P rominent t ajik f igures of the

Prominent Tajik Figures of the Twentieth Century

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

111

I

Ibod Zarif

See Ibodov, Zarif.

Ibodov, Zarif

Tajik poet Zarif Ibodov, also referred to as Ibod Zarif, was born into

a farming family in the village of Dara in Sovet (Kulab) on September

10, 1936.

After graduating from the Dushanbe Pedagogical Institute in 1963,

Ibodov joined the staff of the journal Maktabi Sovieti until 1969. Then,

until 1980, he taught middle school and directed the Scientific Affairs

of the Inter-District Institute for the Teachers of Qurghonteppa. In 1980,

he became the director of the literary and creative activities of the musi-

cal/comedy theater of Qurghonteppa.

Ibodov's compositions date to his school days. His first poems were

published in the 1960s. His collections of poetry include Navoi Zindagi

(The Song of Life, 1978), Davlati Bidor (The Watchful State, 1983), and

Buzurgii Inson (The Greatness of Man, 1986).

The theme of his poetry is love of country. He expresses this love in

the context of the rich and beautiful Vakhsh Valley countryside and its

working people. Ibodov has also published several plays, including the

1982 Nabirahoi Boghbon (The Gardner's Grandchildren) and the 1983

Hamqadamho (The  Fellow Travelers). His 1981 Olufta (The Tough

Guy) and Norizogii Bobo (Grandfather's Dissatisfaction) brought him,

in 1982, Tajikistan's Ministry of Culture Prize. He has translated the po-

etry of Russian and Soviet poets into Tajiki.

Ibodov joined the Union of the Writers of the Soviet Union in 1983.