Abdulla Oripov

People's Poet of Uzbekistan Abdulla Oripov was a laureate of the Hamza State Prize and a member of the International Academy of Science, Education, Industry, and Arts in California (USA). During the seventh year of our independence, he was one of the first to be awarded the high title of «Hero of Uzbekistan». In 2007, Oripov was awarded a gold medal by the World Intellectual Property Organization for his creative contribution to world culture. He was awarded the World Honorary Title of Italian Stars in 2015. He was presented with this honorary title upon the invitation of Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

Abdulla Oripov is an owner of unique talent. Deep philosophical thought, national spirit, and loyalty to religious-ethical criteria form the foundations of the poet's poetry. Abdulla Oripov's poetry holds a great place in the Uzbek people's national revival and their struggle for freedom of thought and independence.

People's Poet of Uzbekistan, well-known public figure Abdulla Oripov was born in 1941 in Neko'z village of Koson district, Kashkadarya region. After graduating from secondary school with a gold medal in 1958, he entered the journalism department of the Faculty of Philology at Tashkent State University and graduated with success in 1963.

Since 1968, he worked as an editor in various publishing houses and served as a secretary in the Writers' Union. He became the chairman of the Agency for the Protection of Copyright. He served as the chairman of the Writers' Union of Uzbekistan.

Abdulla Oripov's creative work began during his student years, and his first collection of poems, «Mitti yulduz», was published in 1965. Later, the poet's poetry collections «Ko'zlarim yo'lingda» (1967), «Onajon» (1969), «Ruhim» (1971), «O'zbekiston», «Qasida» (1972), «Xotirot» (1974), «Yurtim shamoli» (1974), «Hayrat» (1979), «Najot qal'asi» (1981), and «Yillar armoni» (1983) were published. Looking at the poems included in these collections, we witness that from poem to poem, from collection to collection, year after year, the poet grew and his work reached maturity. Especially in his works after the 70s, it is noticeable that his philosophical reflections on life and man, society and nature, have deepened. Powerful passionate feelings find their high interpretation in them. This gradually becomes a blend of deep thought and high artistry, which signals that the poet has reached creative maturity.

We can be convinced of this by reading Abdulla Oripov's «Saylanma» (1996) collection. Especially, the idea of independence, the sovereignty of the nation, and the desire to see the motherland free and prosperous grow from line to line, creating a wonderful radiance. Even in poems written in the 60s such as «Men nechun sevaman O'zbekistonni», «O'zbekistonda kuz», and «Kuz», the rays of independence seem to shimmer. In short, love for the Motherland and the people, loving and cherishing nature, reciting odes to people of faith and conscience, sometimes crying, sometimes rejoicing—all these form the poet's ocean of feelings.

The final stage of Abdulla Oripov's creative work is even richer in feelings, gracious, and fruitful. In particular, in the poems included in the «Haj daftari» (1992) series, the poet now follows the path of discovering the sources of our spirituality. He seeks and finds modern meanings in the Holy Quran and Hadith. He is also well-known as an epic poet and playwright. In particular, the epic «Jannatga yo'l» and the poetic drama «Sohibqiron» (1996) are works that brought the poet great fame.

As a talented translator, Abdulla Oripov translated Dante's «Divine Comedy» into the Uzbek language with high skill. He also translated the works of Nekrasov, L. Ukrainka, Shevchenko, R. Hamzatov, and Q. Quliyev into his mother tongue. He is also the author of the text of the State Anthem of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In 2000-2001, four volumes of Abdulla Oripov's works were published, which were well-received by the broad reading public.

The poet's poetry collections have been translated into several foreign languages and published as separate books. Abdulla Oripov is an owner of unique talent. Deep philosophical thought, national spirit, and loyalty to religious-ethical criteria form the foundations of the poet's poetry. Abdulla Oripov's poetry holds a great place in the Uzbek people's national revival and their struggle for freedom of thought and independence.

People's Poet of Uzbekistan Abdulla Oripov was a laureate of the Hamza State Prize and a full member of the International Academy of Science, Education, Industry, and Arts in California (USA). During the seventh year of our independence, he was one of the first to be awarded the high title of «Hero of Uzbekistan».

LIFE
Sometimes with pride, sometimes with joy in my heart,
I have seen this swift world in many ways.
From land to land, from people to people, league by league
I have been measuring the mountain passes of my life.

Life passes by with a rumble,
Who has even seen it pass?
Alas, what being, leaving his own life behind,
Is measuring my footsteps...

Hero of Uzbekistan, People's Poet of Uzbekistan Abdulla Oripov passed away on November 5, 2016, at the age of 75. He was buried in the Chig'atoy cemetery in Tashkent.