P rominent t ajik f igures of the

Mahkamov, Qahhor
Tajik engineer and politician Qahhor Mahkamov was born into a
worker's family in Khujand on April 16, 1932. He joined the CPSU in
1957.
Mahkamov graduated from the Dushanbe Industrial Technicom in
1950 and from the Leningrad Institute of Kuhkori (mountain mining) in
1953. From 1953 to 1961, he was a professor, a relief head engineer,
and the Director of Mine No. 1/5-6 of Shurob of Isfara, as well as the

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Prominent Tajik Figures of the Twentieth Century

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Head of the government of Tajik Coal. He was also the Head of the

Committee of the Representatives of the Workers of Leninabad. He was
appointed to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Tajiki-
stan in 1963. From 1963 to 1982, he was the Head of the Central Plan-
ning and the Vice-Director of the Cabinet of the Ministers of Tajikistan.
He was the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Soviet Tajikistan
from 1986 to 1991, and the President of the Republic from March to
September of 1991.
Mahkamov was appointed to the senate by the order of the President
in 2000.
Mahkamov was recognized as a Distinguished Engineer in 1966. He
is a recipient of three Orders of the Red Banner of Labor and the Hon-
orary Order of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of Tajikistan.
Mahmudov, Bobokhon
Tajik literary scholar Bobokhon Mahmudov was born in the village
of Kuhna Baljuan in 1950. He received his early education in Kulob.
Mahmudov graduated from the Institute of Library Management in
1969. From 1971 to 1975, he studied at the Maxist-Leninist University
of the Communist Party. From 1975 to 1990, he served in various ca-
pacities in institutions dealing with the publication of books. From 1992
to 1994, he was the Minister of Press and Information of Tajikistan.
From 1994 to 1997, he was the Minister of Education and Press of Taji-
kistan.
In 1997, Mahmudov defended his dissertation entitled Falsafai Siosii
Kalom (The Political History of Kalom) in 1997. From 1997 to 2001, he
was the Minister of Education. Most recently, he has been the Head of
the Social Program of the Office of the President of Tajikistan.
Mahmudov's contributions include Hich Ganji Nist az Farhang Bih
(There is No Treasure Better than Education). Mahmudov is a recipient
of the Union of Tajikistan Press Award (1997). He is also recognized as
a Major Contributor to Soviet education.