Erkin Vohidov

Erkin Vohidov (December 28, 1936 – May 30, 2016) was an Uzbek poet, playwright, literary translator, and statesman. In addition to writing his own poetry, Vohidov translated the works of many famous foreign poets, such as Aleksandr Tvardovsky, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Muhammad Iqbal, Rasul Gamzatov, and Sergey Yesenin into the Uzbek language. Particularly noteworthy are his translations of Yesenin's works and Goethe's Faust.

In 1983, Vahidov was awarded the State Hamza Prize for his poetry collection Sharqiy qirgʻoq. He became a People's Poet of Uzbekistan in 1987. In 1999, he was awarded the title Hero of Uzbekistan, the highest honorary title that can be bestowed on a citizen by Uzbekistan.

Vohidov's poems remain popular and are frequently published in anthologies. Dozens of his poems have been set to music by various artists, mostly notably by Sherali Joʻrayev. On occasion of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations in October 2020, a song entitled "Human" and based on Vohidov's poem "Inson" ("Human") was released with lyrics in Arabic, English, Italian, Kazakh, Russian, Tajik, Turkish and Uzbek.

Life Erkin Vohidovich Vohidov was born on December 28, 1936, in Oltiariq District, Fergana Region, then the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic. His father, Choʻyanboy Vohidov, fought in the Soviet-German war against Nazi Germany and its allies and died in Tashkent after his return from the war. Vohidov was nine years old at the time. He reminisced about the hardships of the war years as follows:

In 1945, Vohidov moved to Tashkent with his mother, Roziyaxon Vohidova, who also soon died. He was raised by his uncle, Karimboy Sohiboyev. It was Vohidov's uncle who sparked his interest in poetry:

quote|Even though my uncle was a lawyer, he was passionate about literature and art and appreciated poetry. I used to be amazed by the clever discussions of the poet Chustiy, singers the Shojalilov brothers, Maʼrufxoʻja Bahodirov, great scholar and translator Alixon Sogʻuniy, ordinary mailman Mulla Shukurjon, salesman Akmalxon – all of whom used to frequent our home. They would study the couplets of Hafez, Navoiy, Bedil and Fuzûlî and everyone would express his own interpretation. There was no alcohol, only intoxication with poetry and songs and the joy of jokes.

Work

Vohidov worked as an editor at Yosh Gvardiya, the Uzbek branch of Molodaya Gvardiya, from 1960 to 1963. He also served as editor‑in‑chief at the same publishing house from 1975 to 1982. Vohidov was also editor‑in‑chief (1963–1970) and director (1985–1987) of Gʻafur Gʻulom, another publishing house in Tashkent. From 1982 to 1985, he worked as the head of the monthly periodical Yoshlik (Childhood). After Uzbekistan gained independence, he served as chairman of the Committee on International Affairs and Inter‑parliamentary Relations of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan (1995–2005) and as chairman of the Senate Committee on Science, Education, Culture, and Sport (2005–2009).

Vohidov began writing poetry during his student years. His first poem was published in the Mushtum magazine when he was fourteen years old. The Soviet poet Robert Rozhdestvensky thought very highly of Vohidov's work.

An example of Vohidov's original work follows (from his poem "Oʻzbegim/Ўзбегим" ("My Uzbek People"): Original Uzbek (Cyrillic) Ортда қолди кўҳна тарих, Ортда қолди дард, ситам, Кетди ваҳминг, битди заҳминг, Топди дармон, ўзбегим. Original Uzbek (Latin) Ortda qoldi koʻhna tarix, Ortda qoldi dard, sitam, Ketdi vahming, bitdi zahming, Topdi darmon, oʻzbegim. English translation Left behind is old history Left behind are pain and injustice Your nightmare is gone, your wounds are healed A remedy is found, my Uzbeks.

Poems set to music Many of his poems have been turned into songs by Uzbek artists. Two of the most famous Vohidov poems that have become the lyrics to well-known Uzbek songs are "Inson" ("Human") and "Oʻzbegim" ("My Uzbek People"), both sung by Sherali Joʻrayev.

Legacy Vohidov is one of the most beloved poets among Uzbeks. Many places and institutions in Uzbekistan are named after him. In 2018, a boarding school bearing his name was established in the city of Margilan. The following year, the Erkin Vohidov Museum opened its doors in Margilan.

Several books have been written on the life and works of Vohidov, including Erkin Vohidov saboqlari (Lessons by Erkin Vohidov) (2016), To quyosh sochgayki nur (As Long As the Sun Shines) (2016), Soʻz sehri (The Magic of Language), and Oʻzbegimning Erkin oʻzbegi (The Erkin of My Uzbek People).

Awards

Hero of Uzbekistan (1999) People's Poet of the Uzbek SSR (1987) State Hamza Prize (1983) Lenin Komsomol Prize (1967) Order of the Badge of Honor Medal "For Distinguished Labour" Order of Outstanding Merit (30 November 1996)