Pirimqul Qodirov

Pirimqul Qodirov was born on October 25, 1928, in the village of Kengko'l, in the Shahriston district of Tajikistan. His childhood years coincided with the war years; he shared the hardships that befell his father and family, worked in the collective farm, in road construction, and at the metallurgical plant in Bekobod. From 1946 to 1951, the writer studied at Tashkent State University, then at the postgraduate school of the Institute of World Literature in Moscow, and in 1954 he defended his dissertation on the work of Abdulla Qahhor. From 1954 to 1963, he worked at the Writers' Union, then at the Institute of Language and Literature, and in many social activities. Pirimqul Qodirov was awarded the State Prize named after Hamza (1968). He translated into the Uzbek language the novels of Russian writers Tolstoy's «The Cossacks», K. Fedin's «Early Joys», and the Turkmen writer X. Deryaev's «Destiny».

Pure love and human affection in Pirimqul Qodirov's works are beautifully depicted in the relationships of Mahkam and Gavhar, Madaminjon and Ma'suda, and Mohim and Bobur.
His works: «Studentlar» (Students) (1950, his first story; when this book was published, Pirimqul Qodirov was still a student of the Faculty of Oriental Studies at Tashkent State University), «Jon shirin» (Life is sweet) (1968-73, in which the bitter truth is told against the tyrants who poisoned our people with chemical drugs), «Kayf» (High), «Olov» (Fire), characters from «Meros» (Heritage): Yolqin Otajonov, Tursun, and others) «Qadrim» (My value), «Erk» (Freedom) (characters: Sattor, Oysha, Roziya, and others), «Uch ildiz» (Three roots), «Najot» (Salvation) (1940, originally named «Botirlar va baxillar» - Heroes and the jealous), «Akramning sarguzashtlari» (Akram's adventures) (1974), «Yayra institutga kirmoqchi» (Yayra wants to enter the institute) (1977), «Olmos kamar» (Diamond belt), «Ona lochin vidosi» (Farewell of the mother falcon), «Qora ko'zlar» (Black eyes) (1963-1966), «Yulduzli tunlar» («Bobur»), «Avlodlar dovoni» (Pass of generations) (characters of the work: Humayun, Hamida Banu, Nizam, Sherxon, Tahmasp (the king who helped Humayun, who was in a difficult situation), and others), «Oilamiz» (Our family) (his first essay, 1953), «Dil va til» (Heart and tongue) (1974), «Xalq tili va realistik proza» (Folk language and realistic prose) (1973), and other treatises he created as a literary critic, etc.

«About the novel «Uch ildiz» (Three roots)
The work that made Pirimqul Qodirov famous to the public as a writer was the novel «Uch ildiz», created in 1955-1958. This work was described as a «novel reflecting the turning point in our lives». Upon getting acquainted with this novel, A. Qahhor said: «For a long time, I had not heard the rumble of thunder in Uzbek literature. In my opinion, this work is entering our literature rumbling like thunder and flashing like lightning».
«Uch ildiz» is a major work that reflects historical processes in the mid-50s and was one of the first in Uzbek literature to expose the unpleasant consequences of the personality cult. The events of the novel take place in a higher education institution. The work begins with the description of two students meeting and falling in love; it also covers the love of young people, their mistakes in love, new and old views, the triumph of innovation, and conflicts related to education and upbringing. These conflicts also connect to the main issue - ideological struggles - in various ways; the characters' inner world is revealed mainly in their attitude toward that main issue.

