#Hamid Ismailov

[thephoenixandthecrocodile]

My Love for Central Asian Literature Part 1 – Abdurauf Fitrat, Abdulla Qodiry, and Cho’lpon

I’m currently working on a script for my history podcast, the Art of Asymmetrical Warfare, about three Central Asian literary giants: Abdurauf Fitrat, Abdulla Qodiry, and Abdulhamid Sulayman o’g’li Yusunov also known as Cho’lpon and it got me thinking about their influence on my historical interests, reading tastes, and writing style.

If you’re wondering why a podcast about asymmetrical warfare is talking about three Central Asian writers, you should check out my upcoming podcast episode. 😉

How I Became Interested in Central Asian Literature

My interest in Central Asia has been a long time percolating and it was just waiting for the right combination of sparks to turn it into a hyperfixation (sort of like my interest in the IRA). I went to the Virginia Military Institute for undergrad and majored in International Relations with a minor in National Security and my focus was on terrorism. So, I knew a lot about Afghanistan and Pakistan and the “classic” “terrorists” like the IRA, the FLN, Hamas, etc. and I knew of the five Central Asian states (one of my professors was banned for life from either Turkmenistan or Tajikistan and sort of life goals, but also please don’t ban me haha), but my brain bookmarked it, and I went on my merry way. 

Then I went to University of Chicago for my masters, and I took my favorite class: Crime, the State, and Terrorism which focused on moments when crime, government, and terrorism intersect. This brought me back to Pakistan and Afghanistan, but this time focusing on the drug trade which led me to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan and their ties to the Taliban and it was sort of like an awakening. I suddenly had five post-Soviet states (if you know me, you’ll know I’m fascinated by post-Soviet states) with connections to the drug trade (another interest of mine) and influenced by Persian and Turkic identities. I was also writing a scifi series at the time that included a team of Russian, Eastern European, and Central Asian scientists and officers, so the interest came at the right time to hook my brain. Actually, if you buy my friend’s EzraArndtWrites upcoming “My Say in the Matter” anthology, you’ll read a short story featuring Ruslan, my bisexual, Sunni Muslim, Uzbek doctor who was inspired by my sudden interest in Central Asia.

Hamid Ismailov’s the Devils’ Dance

I wanted to know more beyond the drug trade and usually when I try to learn about a place whether it be Poland, Ireland, or Uzbekistan, I go to their music and literature. This led me to one of my all-time favorite writers Hamid Ismailov and my favorite publishers Tilted Axis Press.

Tilted Axis Press is a British publisher who specializes in publishing works by mainly Asian, although not only Asian writers, translated into English. They publish about six books a year and you can purchase their yearly bundle which guarantees you’ll get all six books plus whatever else they publish throughout the year. I’ve purchased the bundle two years in a row, and I haven’t regretted it. The literature and writers you’re introduced to are amazing and you probably won’t normally have found unless you were looking specifically for these types of books.

Hamid Ismailov is an Uzbek writer who was banished from Uzbekistan for “overly democratic tendencies”. He wrote for BBC for years and published several books in Russian and Uzbek. A good number of his books have been translated into English and can be found either through Tilted Axis or any other bookstore/bookseller. Some of my favorites include Dead Lake, the Manaschi, the Underground, and the book that inspired everything the Devils’ Dance.

Tilted Axis’ translation of The Devils’ Dance came out the same year I was working on my masters, and I bought it because it is a fictional account of Abdulla Qodiriy’s last days while in a Soviet prison. He goes through several interrogations and runs into his fellow writers and friends: Fitrat and Cho’lpon. Qodiriy is written as detached from events while Cho’lpon comes across as very sarcastic, as if this is all a game, and Fitrat is interestingly resigned to the Soviet’s games but seems to have some fight in him. Qodiry distracts himself from the horrors around him by thinking about his unwritten novel (which he really was working on when he was arrested by the NVKD). His novel focuses on Oyxon, a young woman forced to marry three khans during the Great Game. His daydreaming takes a power of its own and he occasionally slips back to talk with historical figures such as Charles Stoddart and Arthur Connolly-two British officers who were murdered by the Khan of Bukhara (not a 100% convinced they didn’t have it coming).

