P rominent t ajik f igures of the

Iraj Bashiri

304
Shukurzoda, Mirzo

Tajik author and journalist Mirzo Shukurzoda was born in the vil-
lage of Khadgif of the district of Maschoh of Zarafshan province in
1949.
Shukurzoda graduated from Tajikistan State University with a de-
gree in journalism in 1973, and worked for Tajikistoni Shavravi, the
Sado va Simoi Tojikiston Committee, and several literary publications.
Shukurzoda's early stories appeared in 1973 in Ma'orif va Madani-
yat. These early efforts were complemented by "Umri dar Roh" ("A
Lifetime on the Road", 1975); "Rishtaboron" ("Downpour," 1979); and
"Hunar az Koni Zar Bih" ("Art Is Better than a Gold Mine," 1981. His
first collection of short stories was published in 1987 under the title of
Sitorahoi Rakhshanda (Shining Stars). This work was followed in 1989
by Tighi Jonbakhsh (The Life-Imparting Sword), which includes a por-
tion of Safarnomai Afghonistan (The Afghan Diary), "Qissai Dil" ("The
Story of the Heart") and several other pieces.
In 1990, Shukurzoda presented a well-researched account of the
genesis of the word Tajik and the people related to it in "Tojik, Tojdor
va Tojvar" ("Tajik, Crowned and Royal"). This work was published
again in 1995 under the title of Tojikon dar Qalamravi Ta'rikh (Tajiks
in the Realm of History).
Shakurzoda joined the Union of Journalists of the Soviet Union in
1979.
Soatov, Isamiddin
Tajik dentist Isamiddin Soatov was born on December 15, 1943, in
the village of Varzi Manor of Sughd. He received his early education in
the new-method schools of the region.
Soatov graduated from the Medical School of the University of
Tashkent in 1970 with a degree in dentistry. In 1970 and 1971, Soatov
served as a dentist (Dispensary Oncology) in Dushanbe. He joined the
military service of the Soviet Union in 1971, and served until 1973.
From 1973 to 1975, he was a dentist at the Dushanbe Hospital No. 4.
Between 1975 and 1977, he was the Head of the Stomatology (diseases
of the mouth) Department of the Stomatology Hospital No. 1. Soatov
was a post-graduate student at the Moscow Research Center from 1977
to 1980. In 1981, he defended his thesis, and in 1997, his dissertation.
Between 1981 and 1983, Soatov was a Lecturer at the Medical Division

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