P rominent t ajik f igures of the

Nurjonov, Nizom

Tajik drama critic and literary scholar Nizom Nurjonov was born on

December 18, 1923, into a religious family in Bukhara. He received his

early education in Dushanbe. He joined the CPSU in 1948.

Nurjonov graduated from the Dushanbe Pedagogical Institute in

1947. In 1952, he was a researcher for the history division of the

Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan. In 1958, he became the Head of the

History Department of the Academy of Sciences. At his suggestion, in

1958, an Art Department was inaugurated at the Academy. Nurjonov

defended his doctoral dissertation in 1968 and became a professor in

1973. Anthropology, traditional music, dance and the history of dance

in Ferghana, Samarqand, and Bukhara form a major part of his research.

After teaching the History of World Theater for 27 years, Nurjonov

retired in 1988. He continues to work as a core scientific researcher.

Nurjonov has written critical accounts for many of the plays performed

in Dushanbe, Bukhara, and Khujand and he has participated in many

congresses dealing with the Tajik theater. His major contributions

include Teatri Mardumii Tojik (Tajikistan's People's Theater, 1956),

Ta'rikhi Teatri Shavravii Tojik (The History of the Theater of Soviet

---

Iraj Bashiri

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

222

Tajikistan, 1967), Dar Olami Balet (In the World of the Ballet, 1975),

Tadzhikskii narodnii teatr (Tajikistan's People's Theater, 1956), Istoria

tadzhikskogo sovetskogo teatra 1917-1941(The History of the Soviet-

Tajik Theater [1917-1941], 1967), Tadzhikskii teatr (Tajik Theater,

1968), "Muhamadjon Qosimov" ("Muhammadjon Qosimov," 1978),

"Asli Burhonov" ("Asli Burhonov," 1982), and Nim Umri Pur Samar

(The Fruitful Half of Life, 1980).

Nurjonov joined the Union of Writers of the Soviet Union in 1961.

Nurjonov was recognized as a Distinguished Artist of Tajikistan in

1974. He also received four medals and the Honorary Order of the

Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of Tajikistan.

Nurjonov has traveled in England, Italy, France, Greece, Poland,

Iran, and Afghanistan.

Nurov, Amon

Tajik scholar and linguist Amon Nurov, also referred to as Nur, was

born into a family of farmers in the Maschoh district of Zarafshan

province in 1938.

He graduated from Tajikistan State University in 1959 with a degree

in Persian language and literature. Between 1959 and 1966, he served as

an employee of the Language and Literature Institute of the Academy of

Sciences of Tajikistan. From 1966 to 1969, he taught at Maschoh high

schools. In 1969, he joined the staff of the Ensaiklopidioi Sovetii Tojik

(The Tajik Soviet Encyclopedia). The two-volume Farhangi Osori Jomi

(The Dictionary of Jami's Works), 1983-84, is among his other

contributions to compiling information in encyclopedic format.

Nurov won the Mavlavi Language Prize in 1991.

---

223

O