We spend half of the narrative with Qodiriy and the other half with Oyxon as she is taken from her home and thrown into the royal court of Kokand’s khans where she is raped and mistreated and has to survive the uncertain times of Central Asia during the Great Game. She is passed from Umar, the father, to Madali, the son, to the conquering Khan of Bukhara, Nasrullah who eventually murders her and her children. From a historical perspective, I have a lot of questions about Nasrullah because a lot of sources write him off as a cruel tyrant and nothing more which usually means there’s more…Before Oyxon and Qodiriy are taken to their deaths, there is a poignant scene where the two timelines merge into one that will stay with you long after the novel is over.

The book is a masterpiece exploring themes of colonialism, liberty, powerlessness in face of overwhelming might, the power of the human mind and spirit, the endurance of ideas, even when burned and “lost”, as well as being a powerful historical fiction about two disruptive periods in Central Asian history. It’s also a love letter to the three literary giants of Uzbek fiction: Abdurauf Fitrat: a statesmen who crafted the Turkic identity of Uzbekistan, a playwright and statesmen, Abdulla Qodiriy who created the first Uzbek novel (O’tgan Kunar which was recently translated by Mark Reese and can be bought in most bookstores), and Cho’lpon who created modern Uzbek poetry (you can buy his only novel Night translated by Christopher Fort and a collection of his poems 12 Ghazals by Alisher Navoiy and 14 Poems by Abdulhamid Cho’lpon translated by Andrew Staniland, Aidakhon Bumatova, and Avazkhon Khaydarov in any bookstore).

City of Kokand circa 1840-1888, thanks to Wikicommons

All three men were Jadids (modern Muslim reformers) who worked with the Bolsheviks to stabilize Central Asia, helped create the borders of the five modern Central Asian states, and were murdered by the Soviets during Stalin’s Great Purge of the 1930s. It was illegal to publish their work until the glasnost. Check out my history podcast to learn more about the Jadids and the Russian and Central Asian Civil Wars.

From a literary perspective however, Ismailov wrote the Devils’ Dance similarly to Qodiriy’s own O’tgan Kunlar and Cho’lpon’s Night (whereas Ismailov’s other books: Dead Lake and the Underground are more Soviet era Central Asian literature and his newest book the Manaschi is more post-Soviet). Like Qodiriy and Cho’lpon, Ismailov writes about MCs who are not the master of his own fate, but instead are going through the motions of a fate already written, one of his MCs is a woman unfairly caught in a misogynistic system that uses women as it sees fit (although I would argue that Hamid gives his women characters more agency than either Qodiry and Cho’lpon), and he writes about the corruption and inefficiencies of whatever government agency is in control at the time – whether it be a Russian, a Khan, or an indigenous agent of said government. All three books end in death, although only Cho’lpon’s Night and Ismailov’s the Devils’ Dance end in a farce of a trial. Even stylistically Ismailov mimics the rich and dense language of Qodiriy whereas I find Cho’lpon’s style crisper although no less rich for it.

Abdurauf Fitrat’s Downfall of Shaytan

While Ismailov led me down a historical rabbit hole which is captured on my history podcast, I also wanted to see if any of Fitrat’s, Qodiry’s, or Cho’lpon’s work had been translated into English.

So far, I can’t find anything by Fitrat except excerpts in the Devils’ Dance and Making Uzbekistan by Adeeb Khalid (one of my all-time favorite history books by one of my favorite scholars who also happens to be very kind and patience and I still can’t believe I interviewed him for my podcast).

Fitrat wrote a specific play I really want to read called Shaytonning Tangriga Isyoni which Dr. Khalid translated as Shaytan’s Revolt Against God. According to the summary provided by Dr. Khalid it is a challenging take on the Islamic version of Satan’s downfall.

According to Dr. Khalid, in Islamic cosmology God created angels from light and jinns from fire and they could only worship God. When God made Adam, He commanded all angels and jinn to bow before him. Azazel (who would become Shaytan) refused claiming he was better than Adam who was made out of clay. He was cast out of heaven and became Shaytan/Iblis.

