P rominent t ajik f igures of the

Haidarshoev, Muhammadali
Tajik poet Muhammadali Haidarashoev, known also as Haidarsho,
was born into a family of workers in Khorugh, Badakhshan, in 1928. He
joined the CPSU in 1957.
Haidrashoev graduated with a degree in Tajiki language and litera-
ture from the State University of Tajikistan in 1955. Between 1974 and
1980, he was the Editor of Komunisti Tojikiston. His contributions in-
clude Guli Aghba (Flower of Aghba, Dushanbe, 1988).
Haidarshoev's career as a poet dates to 1950. The main feature of his
poetry is satire. His contributions include "Hamkalosihoi Man" ("My
Classmates," 1958), "Sadoi Bahor" ("Spring Sound,"
1966), "Bachcha-
hoi Maskav" ("The Children of Moscow," 1966) "Gulkhandai Zamin"
("The Smile of the Earth," 1974), "Kuhi La'l" ("The Mountain of Lapis-
Lazuli," 1982), "Bayozi Sangin" ("The Heavy Notebook," 1984),
"Majmu'ai Hakoyahoi Tanzi Khoristoni Khorposht" ("A Collection of
Satirical Stories of the Thorny Land of the Hedgehog," 1983), and
"Pomiri Man" ("My Pamir," 1978).
Haidarshoev joined the Union of Writers of the Soviet Union in
1963.
Hakimov, Askar
Tajik poet and literary critic Askar Olimovich Hakimov, also re-
ferred to as Askar Hakim, was born in Khujand on October 10, 1946.
He joined the CPSU in 1977.
Hakimov graduated from Tajikistan State University in 1967 with a
degree in Persian language and literature. For a while, he was an em-

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ployee of the Committee of Sado va Simoi Tojikiston (Voice and

Vision of Tajikistan). Between 1974 and 1978, he was the Associate
Editor of the Sadoi Sharq monthly, and from 1980 to 1984, he was the
Chief Editor of Madaniyati Tojikiston (present-day Adabiyot va San'at).
He defended his doctorate dissertation entitled Nav Ovari Dar Nazm
(Innovation in Poetry) in 1974. He has written many articles on literary
criticism which have been published in Tajikistan's newspapers and
journals. The themes of his works are centered on problems of educa-
tion, traditional mores of the Tajiks, and patriotism. His contributions
include Shi'r va Zindagi (Poetry and Life, 1978), Qalamravi Sukhan
(The Realm of Speech, 1982), Shi'r va Zamon  (Poetry and Time, 1978),
and Barguzidai Ash'ori Askar Hakim (The Best Poems of Askar Hakim,
1995).
Hakimov joined the Union of Writers of the Soviet Union in 1976,
became the secretary of the Union in 1978, and the Director of the
Union of Writers of Tajikistan in 1991. He became a People's Poet of
Tajikistan and Distinguished Contributor to Tajik Culture, as well as a
winner of the Rudaki State Prize. He also received the Order of the Red
Banner of Courage.