Pahlavan Mahmoud (XIII century)

Pahlavan Mahmoud (XIII century)

 
Kharezm, one of the most ancient cradles of human culture, gave the world a great many universal scientists and thinkers, skillful masters and national heroes such as Muhammad Kharezmi, Abu Rayhon Beruni, Abu Bakr Kharezmi, Mahmoud Zamakhshari, Jaloliddin Manguberdi, Suleyman Boqirghani, Sayfi Saroyi, Kharezmi, Qutb Kharezmi, Hafiz Kharezmi, Najmiddin Kubro, Mahmoud Chaghmini, Nasiriddin Rabghuzi, Haydar Kharezmi, Abulvafo Kharezmi, Husayn Kharezmi, Muhammdniyaz Nishati, Tabibi, Komil, Avaz Utar, Bola Bakhshi, Hojikhon Boltaev, Ojiza and Komiljon Otaniyozov.
Among the great sons of Kharezm, there is a deserving place of an invincible hero, sensitive poet and famous spiritual teacher, Pahlavan Mahmoud.
Pahlavan Mahmoud’s name was pointed in many pamphlets, anthologies and vocabularies prepared during XV-XXth centuries and his life, works and inventions were written with all due deference. This fact shows that Pahlavan Mahmoud was one of the great figures of the Muslim East. To make a study of this holy man’s biography, to search out his legacy, to translate and present it to people, distinguished scholars such as archeologist and academician Yahyo Ghulomov, literary critic and translator Tukhtasin Jalolov, as well as scholars, textual critics and philosophers Homidjon Homidiy, Yoqubjon Ishoqov, Najmiddin Komilov, Mahmoud Hasani, Hamidkhon Islomiy, Sadriddin Salim Bukhari, Yuldosh Jumaboev, Soli Hasanov, Matnazar Abdulhakim, Ergash Ochilov, I. Rahimov, K. Khudayberganov, elaborated noticeable works. Jasurbek Mahmoudov, a young talented scholar, has recently defended his dissertation on the subject “Logical research of the life of Pahlavon Mahmoud and his literary heritage”. Hero of Uzbekistan and national poet Abdulla Oripov wrote his poem “At the tomb of Pahlavan Mahmoud”, national poet Omon Matjon wrote a dramatic poem “Pahlavan Mahmoud” and writer Erkin Samandar wrote his novelette “A story of Pahlavan Mahmoud Puryovali”.
It is known that a lot of foreigners visit the ancient and flourishing city of Khiva all year long. Visitors attending the mausoleum of Pahlavan Mahmoud, an uncommon memorial of eastern architecture, are always interested in the person buried in this sacred place and ask questions about the life of this poet and his works. There is a great demand among the people to have such a book. To fill this gap as much as possible, distinguished archeologist and professor Sh. Matrasulov, photographer Kh. Yusupov and the author of this lines, decided to compile a book about Pahlavan Mahmoud, his life and works. The book consists of selected rubais (quatrains) of “Khayyam of Kharezm”, sights of repute of Khiva, hero and poet’s dome, photos of poet’s head-dress and beads, which are treasured in the house of Bakhtiyar Nazarov, in the village of Shikhlar in Khiva. We very much hope that this album will be a worthy present to lovers of Pahlavan Mahmoud throughout the world and to all admirers who are interested in our nation’s history, culture and literature.