Alisher Navoiy
Prominent figures of Uzbekistan
Alisher Navoiy was born on the 15th century, in February, 1441. He grew up and perfected his poetry in Herat. Herat was the capital of the country, then known as Khorasan, which included areas of present-day Central Asia, Afghanistan and Iran. The Herat of the mid 15th century was famous for being a large political, cultural and literary centre. The distinguished poets Lutfiy (1366-1465) and Abdurakhman Jamiy (1414-92) lived and worked there.
Alisher Navoiy's father served the rulers of the country and was a man of high standing. The young poet was brought up in the atmosphere of literary culture.
Alisher Navoiy studied in various educational establishments of Herat, Meshkhed, and Samarkand.
From his youth he began to write poems which became very popular with the people. One of his works we enjoy today, in the collection of poems called "Early Divan". In 1483, A. Navoiy began composing his "Hamsa" (collection of 5 books). Within 2 years he completed this titanic work, which included a philosophical - didactic treatise "Confusion of the just"; the love poems "Farkhad and Shirin" and "Leyla and Medjnun"; "Seven Wanderers" glorifying kindness, justice, devotion and humanism; and a philosophical treatise on the meaning of life "The Wall of Iskander".
Aside from lyric and epic poems, Alisher Navoiy wrote a number of works concerning the study of literature, philosophy, linguistics and history. Among them there are treatises, essays, and memoirs; "Size Scales", "Elegant Collection", "Breath of Love", "The Beloved", "Opinion on Two Languages", and "Selected Stories" are some selections.
His entire life Alisher Navoiy combined literary activities with political activism. Being a man of high standing, he significantly contributed to the improvement of the social and economic life of the country; patronized sciences, arts, and literature; and always tried to establish peace and harmony.
Alisher Navoiy died on the 3rd of January, 1501, at the age of 60.
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