P rominent t ajik f igures of the

Murodi, Ali Muhammad

Tajik poet Ali Muhammad Murodi was born in Khatlan in 1945.

Upon his graduation from Tajikistan State University in 1969, he

entered the teaching profession. From there he went into journalism

and, eventually, following Bozor Sobir, he became a poet.

Murodi's first collection of poems, Ob va Obodoni (Water and

Rehabilitation), was published in 1980. His other contributions include

Dasti Nihol (The Hand of the Sapling, 1983), Nozi Navruz (The

Coquetry of the New Year, 1988), and Rohi Ruh (The Path of the Soul,

1993).

Murodi joined the Union of Writers of Tajikistan in 1987.

Murodov, Jurabek

Tajik singer and composer Jurabek Murodov was born on December

24, 1942, in the village of Kurud in the Aini district of Leninabad. He

joined the CPSU in 1967.

A student of Hoji Abulaziz and Boymuhammad Niyozov, he knows

the intricacies of classical songs more than any of the other composers.

Murodov graduated from Leninabad Pedagogical Institute in 1962.

He spent the next year teaching at the same institute. In 1963, he

became a soloist for the Tajik Philharmonic Society. In 1993, he

became a soloist at the Khujand Theater Named After Kamal Khujandi.

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Iraj Bashiri

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

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His immense abilities as a singer and conductor date to that time. His

repertoire is rich and varied. In the main, however, he deals with lyric

songs, popular ditties, and the music that belong to all the peoples of the

Soviet Union. His themes include praise of the motherland, the beauties

of nature, love and kindness, youth, ethics, and sadness and happiness.

Among these, there is a series based on the poetry of M. Tursunzoda,

including "Vatan" ("Homeland"), "Dili Modar" ("A Mother's Heart"),

"Norizo" ("Dissatisfied"), "Ohanrabo" ("Magnet"), "Oshiyoni Baland"

("Lofty Nest"), "Munojot" ("Incantation"), and "Savti Miskin" ("The

Voice of the Poor"), which are well-known. Other songs based on the

works of medieval masters include "Khush Naboshad" ("It Would Not

be Pleasant") and "Didori Yor" ("The Sight of the Beloved"), by Hafiz

of Shiraz, "Ramzi Shunav" ("Listen to a Secret"), by Jalol al-Din Rumi,

and "Guli Sadbarg" ("A Hundred Petalled Flower"), by B. Rahimzoda.

Murodov is an insightful and innovative composer. He has

incorporated the essence of the classical and popular music of the Tajiks

into more than one hundred songs. His poetry revives the works of

Sharif Juroev, himself an icon in the eyes of his peers. In addition,

Murodov has revived some of the old songs. More importantly, he has

enhanced some of the songs that were originally not as forceful as they

could have been. A collection of his songs was published in 1982 in

Dushanbe. It was called Surudhoi Jurobek Murodov (Jurobek

Murodov's Songs).

Murodov is one of the most well-known singers of classical and

popular Tajik songs. He received the Lenin Komsomol Prize in 1975,

and became a People's Artist of the Soviet Union in 1979. He also

received the Badge of Honor and won the Rudaki State Prize in 1987. In

addition, he received the Red Banner of Courage and the Honorary

Order of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of Tajikistan.

Murodov has traveled to Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Belgium, India,

Canada, United States, Yemen, Pakistan, Syria, and Japan.