Fitrat reimagines Shaytan’s defiance as heroic. He is disgusted by the angels’ submissive nature and God’s ability to create anything and yet he chooses to create servants. Azazel has seen God’s plan to create another being out of clay and have the angels worship him as well, which Azazel sees as a betrayal on God’s part. Gabriel, Michael, and Azrael try to convince Azazel to see reason and instead he brings his grievance to the other angels who are confused. God intervenes and the angels give in, but Azazel continues to defy God. God strips him of his angelic nature, and he turns into Shaytan who warns Adam of God’s treacherous nature and vows to free him and all other creatures from God’s trickery.

Doesn’t it sound amazing?! Fitrat has outdone Milton in terms of completely overturning God’s and Satan/Shaytan’s rules (also no wonder he was marked for execution right? Complete firebrand and pain in the ass (and I mean that with love)) and I really want to read it. So, either someone needs to translate this into English, or I need to learn Persian/Uzbek, which ever happens first, haha (judging on how my Russian is going…)

Abdulla Qodiry’s O’tgan Kunlar

While I can’t find any of Fitrat’s work in English, there have been two translations of Abdulla Qodiriy’s novel and the first ever Uzbek novel O’tgan Kunlar. In English, the title translates as Days Gone By or Bygone Days. There are two translates out there: Days Gone By translated by Carol Ermakova, which is the version I’ve read, and Otgun Kunlar by Mark Reese, which I haven’t read yet but I’ve heard him speak (and actually spoke to him about his translation – thank you Oxus Society) so you can’t go wrong with either one.

O’tgan Kunlar is an epic novel set in the Kokand Khanate in the 18th century and is about Otabek and his love Kumush. There’s also a corrupt official, Hamid who hates Otabek because Otabek is a former who wants to change the society Hamid benefits from. Hamid tries to get Otabek killed for treason because of his reformist believes, but the overthrow of the corrupt leader of Tashkent (who Otabek worked for) saves Otabek’s life. However, the corrupt leader’s machinations convince the Khan to declare war against the Kipchaks people, who are massacred. Otabek and his father vehemently disagree with the massacre of the Kipchaks.

Once Otabek is released and gets revenge against Hamid, he marries Kumush without his parent’s approval and is torn between the two families. His mother hates Kumush and forces him to take a second wife, Zainab. Obviously, things go terribly wrong as Otabek doesn’t even like Zainab and Kumush doesn’t know how to feel about her husband having a second wife. Zainab hates her position within the household and eventually poisons Kumush.

Abdulla Qodiriy thanks to Wikicommons

O’tgan Kunlar is considered to be an Uzbek masterpiece that is central to understanding Uzbekistan. Not only is it a great tragic love story, but it also highlights some of the things Qodiriy was thinking about as he engaged with other Jadids. Just as Otabek argued for reforms especially in the educational, social, and familial realms, the Jadids were making the same arguments. We can also see the Jadid’s struggle with the ulama and the merchants in Otabek’s struggle with Hamid. Qodiry attempts to capture the struggle women went through by writing about the horrors for arrange marriages and polygamy, but Kumush is an idealized version of a woman. She is the pure “virgin” like Margarete from Faust while the other two female characters; Otabek’s mother and Zainab are twisted, bitter woman who hurt those they “love”. One could argue they’ve been corrupted by the society they live in, but they also lack the depth of Otabek and even his father.

One of the most interesting parts of the novel is the massacre of the Kipchaks because it is written as the horror it was and both Otabek and his father condemn the action. His father even claims that there is no sense if hating a whole race for aren’t we all human? Central Asia is a vast land full of different peoples who share common, but divergent histories and while these differences have led to massacres, there have also been moments of living peacefully together. It’s interesting that Qodiriy would pick up that thread and make it a major part of his novel because this was written during the Russian Civil Wars and the attempts to create modern states in Central Asia. The Bolsheviks really pushed the indigenous people of Central Asia to create ethnic and racial identities they could then use to better manage the region and so one wonders if Qodiriy is responding to this idea of dividing the region instead of uniting it.

Cho’lpon’s Night

While O’tgan Kunlar is a beautiful book and Qodiriy is a masterful writer, I prefer Cho’lpon’s Night (although don’t tell anyone). Night was supposed to be a duology, but Cho’lpon was murdered before he could finish the second book. Cho’lpon wrote Night in 1934, after years of being attacked as a nationalist. It was a seemingly earnest attempt to get into the Soviet’s good graces. Instead, he would be murdered along with Qodiriy and Fitrat in 1938.

