and exclaimed: “I would willingly exchange ten to twelve thousand of my verses in two languages for this ghazal and would consider the deal very successful.”

The famous poet Sheikh Kamal had the same flattering opinion about Alisher’s talent.

Babur’s retinue also included Alisher’s longtime acquaintance, Hussein Baykar. This ambitious man dreamed of power, of conquest, of the throne. When Abulqasim Babur died in 1457 and the struggle for the throne arose again, Hussein Bayqara plunged headlong into this struggle. He went in search of warlike friends, beks and allies.

Alisher, meanwhile, lived in Mashhad, studying science (mathematics, legislation, astronomy) and poetry. His days passed slowly, hard and lonely. In one of the messages to Sayid Hasan, who supported him during this difficult period, Navoi writes that he had nowhere to live, nothing to eat, and no one to present his poems to. But it was precisely in these sad days that the first meeting took place with Abdurrahman Jami, who became his true friend and a mentor in creativity.

In this situation, Navoi had a chance to go to Samarkand, famous for its scientists, madrassas, and observatory. For two years the poet studied at the madrasah of the legal scholar and Arabist Fazullah Abullays. The local ruler, Akhmad Khazhibek, who wrote under the pseudonym Vafai, brought the poet closer to him. Other literary figures of that era - Shaykhim Suheili, Mirzabek, Aloi Shashi, Yusufshah Safoi - quickly became friends with him.

The talent and recognition of Navoi, already at that time a famous poet, is evidenced by the following fact: in 1464-1465. fans of his work are preparing the first collection of his poems (sofa).

It was in Samarkand that Navoi’s financial situation improved significantly, and, more importantly, Alisher for the first time began to delve into state affairs and gain experience in governing the state.

I think that a poetic passage written about him by Aibek can become a unique portrait of young Navoi:

He is the protector of people from evil,

And his smile is bright,

The power of youth, a spring of feelings

It will not run dry for a moment.

He knows how to take care of the treasury,

To make the country happy.

Give her water, science shelter

And hospitals for the poor.

He has a lot of things to do, worries,

There is only one thing on my mind – people...

Curiosities of the Middle Ages

In 1469, Hussein Bayqara still managed to take the Herat throne. At his request, Navoi is allowed to return. On a festive April day, he presented the Sultan with his “New Moon” qasida, in which he sincerely congratulated him on his accession to the throne. In gratitude, Navoi receives the position of keeper of the seal. From this time his active socio-political and cultural activities truly began.

The early period of Navoi's service at court was distinguished by the fact that the ruler endowed him with great powers. Alisher’s dream was poetry, so he soon resigned. However, in February 1472 he was given the title of emir and appointed chief vizier. He constantly travels around the country performing his duties. In the “Dedicatory Record” he wrote: “As far as possible, I tried to break the sword of oppression and heal the wounds of the oppressed with healing ointment.”

Great importance Navoi gave importance to the construction of cultural and educational institutions. In the Musalla district of Herat, Navoi’s funds were used to build a large, beautiful madrasah “Ikhlasiya”, a house for Koran readers “Daral-khuffaz”, a house for scientists, visitors and dervishes “Khalasiya”, a house for doctors “Darash-shifa”, and a cathedral mosque. A canal was also built. In Khorasan there were about three hundred socially useful and educational buildings created thanks to the emir. Among them are many historical and architectural monuments, rabats, mosques, sardobas (covered reservoirs), and swimming pools.

Scientists, poets, musicians, calligraphers, and painters were surrounded by Navoi's care.

But, caring for others, Alisher did not forget his own calling, he wrote his poems every free minute, often at night.

Approximately between 1472 and 1476. he, at the insistence of Hussein, composed his own first divan, “Rarities of Beginnings,” and, around 1480, a second divan, “Rare Ends.”

Navoi’s lyrical creations and collections of his ghazals glorified the name of their creator in many Eastern countries. But the poet dreamed of writing something more for his people and in the language of his people, like the “Shah-name” of the Persian poet Ferdowsi.

And in the fortieth year of life, in the prime of spiritual and physical strength, Navoi began his main poetic work - “Khamsa” (“Five”).

For the sake of a lofty plan, in 1476 Alisher relieved himself of the post of vizier. But the court clique hated him. Navoi, in turn, could not hide his contempt for the sycophancy and deceit that reigned among the Sultan’s associates.

Jami provided him with enormous support during this period. Largely thanks to him, Navoi wrote all five poems of his “Khamsa” in just two years (1483-1485): a didactic poem consisting of philosophical aphorisms and parables, “The Confusion of the Righteous”, the epic of labor and creativity “Farhad and Shirin”, the novel of love and sacrificial feat “Leili and Majnun”, the adventurous philosophical story “Seven Planets” and the historical and political novel “Iskander’s Shaft”.

It should be emphasized that the main feature of Navoi’s positive heroes is genuine humanism. They are hostile to any violence against the human person. Thus, one of the main characters of Navoi’s works, Farhad, is a true humanist, a defender of the offended and oppressed. He is not able to offend a fly, and if someone has to experience sorrow, Farhad is more upset than the victim himself. “If a burdock accidentally fell into a beggar’s leg, he was ready to pull it out with his eyelashes.”

