Alisher Navoi: biography of an outstanding figure

There are many legends about the world-famous poet, whose name is Alisher Navoi. His biography is full of various myths, but we will try to dispel them and make some clarity in his life story.

The birthplace of the great poet

Navoi was born in the ancient city of Herat (modern Afghanistan) in 1441, when he was born he was named Nizamiddin Mir Alisher. Historians still have not come to an exact opinion of his nationality: some consider him a barlas or chagatay, others as an Uzbek or an Uighur. However, it can be precisely said that by origin it belongs to the Turkic peoples. This is evidenced by, in addition to the poems of his close friend Abdurakhman Jami (in which they say "although I was a Persian and he was a Turk, we were best friends"), his personal works, where he wrote that his native people are Turkic. In Soviet times, Alisher Navoi was treated exactly as an Uzbek poet and thinker.

The poet's family

The poet's family was very well-off, his father was a well-known official at the court of the Timurids, and his uncle was a poet. For this reason, since childhood Alisher Navoi (whose biography is closely connected with the government) wrote poems on a variety of topics. From 1466 to 1469 the young poet lived and studied in Samarkand, taught for some time in madrassas and every way supported every novice poet or scientist.

Alisher Navoi: biography

The great figure belonged to the Sufi order of believers (nakshbandii), who renounced worldly life (Fanny is the frailty of being) and therefore never married. Like any member of the sacred order, Alisher Navoi (whose poems also describe this circumstance, for example, "Foxun ut-tayir") believed that there is only one love - for Allah, so he was not interested in women and marriage.

The great poet grew up and was brought up in the same yard with the children of the Timurid clans. With Hussein Baikar (later became the ruler of the Khorasan state), Navoi had the closest friendly relations that lasted his whole life. And the reason that Alisher Navoi (his biography changed abruptly due to this decision) returned from Samarkand to his native Herat, was exactly the coronation of his friend Hussein. In 1469, upon the poet's return, the ruler Hussein Baikar appointed him the chief Keeper of the seal of the Khorasan state.

Alisher Navoi, whose verses are relevant today, served the state all his life, wrote many-sided poems, and also provided material assistance to all poets, writers, artists and musicians. In the history of Central Asia, he was remembered as the main initiator of the construction of numerous madrassas, hospitals and even libraries.

Works by Alisher Navoi

Most of his works the great poet and thinker wrote in Chaghatay language, taking the pseudonym Alisher Navoi (in Uzbek this means "melodic, melodic"). His first poem he wrote at 15 years old. The poet exerted a tremendous influence on the development of the literary language, made an invaluable contribution to improving the structure of the Chaghatay dialect, and later of the Uzbek language.

The cultural heritage of the poet contains more than 3000 works in various genre compositions. Perhaps, one of the most famous works of the poet is "Pyateritsa", which contains 5 dastans. "Leyli and Majnun", "Farhad and Shirin", "Confusion of the Righteous" are the most widely read poems of Alisher Navoi.

Alisher Navoi: poetry in Russian

Many of the poet's works written in Farsi and Chaghatay language were translated into Russian. One of the most famous poems - "Two quick-mouthed gazelles .." - translated the Soviet poet Vsevolod Rozhdestvensky. Despite the fact that Alisher Navoi denied love and other feelings for women, he nevertheless wrote very sensual poems. Among them - "That night of my sorrow the whole world could have been brought to naught ...", "My soul always screams, as soon as it is hurt by evil ...", "As the sighs of hopeless smoke stream, look! .." and others.

However, the author also raised social and philosophical problems ("Undaunted in rags dressed ...", "Meet with wine and evening and sunrise ...", "All give, depriving yourself ...", etc.).

In addition to lyric poems, the poet also created historical treatises, in which he described the life of the legendary cultural figures. For example, "Pyateritsa humble" was dedicated to his teacher and companion Abdurahman Jami.

At the end of his creative activity, Alisher Navoi wrote two philosophical poems describing his ideas about the ideal structure of the state. One poem - "The Language of Birds", or, as it is called, "Bird Parliament: Semurg" - is the pinnacle of his work, this allegorical treatise ridicules all ignorant rulers who do not know the principles of state structure. All the works of Alisher Navoi are full of meaning and are devoted to a wide variety of topics, from love to politics and improvement of the social life of ordinary peasants.

Political activity

It can be noted that Alisher Navoi had liberal views on many things. For example, he always opposed the medieval despotic laws, openly condemned officials who took bribes, and also tried to protect the interests of the poor class. In 1472, Navoi received the title of emir (becoming the state's vizier), he used his powers to improve the lives of poor people. Despite his friendship with the ruler and other notable officials, Alisher Navoi was nevertheless exiled by the governor of the Khurasan state Baykara to another area for his outspoken appearances against embezzlers and bribe-takers. In Astrabad, he continued his plans to improve the social and public life of the people.

Alisher Navoi made a huge contribution not only to the development of the state system, he had a significant influence on improving the Uzbek language. His works are known in many eastern countries (Uzbekistan, Iran, Turkey and other countries of Central Asia). The great poet died in his homeland, in Herat, in 1501.