P rominent t ajik f igures of the

Nuriddinov, Sirojiddin
Tajik painter, carver, and designer Sirojiddin Nuriddinov was born
in Samarqand in 1919. After completing pedagogical school, he taught
for a while.
In 1952, he joined the People's Creative Chamber of Dushanbe. His
work is based on the knowledge that he gained from the creations of his

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Prominent Tajik Figures of the Twentieth Century

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predecessors, especially Y. Barotbekov. His first creative work is based

on the wood carving methods of the artists of Uroteppa. In his work, he
makes extensive use of Islamic motifs.
When working with wood, he is able to attend to the smallest details.
The portraits of K. Marx, V. I. Lenin, N. Krupskaya, M. V. Frunze,
Rudaki, Jomi, Navoi, Behzod, T. G. Shevchenko, S. Aini and M.
Tursunzoda are executed on this principle. His other depictions reveal
the intricacies of the Soviet system as reflected in industry and
economy. Included in these are the "25-Solagii Tojikiston" ("The 25
th
Anniversary of Tajikistan"), "Tojikiston" ("Tajikistan"), "Dustii
Khalqho" ("Friendship Among the People"), "Shu'lai Inqilob" ("The
Flame of Revolution"), and others.
The city of Dushanbe has benefited from the artistry of Nuriddinov a
great deal. The decorations of the Faroghat and Tojikiston restaurants
and of Sadbarg and the Circus are all among the works of this major
contributor to Tajik art.
Nuriddinov became a Distinguished Artist of Tajikistan in 1967, and
was awarded the Rudaki State Prize in 1982.
Nurjonov, Nizom
Tajik drama critic and literary scholar Nizom Nurjonov was born on
December 18, 1923, into a religious family in Bukhara. He received his
early education in Dushanbe. He joined the CPSU in 1948.
Nurjonov graduated from the Dushanbe Pedagogical Institute in
1947. In 1952, he was a researcher for the history division of the
Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan. In 1958, he became the Head of the
History Department of the Academy of Sciences. At his suggestion, in
1958, an Art Department was inaugurated at the Academy. Nurjonov
defended his doctoral dissertation in 1968 and became a professor in
1973. Anthropology, traditional music, dance and the history of dance
in Ferghana, Samarqand, and Bukhara form a major part of his research.
After teaching the History of World Theater for 27 years, Nurjonov
retired in 1988. He continues to work as a core scientific researcher.
Nurjonov has written critical accounts for many of the plays performed
in Dushanbe, Bukhara, and Khujand and he has participated in many
congresses dealing with the Tajik theater. His major contributions
include Teatri Mardumii Tojik (Tajikistan's People's Theater, 1956),
Ta'rikhi Teatri Shavravii Tojik (The History of the Theater of Soviet

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