Night is about Zebi, a young woman, who is forced to marry the Russian affiliated colonial official Akbarali mingboshi. The marriage is arranged by Miryoqub, Akbarali’s retainer. Akbarali already has three wives and, like in O’tgan Kunlar, adding a new wife causes lots of problems in the household. Meanwhile Miryoqub falls in love with a Russian prostitute named Maria and they plan to flee together. While they are fleeing they met a Jadid named Sharafuddin Xo’Jaev and Miryoqub becomes a Jadids. Meanwhile Akbarali’s wives conspire against Zebi and attempt to poison her but she unwittingly gives it to Akbarali instead. Zebi is arrested and found guilty of murdering her husband and sentenced to exile in Siberia. The book ends with Zebi’s father, who encouraged her marriage to Akbarali, is driven made by his daughters fate and murders a sufi master while Zebi’s mother goes mad, wandering the streets and singing about her daughter.

Like Qodiriy, Cho’lpon is interested in examining governmental corruption, the need for reform, and women’s plight, but Cho’lpon is less resolute than Qodiriy. Cho’lpon’s novel is constructed similar to poetry: an indirect attempt to capture something that is concrete only for a moment.

His characters are own irresolute or ignorant of important pieces of information meaning they are never truly in full control of their fates. Even Miryoqub’s conversion to Jadidism is to be understood as a step in his self-discovery. In Cho’lpon’s world, no one is ever truly done discovering aspects of themselves and no one will ever have true knowledge to avoid tragedy.

Cho'lpon courtesy of Wikicommons

It is interesting to read Night as Cho’lpon’s own insecurity and anxiety about his own fate and the fate of his fellow countrymen as Stalin seemingly paused persecuting those who displeased him. While Qodiriy crafted and wrote O’tgan Kunlar in the 1920s, which were unstable because of civil war, but promised something greater as the Jadids and Bolsheviks regained control over the region, Cho’lpon wrote Night during the height of Stalin’s Great Terror, most likely knowing he would be arrested and executed soon.

Both novels are beautifully written historical novels about a beautiful region, but I prefer Cho’lpon’s poetic prose and uncertainty.

Conclusion

Reading the works of Fitrat, Qodiriy, and Cho'lpon not only introduced me to a history I knew little about, but also introduced me to a whole literature I never knew existed. The books mentioned in this blog post are beautiful pieces literature and will challenge how you see the world and how much literature we miss out on when we don't read beyond authors who work in our native tongues.

The canon of Central Asian literature is immense, with only a handful of books and poems translated into English. I hope more works are translated so other people can engage with these books and poems and learn about these writers and the circumstances that shaped them. And, if you haven't, go check out Tilted Axis who are doing amazing work translating books so people can engage with them.

If you're enjoying this blog, please join my patreon or donate to my ko-fi

[iishmael]

Can anyone recommend me books from Uzbek authors that play in Uzbekistan before 1920? 😅 They need to be translated into English, German, or French please 😭

[bookblast]

The Devils’ Dance, Hamid Ismailov Review

The Devils’ Dance by Hamid Ismailov is an unusual novel which shines a light on Central Asia, a region that is still little known in the West. Even today, the Sovietised khanates Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are generally remembered for being pawns in the Great Game played between Britain and Russia in the nineteenth century as the two imperial powers struggled…

[descalibrary]

Here: If you plan to do a quick reading on this compilation of essay to be exact then drop your plan - I suggest! The 21 essays on translation written in this book aren't something you'll read in a glance. It's simply because they'll take you to the world of (literary) translation from both personal and professional perspectives. I sound a little bit like Bloom but I couldn't help myself but raise this question, “Shall we see (or enjoy) a piece of translation aesthetically or seeing the meaning behind each translated word written there which lead us to an ideological perspectives. I have given an example of how political and ideological a translation could be on my previous post on this book. I also mentioned Burton’s translations as an example which is also mentioned several times in this book. Yet I cannot neglect that there are plenty of literary translated works that I fall simply because of its translations. Here’s an example: Some of my #TiltedAxisTeam friends told me that Hamid Ismailov’s are not easy to be understood even they’re translated into English. In my case, I do fall for Ismailov simply because I can convey and relate to what he wrote through the English translation. Another example: I always adore Marguerite Duras! I always have my head over heels when it comes to Duras. But I do enjoy reading the translated version of L’amant - the Lover. I stock each word there as I put my heart on sleeve. Another interesting point is how this book points to the discussion of decolonisation through literary translation. An example is the translation of the Arabic words and the works of my love- a Saint Lucian poet Derek Walcott. Will elaborate more on the review on this book in my personal platform. Will keep you updated. Des✨ #bookishindonesia #bookaholic #bookstagram #bookstagramindonesia #bookreview #bookreviewer #booknerd #bookaddict #bookblogger #bookaesthetic #bookenthusiast #booksbooksbooks #descalibrary #descaslibrary #descareading2023 #fictionbook #literaturejunkie #nonfiction #igreads #igbook #instaread #instabooks #ReadTheWorld23 #riotgrams #BookstagramReels #LiteraryTranslation #ViolentPhenomena #ReadTiltedAxis #JeremyTiang (at Sota,PNG) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoQZ7-9S7TO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mrdirtybear]

