P rominent t ajik f igures of the

Zavqibekov, Gurminj

Tajik actor Gurminj Zavqibekov was born on May 1, 1929, in the

village of

 

Shujand

 

in

 

Rushon,

 

Badakhshan.

 

He joined

 

the CPSU in

 

1966.

Zavqibekov graduated from the Tashkent Institute of Theater and

Painting in 1954. In 1977, he became the Director of the Lahuti State

Academy of Dramatic Arts. Zavqibekov is partial to the portrayal of

positive, decisive, upright, and kind heroes. A realist actor, he tends to

distance himself from flights of fancy and hyperbole. The roles he has

performed include Frunze in Hurriat (Freedom), by Gh. Abdullo, 1964;

Ghafur in Boi va Khizmatgor (The Richman and the Servant), by Hamza

Hakimzoda Niyozi, 1957; Mach and Akbar in Rudaki (Rudaki), by S.

Ulughzoda, 1973; Urtaboev in the film Odam Pustashro Ivaz Mikunad

(Man Changes His Skin), directed by R. Perlshtein, 1959; and others.

Zavqibekov's contribution to stage include Saidali in Tufon (Storm),

by Gh. Abdullo and Sh. Qiomov, 1957; Kent in Shoh Lir (King Lear ),

by W. Shakespeare, 1957; Kamol in Man--Fakhriddinov (I Am

Fakhriddinov), by J. Ikromi, 1961; Rustam in Rustam va Suhrob

(Rustam and Suhrab), by Gh. Abdullo, 1967; and many others.

Zavqibekov became a People's Artist of Tajikistan and won the

Rudaki State Prize in 1966.

Zihni, Turequl

Tajik poet and author Turequl Narziqulov Zihni was born in Samar-

qand in 1892. He received his early education first from his father, and

later, at the schools of Samarqand.

Zihni graduated from the Samarqand Pedagogical Institute in 1919.

He proceeded to work at the same institution until 1935. Between 1940

and 1945, he taught Persian at Samarqand State University, and from

1956 until the end of his life, he was a researcher at the Academy of

Sciences of Tajikistan.

Zihni's first poems appeared in 1919 and 1920 in the monthly Shu'lai

Inqilob. His later works include "Omuzish" ("Learning," 1928); Tar-

onahoi Kudakona (Childish Songs, 1933); "Sanoye'i Badii dar Shi'ri

Tojik" ("Artistic Devices in Tajik Poetry," 1963); "San'ati Sukhan"

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