«About the novel «Qora ko'zlar» (Black eyes)
Written in the early 60s, this novel is taken from the life of the countryside, more precisely, the life of livestock breeders; it creates diverse images of personalities such as Ortiq, Davlatbekov, and Ismat bobo, who grew up under the influence of an inappropriate social environment and politics. One of the greatest sins that Davlatbekov committed when he became the chairman of Oykul is that he proclaimed on radios and wrote in newspapers that «we will catch up with and surpass America in livestock breeding!». He fulfilled the meat delivery plan by two hundred percent and received an order. In that year, Oykul's livestock decreased fivefold compared to before. Ortiq Davlatbekov surpassed even Davlatbekov in selfishness and careerism. His creed is to please the superiors at any cost. Ismat bobo is a person even more dangerous than Davlatbekov and Ortiq. This blind old man destroyed the lives of many people with intrigue and gossip. He directs his son Xolbek and his son-in-law Ortiq to sinful deeds, and with gossip and backbiting, he breaks the heart of his daughter-in-law Jannatoy and ruins her household. The fate of Madaminjon and Ma'suda presented in the novel brings to mind the sad love adventures of Usta Olim in «O'tgan kunlar» (Days gone by). In short, the work reflects real life in Uzbek villages of the 60s. Other characters: Avaz, Hulkar, Cho'lponoy, and others.

«About the novel «Yulduzli tunlar» (Starry nights)
Pirimqul Qodirov worked on this novel for ten years (1969-1978). The works «Baburnama» and «Humayunnama» served as the basis for the novel «Yulduzli tunlar».
The depiction of the life of the poet and king Bobur plays an important role in the work. «Yulduzli tunlar» is a comprehensive work. It includes Bobur's personal qualities, family life - his sincere filial feeling for his mother Qutlug' Nigor xonim, his brotherly love for his sister Xonzodabegim, his paternal love for his children Humayun and Gulbadan, the drama of unpleasant moments he spent with his first wife Oyshabegim, the moments of his unusual meeting with Mohim, Mohim's infinite devotion to Bobur, the relationship between Bobur and Malika Bayda (the mother of Ibrahim Lodi, who was killed in the Battle of Panipat; after she succeeds in poisoning Bobur, the two rivals meet. Then Malika Bayda expects death from the king, wanting to achieve a moral triumph over the king, wanting to shame the king who sentenced her son to death in front of the people, but Bobur, sensing this, does not punish her, showing that he is a generous king) is expressed in an exciting, beautiful way. Throughout the work, the writer emphasizes that the cruelties Bobur committed as a king and conqueror are his greatest sin. Bobur says in a conversation with the historian scientist Khondamir: «...let the generations know the truth, let them not think we are angels. Let them be aware of how heavily our sins have weighed upon us... I have long felt the transience of the crown and throne. If anything can be faithful to me, it can only be my written works. Even if I cannot return to my homeland, my works may return. My wish now is - if my works can do the filial service that I could not do for my native land...».
The work also features images of many historical figures living side-by-side with Bobur, such as Shaybanikhan (a person glorified as «faith of the time» and «caliph of the merciful»), Oyshabegim, Zuhrabegim, Khadichabegim, Xonzodabegim, Gulbadanbegim, Malika Bayda, Mohim, Humayun, and Qutlug' Nigorxonim. Even in his relationship with Zuhrabegim and Khadichabegim, it becomes clear that Shaybanikhan is an extremely evil, cruel, shameless, and hypocritical person. Zuhrabegim's coming to the invading khan hoping for his «favor» and believing in the fake declaration of «love» in his letter alone reveals the level of this woman's moral stature.
From some names and facts encountered in historical sources, the writer creates the image of a whole living person and the directions of the plot. For example, there is a character named Tohir in the novel. He also has a historical basis. At the end of his life, Bobur Mirza says that he wants to renounce the crown and throne and live in a corner with Tohir aftobachi (ewer-bearer). This means Tohir did many good things for him and became a dear friend...
Other characters of the work: Noyon ko'kaldosh, Qosimbek, Khoja Abdulla, Mazidbek, Eson Davlatbegim, Sherimbek, Yoqubbek, Mahmud, Mulla Fazliddin, Javhariy, Robiya (a beautiful girl from Andijan, bought for a bag of gold by a rich merchant from Samarkand - Fozil tarkhon), and others.
Pirimqul Qodirov created the novel «Avlodlar dovoni» («Akbar») in the 80s, which tells about the life of Humayun, the loyal and brave son of Bobur, and his grandson - Akbar, who was called a «true genius» in history, and which is considered the logical continuation of «Yulduzli tunlar».