But humanism in Navoi’s understanding is not soft-hearted sentimentality, not the reckless kindness of a sensitive nature. Navoi values and celebrates conscious, purposeful humanity. Farhad actively fights evil, and when the despot Khosrow attacks Armenia, the hero, “incapable of offending a fly,” draws his sword from his sheath to decisively fight the invaders.

Navoi's creativity is imbued with burning hatred for tyrants and enslavers of the people. In “The Confusion of the Righteous,” the poet, without any allegory, angrily exposes the tyranny of the rulers:

Who has chosen the path of violence to enjoyment,

He will be cursed and despised forever in the world!

He will find curses and hatred among the people,

In whom will the people find an oppressor?

IN harsh time feudal civil strife that brought countless disasters to the people, the poet dreamed of a society whose foundations would be based on lasting peace and friendship. It seemed to Alisher that peace in the country could be established only with the help of the strong centralized power of the monarch, who could create a strong power.

In these historical conditions, this was the brightest progressive idea, and not only for Central Asia.

And in general, it must be emphasized that the poet devoted a lot of time to the problem of defending the Motherland.

He's personal experience knew that persuasion, words, and preaching could not “break the sword of violence.” The enemy can only be defeated by force in open struggle. There is no other way to protect the Fatherland from ruin, from the attack of foreigners who are “ready to lick up, like locusts, all the greenery and all the land in distant lands.” From Navoi’s point of view, patriotism is a natural feeling for a person. It has nothing to do with national limitations.

Navoi are least likely to think about racial differences, about the superiority of people of one nationality or another. In “Khamsa” we find representatives of many countries and peoples: Farhad is the son of the Chinese people, his friend Shapur is an Iranian, Shirin is an Armenian, Majnun is an Arab.

Blacks, Turkmens, Georgians, and Arabs appear in the works of the founder of Uzbek literature. Navoi primarily evaluates spiritual qualities, and neither national nor social differences play any role for him.

Latest tips old age

Analogies sometimes lead to incorrect conclusions, and therefore it is dangerous to compare the time of Navoi with the Renaissance in the West. But if we consider the main and most characteristic of the Renaissance to be the desire to liberate the human personality from the strong shackles of theology and religious fanaticism, then we find something similar in the aspirations and aspirations of the cultural figures of Herat in the 15th century.

It is quite natural that it was closer to old age, with the acquisition of the most valuable life experience, that Navoi’s views as a thinker finally crystallized, and the diamond of his talent sparkled with many dazzling facets.

Navoi is contradictory in his religious and philosophical statements. He devotes enthusiastic odes to Muhammad, the “favorite” of the Muslim god, and the four first caliphs, but as a leading man of his time, as a thinker, he is free from the religious intolerance of his environment, there is not a trace of fanaticism in him. For him, God is not that powerful being who is above the world, in some imaginary space. In Alisher’s understanding, God is the world, he is embodied, dissolved in all worldly things and phenomena. All changes taking place around us are explained by the action of divine beauty reflected in an endless series of mirrors. In this way, Navoi’s thoughts are similar to Sufi philosophy.

In addition, Navoi claims that there is no body without a soul, just as there is no soul without a body. The coordination of spirit and matter occurs through the human brain. The source of all knowledge, in his opinion, is our senses, and all the material obtained by them is processed by the mind.

Navoi’s saying has become popular: “Going through the world and remaining imperfect is the same as leaving the bathhouse unwashed.”

Navoi himself constantly improved, trying to process any acquired knowledge creatively, and therefore remained in the memory of his contemporaries and descendants not only as a great poet and outstanding statesman, but also as a historian, linguist, artist, musician, and calligrapher.

Such a variety of talents of Alisher Navoi was noted by his contemporaries. The rave reviews left to us by Jami, Babur, Mirkhond, Khondemir, Sam Mirza and Daulet Shah invariably emphasize the richness of Navoi's interests. Thus, Mirza himself wrote about him: “This great man, this virtuous scientist did not waste a single minute of his life, which he devoted entirely to the study of sciences and good deeds, as well as promoting the progress of science and, finally, the compilation of literary works, which to the end of the world will remain indestructible monuments of his glory!

In addition to the “indestructible monuments of glory,” Navoi also created scientific works. The most famous of them include: “The Dispute of Two Languages”, “A Collection of the Refined” (literary work), “Scales of Dimensions” (according to the theory of aruz), “Mufradat” (according to the theory of the muamma genre). In addition, he wrote treatises on historical topics, “The History of the Iranian Kings” and “The History of the Prophets and Sages.” His artistic letters were included in the collection “Munshaat”. The memoirs of this outstanding author include the biography of Jami - “The Five Confused”, “The Biography of Sayyid Hasan Ardasher”, “The Biography of Pakhlavan Muhammad”. The most last work Navoi is considered to be “Mahbub al-qulub”, written in 1500. It expresses Navoi’s finally formulated, highest views on society and politics.

