P rominent t ajik f igures of the

Rahimov, Sayf

Tajik cinematographer and author Sayf Rahimov, also referred to as

Sayf Rahim, was born into a farming family in the village of Dektur in

the Khavaling district of Kulab on November 20, 1953. After complet-

ing Middle School, he joined the Kulab Music and Drama Theater as an

actor. In 1974, he became a porter for the Krupskaia Sash Factory in

Dushanbe.

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Iraj Bashiri

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

262

Rahimov graduated from Tajikistan State University with a degree in

Persian Language and Literature in 1975. Soon after, he became an As-

sistant Cinematographer at Tajik Television. He also was employed as

an Editor in the Drama and Music Division of the Studio. Between 1980

and 1981, he was the propaganda Editor for Tajikistan State Radio. In

1983, he was both the Chief Editor/writer of music for Radio Tajikistan

and the literary Editor of Tojikistoni Soveti. Between 1975 and 1983,

Rahimov served on the State Committee for Radio and Television. In

1999, he became the Minister of Radio and Television of Tajikistan. In

this capacity, he revamped state programming and introduced a number

of programming initiatives with lasting influence on the future direction

of Tajik broadcasting.

Rahimov has a style of writing unique to himself. His stories delve

deeply into the realities of life and, with a philosopher's eye, identify re-

curring problems. His study of the youth culture of Tajikistan is par-

ticularly of great importance.

Rahimov's first story entitled Sitorahoi Sari Tanur (Stars Over the

Oven Pit) was first published in the monthly Sadoi Sharq in 1982. In

1984, it was published again as a part of a collection of short stories un-

der the same title. By the time his Az Yodho, Az Yodho... (Memories, O

Memories) was published in 1988, Rahimov was already recognized as

a trend-setter for Tajik prose of the end of the 20

th

 century.

Many of Rahimov's poems have been published in Moscow and

translated into different languages of the Republics of the Former Soviet

Union. Rahimov's award-winning feature film entitled Sitorahoi Sari

Tanur was based on his psychological probing originally set forth in his

novella of the same name.

Rahimov joined the Union of Writers of the Soviet Union in 1987.

He was assassinated in Dushanbe in 2000.

Rahimov, Yahyo

Tajik doctor of anatomy Yahyo Abdulloevich Rahimov was born in

Khujand on September 15, 1916. He joined the CPSU in 1944.

During 1931 and 1932, he worked on the Vakhsh railroad. Between

1932 and 1938, he was a student and secretary of the Komsomol Orga-

nization of the Leninabad School for Assistant Surgeons. From 1938 to

1942, he was a student at the Ashkabad State Institute of Medicine. In

1942 and 1943, he was a student at Tajikistan State Institute of Medi-

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