Our great ancestors

Alisher Navoi
Alisher Navoi (1441-1501), one of the greatest poets of the Medieval East, the author of many lyrical poems, gazelles, prose work, scientific treatises, the founder of Uzbek literature and the statesman, humanist, the patron of scientists, painters and craftsmen. For more than five centuries the people of the world have enjoyed reading his book, singing his songs and studying his work.

Alisher Navoi was born on 9 February 1441 and spent most part of his life in the town of Herat, located in Horasan. From 10-12 years old he began to write verses.

During the life A.Navoi has visited many countries of the East, and got acquainted with many outstanding oriental people. Develop his poetic mastership. In 1464-65 his admirers made his first collected verses (divan).
In 1472 A.Navoi was appointed a vizier (minister) in the court of Sultan Husain Mirzo Boiqaro, the governor of Horasan. A.Navoi actively participated in political life of his country. By his order, hospitals, madrasassah and bridges were created.

Since 1488 begun a new epoch in the life of Navoi, he spent more time writing. In 1490-1501 Navoi wrote his main Lyric, public, philosophic and scientific works. In 1483-85 he wrote "Hamsa", the work consisted of 5 separate poems: "Hairat al-abrar" - "confusion of righteous", "Farhad va Shirin" -"Farhad and Shirin", "Laili va Majnun", "Sabai saiyar" - " Seven planets", "Saddi Iskandari" - "the wall of Iskandar". "Hamsa" - is the first work in that genre ever written in Turkic language. Navoi tried to prove that it is possible to create such work in Chagatai (old uzbek) language, which can stand on the same level with works written in Persian language. And in fact he did it. Navoi tried himself in all popular genres of literature of the time and shows that he has his own voice and style.

Alisher Navoi died on 3 January, 1501, when he was 60 years old.

Alisher Navoi exerted an enormous influence on the development of Uzbek and other Turkish-speaking literatures.
The poems of Alisher Navoi have been translated to many languages of the world. His manuscripts are being preserved in the largest libraries of the world (France, Great Britain, USA, Russia, Turkey, Iran and etc).

The national park under the name of Alisher Navoi with his monument was created in the centre of Tashkent – capital of Uzbekistan.

The city and one of the 12 provinces in Uzbekistan were named after Alisher Navoi, as well as National Library, Theater of Opera and Ballet, Metro station in Tashkent, schools and colleges.
There are monuments of Alisher Navoi were constructed in foreign countries - in Moscow, Russia in 2002 and at Soka University, Japan in 2004.