P rominent t ajik f igures of the

Amirjonov, Sarvarjon

Tajik poet Sarvarjon Amirjonov, also referred to as Sarvar, was born

into a family of workers of the village of Eged of Qala'-i Khum on

November 12, 1938.

Amirjonov graduated from the Tajikistan State University in 1961.

From 1961 to 1966, he was the Literary Editor and Acting Editor of

Komsomoli Tojikiston. From 1984 to 1986, he was the Chief Editor of

Gazetei Muallimon.

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Iraj Bashiri

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

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Amirjonov's first poems were published towards the end of the

1950s. His contributions include the collections Bahor Mikhoham (I

Yearn for Spring, 1968) and La'l (Lapis-Lazuli, 1978).

The themes of Amirjonov's poetry include descriptions of nature,

patriotism, friendship, and man's high spirit. He is particularly known

for his couplets on ethical themes and love.

Amirjonov joined the Union of the Writers of the Soviet Union in

1984.

Amonov, Rajab

Tajik intellectual, author, and folklorist Rajab Amonov was born in

1923 in the city of Uroteppa into a family of shoemakers.

Amonov graduated from the Uroteppa Pedagogical Institute in 1937.

For a year, he served as a teacher. Then he joined the Dushanbe

Pedagogical Institute. However, he had to abandon this enterprise to

join the war effort. After returning from war, he got married and con-

tinued his education. Eventually, in 1947, he graduated from the

Dushanbe Pedagogical Institute. In the same year, he joined the Rudaki

Institute of Languages and Literatures as a Scientific Worker. From

1959 on, he served as the Director of its Folklore section. His

dissertation entitled Ocherke Ijodiyote Dahanakii Tojikoni Kulob (A

Study of the Oral Compositions of the Tajiks of Kulab), was accepted in

1953. In 1968, he received his doctorate degree and in 1970 he became

a professor. In 1981, he became an Associate Member of the Academy

of Sciences of Tajikistan.

Amonov's first work, entitled "Ey Oktiyobri A'zam" ("O Great

October!") was published in 1947. This was followed by the publica-

tion of "Zindagi" ("Life"), "Du Qatrai Ashk" ("Two Teardrops"),

"Hunar" ("Art"), and "Shurazamin" ("Salty Land"), all of which were

published in the journals Sharqi Surkh and Literaturni Tojikiston. His

first novel, entitled Dar Domoni Kuhi Kabud (On the Slope of the

Black Mountain) was published in 1961. This work was translated into

Russian in 1964.

Amonov's major contribution is Kuliyoti Folklori Tojik (Collected

Works on Tajik Folklore), a compilation in thirty-five volumes, dealing

with all aspects of Tajik folklore. A considerable number of scholars,

artists, and researchers contributed to Rajab Amonov's project.

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