But to sum it up various activities Alisher Navoi, it is still worth returning to the description of his life’s journey to see what its completion was like.

As mentioned above, Alisher has not been directly involved in government affairs for a long time. But as a tireless defender of the people from the violence and willfulness of beks and officials, he seemed too dangerous to his enemies.

Under the influence of the palace nobility, Hussein sharply changed his attitude towards his former friend. In 1487, Navoi received a strict order to go to a remote province, Astrabad, by the ruler of this region. It was an honorable but cruel exile.

In Astrabad, Navoi showed vigorous activity. He cared about schools and hospitals, about the poor, about the improvement of the city and the province...

And again, in exile, he wrote beautiful poetry. These were mournful ghazals, in which the feelings of a poet poured out, powerless to change the course of events and doomed to see injustice and malice around him. He also wrote angry, accusatory poems, in which he called on the Sultan to abandon his unworthy life and turn his attention to the suffering and needs of the people.

In Astrabad, Navoi collected many thousands of lines of his ghazals into a large collection, which he called “Char-divan” (“Four Collections”).

But, yearning for his native Herat, the poet decided to be audacious and returned to the capital without permission. The Sultan allowed him to stay. Alisher received the title of “His Majesty’s close associate,” but took almost no part in politics.

Many difficult experiences befell Navoi during this last period of his life. In 1492, his great friend and teacher, Jami, died, mourned by the poet.

During these years, Hussein no longer felt secure on the throne. His sons were eager to expand their domains. The Sultan's eldest son, Badiuzzeman, rebelled. Then Hussein remembered his old friend Navoi. Alisher, in the name of peace and national tranquility, acted as a mediator between the padishah and the rebellious prince.

But even Alisher's wisdom was powerless to prevent internecine war. The poet called his homeland “a citadel of madness”, “a prison of torment”. He mourned that the flourishing Khorasan and its hardworking people seemed to be “covered with black paint”, that “the Sultan was tearing the roof off his country, like from a chicken coop.”

During one of the campaigns, when Hussein Bayqara was far from the capital, his son Badiuzzeman approached Herat and besieged it. The Sultan entrusted the defense to the governor Valibek and Alisher.

The latter was already about sixty years old at that time. The constant struggle with enemies and persistent creative work undermined his health. Nevertheless, at a dangerous moment for the Motherland, this bent old man, usually leaning on a stick, with youthful zeal took care of strengthening the city walls and ramparts. As a result, after a forty-day siege, he managed to reconcile father and son.

This was probably Navoi’s last good deed.

In December 1500 he felt completely ill. The treatment of skilled doctors did not help, and on January 3, 1501 he died.

According to the stories of contemporaries, general grief engulfed Herat. From the Sultan to the artisan, everyone mourned the great poet, thinker and statesman. In the flowery expression of the chronicler, “from the screams that rose to the sky, its blue was covered with clouds and tears poured down to the ground in a stream.”

The people mourned one of best sons theirs. And he lived. He lived and continues to live in his immortal creations...

conclusions

Alisher Navoi was the first outstanding representative of Uzbek literature, who opened the colorful, unusually imaginative world of his people to the reader. This world was captured in the considerable legacy of the poet and thinker - almost 30 collections of poetry, major poems, prose, and scientific treatises.

Famous literary critic and linguist V.M. Zhirmunsky wrote: “Navoi, like his Western contemporaries such as Leonardo da Vinci, appears to us as a comprehensively developed and integral personality, uniting science and art, philosophical theory and social practice in his universalism.” And the value of his achievements becomes even more obvious in the light of historical events the era in which he happened to live. After all, it was a time of extraordinary and unusual contradictions!

Thus, ten years before the birth of Alisher Navoi, the noble Frenchwoman Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in Europe. Alisher was a child when the outstanding scientist Ulugbek, “bringing the stars closer to his eyes,” was killed. In the same century, Mengli Giray burned Kyiv to the ground. At the same time, the incomparable Giorgione dreamed of his paintings glorifying female beauty and courage... In this century, Moscow was finally freed from Tatar-Mongol yoke, Turkish army Sultan Mehmet took Constantinople by storm, Columbus discovered America, and Vasco da Gama sailed around Africa...

It was a terrible and wild age.

It was a wonderful and great century.

A century of blood, violence and bonfires, on which the most outstanding minds, the most honest hearts, the most insightful souls burned. An age of science, art and discovery that was destined to be great.

And I believe that the poetry of Alisher Navoi is also one of the greatest world discoveries of the 15th century, worthy of everyone’s attention. After all, this poet probably succeeded in the most important thing: to leave behind not only monuments, but memory.

List of sources and literature used

1. Aibek. Guli and Navoi. (From folk legends). – Tashkent, 1971.

2. Bertels E.E. Navoi: experience of creative biography. – M. -L., 1948.

3. History of Uzbek literature. In 2 volumes. T. 1. (From ancient times to the 16th century) - Tashkent, 1987.

4. Navoi A. Selected works. / Ed. Deitch A., Penkovsky L. - L.: Soviet writer, 1948.

5. Navoi A. Poems and poems. – L.: Soviet writer, 1983.

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