P rominent t ajik f igures of the

Shukurzoda, Mirzo

Tajik author and journalist Mirzo Shukurzoda was born in the vil-

lage of Khadgif of the district of Maschoh of Zarafshan province in

1949.

Shukurzoda graduated from Tajikistan State University with a de-

gree in journalism in 1973, and worked for Tajikistoni Shavravi, the

Sado va Simoi Tojikiston Committee, and several literary publications.

Shukurzoda's early stories appeared in 1973 in Ma'orif va Madani-

yat. These early efforts were complemented by "Umri dar Roh" ("A

Lifetime on the Road", 1975); "Rishtaboron" ("Downpour," 1979); and

"Hunar az Koni Zar Bih" ("Art Is Better than a Gold Mine," 1981. His

first collection of short stories was published in 1987 under the title of

Sitorahoi Rakhshanda (Shining Stars). This work was followed in 1989

by Tighi Jonbakhsh (The Life-Imparting Sword), which includes a por-

tion of Safarnomai Afghonistan (The Afghan Diary), "Qissai Dil" ("The

Story of the Heart") and several other pieces.

In 1990, Shukurzoda presented a well-researched account of the

genesis of the word Tajik and the people related to it in "Tojik, Tojdor

va Tojvar" ("Tajik, Crowned and Royal"). This work was published

again in 1995 under the title of Tojikon dar Qalamravi Ta'rikh (Tajiks

in the Realm of History).

Shakurzoda joined the Union of Journalists of the Soviet Union in

1979.