P rominent t ajik f igures of the

Iraj Bashiri

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

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Nazriev, Rahmat

Tajik poet Rahmat Nazriev, also referred to as Rahmat Nazri, was

born in Kulab on October 15, 1951.

Nazriev graduated from the Tajikistan State University's Journalism

Department in 1973. Thereafter, he worked in the Ma'orif va

Madaniyat, and Adabiyot va San'at journals. He joined the Union of

Writers of Tajikistan in 1979 and, since 1989, he has been a consultant

to the prose division of that Union.

Nazriev began composing poetry when he was only twelve years

old. His first poems were published in Mash'al in 1966, when he was

still attending high school. Supported by Boqi Rahimzoda, his first

collection of poetry, Bargi Sabz (Green Leaf) was published in 1977.

This was followed by other collections including Sitorai Ruz (Day Star,

1982), Lolai Otash (Fire Tulip, 1984), Sarnavisht (Fate, 1988), and

Mehrob (The Altar, 1991).

In composing his verses, Nazriev follows the school of poetry of

Bozor Sobir. He praises the heritage of the Iranian peoples and

advocates the safeguarding of the ancient relics of the Tajiks.

Nazriev has received the Tajikistan Komsomol Prize (1988), the

Mirzo Tursunzoda Prize (1993), and the Rudaki State Prize (2000). He

has traveled to Germany and Iran.