P rominent t ajik f igures of the

Kimiagarov, Bension
Tajik director, actor, and author Bension Arievich Kimiagarov was
born on September 30, 1920, in Samarqand. Kimiagarov's early youth
was spent in an orphanage in Khoqand. He joined the CPSU in 1944.
Kimiagarov graduated from the Moscow State Institute of Cinema-
tography in 1944, and began production of documentary films for Tajik-
Film studios. His major themes cover various aspects of Tajik history
and culture, including Tojikiston (Tajikistan, with L. Stepanov, 1945),
Dar Kuhhoi Pomir (On the Pamir Mountains, 1946), Sadriddin Aini
(Sadriddin Aini, 1949), Tojikistoni Soveti (Soviet Tajikistan, 1951), and
Chor Surud dar Vasfi Tojikiston (Four Songs about Tajikistan, 1965).

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Starting in 1956, he worked with artistic films such as Dokhunda

(Dokhunda, 1957), based on the works of Sadriddin Aini. Other such
contributions include Vazifai Oli (Noble Duty, 1958), Qismati Sho'ir
(The Lot of the Poet, 1959), and others.
Kimiagarov's fame, however, is due to a series of films that Davlat
Khudonazarov and he created together. These films are based on the
eleventh century Perso-Tajik epic, the Shahname, written by Abu al-
Qasim Firdowsi. These contributions include Kovai Ohingar (Kaveh the
Blacksmith, 1961), Dostoni Rustam (The Story of Rustam, 1970),
Rustam va Suhrob (Rustam and Suhrab, 1971), and Dostoni Siyovosh
(The Story of Siyavosh, 1976).
Kimiagarov received the Bronze Prize for International Documen-
tary Films at Venice in 1945. He became a People's Artist of Tajikistan
in 1960. He also earned the Badge of Honor, the Red Banner of Labor,
and other medals. Kimiagarov died in Dushanbe on April 18, 1979.
Kiromov, Qutbi
Tajik poet Qutbi Kiromov was born on December 18, 1932, into a
worker's family in Zahmatobod.
Kiromov graduated from the Dushanbe Pedagogical Institute in 1953
and from the Gorkii Faculty of Literature in Moscow, in 1967. For a
while, he was an instructor, then he joined Irfon Publishers, and later,
Sido va Simoi Tojikiston.
Kiromov's first collection of poetry was published in 1962. It was
entitled Parvozi Mihr (The Flight of Love). His other works include
Surudi Qullaho (The Anthem of the Mountain Peaks, 1976), Ziri Kuhsor
(Under the Mountains, 1970), Ostini Baland (The Long Sleeve, 1972),
Khoki Paivandi (The Terrestrial Attraction, 1974), Dili Barodar (The
Brother's Heart, 1986), Rishtai Kuh (The Mountain Chain, 1979), Puli
Miyoni Zamonho (The Bridge Gapping the Times, 1983), Chishmai Nur
(The Source of Light, 1983), Dostonho va Ash'or (Stories and Poems,
1986), Dostoni Ontuan (Anthony's Story, 1974), and Qatli Tughrul (The
Murder of Tughrul, 1993).
Kiromov joined the Union of Writers of the Soviet Union in 1963. In
1994, he won the Rudaki State Prize for literature.
Kiromov passed away in 1994.

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