[proto-language]

Top 5 historical fiction!

Ooh, shit, that's a hard one! Thank you!!

Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series. I can only imagine that everyone saw this one coming, but O'Brian just writes with such an authentic voice that I regularly forget that I can't take his novels as evidence from the period. His character work is wonderful too: Jack and Stephen and their relationship obviously steal the show, but the supporting characters are all also excellent in their own ways, and I find that (so far in my reading, at least) none of them are ever overused in a way that makes you grow bored of them. Killick's a delight to be used sparingly!

Steven Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa series. I recently saw physical editions of some of these books for the first time after reading them all as ebooks, and I realised that reading all 16 of them in one month may not have been my sanest move. In my defence, the month in question was May 2020. Roman Blood is fun as a self-contained little murder mystery tying in with Pro Roscio Amerino, but I think the series really gets good (for me, at least) from the second book, when the familial dynamics are introduced. Saylor's takes on the historical figures involved are great fun too, and the sexy naked moonlit walk with Catilina will live on in my heart forever <3

Rosemary Sutcliff's Dolphin Ring cycle. I've only read three works of this so far (The Eagle of the Ninth, The Silver Branch, and Frontier Wolf), but all three have touched me deeply and rank among some of my favourite books of all time. Her prose is absolutely gorgeous and I love the idiosyncratic little phrases that mark it out as being hers ("it is in my heart that-" being the most iconic of all, naturally). Her themes of love and friendship and loyalty are so beautifully handled, and I really enjoy the way that she explores cultural dynamics in Roman Britain (particularly because multilingualism and cultural contact in the Roman Empire are the Things that make me vibrate like a fucking insane person and to which I would quite happily dedicate my life.) I'm interested to see what'll happen in her novels as they move out of the Roman period, but I'm sure they'll continue to be brilliant

The Name Of The Rose by Umberto Eco. I only read this for the first time last summer, but it very firmly earned its place on my all time favourites list! It starts off slow (which put me off of it for a couple of years after my first attempt at reading it when I was 13) but it veers into proper thriller territory by the end, as well as being a good mystery. Eco's recreation of the time period (and the narrative voice of a medieval monk) is masterful, and the philosophical elements which touch on his work on semiotics are very interesting, but it surprised me by also being a pretty emotionally touching novel - Adso's admiration for William, and William's desire to instruct Adso intellectually and spiritually but also to care for him as a person, were very nice.

Of Strangers and Bees by Hamid Ismailov. I really didn't expect to love this one as much as I did when I first read it. For me, it's historical both in the medieval sections, and in the sections set in the 80s - I can't recall when the sections from the bee's point of view are set! Now that I'm trying to write about it, I honestly can't remember the plot that well, I just remember that it was beautiful and incredibly interesting, and I really enjoyed hearing about history and the world from an Uzbek perspective, as I hadn't read any literature from there before. I really need to pick up another of Ismailov's books soon.

Honourable mentions also go to Now We Shall Be Entirely Free by Andrew Miller, and Fire From Heaven by Mary Renault.

[elliegoestodownton]

Rules: tag 9 people you want to get to know better or catch up with (or tag whomever)

Tagged by @bluepinkhydrangea (thank you!!! )

Favourite Colour: Lately olive green. All time faves navy blue, teal, yellow.

Last Song: Something from What’s Your Pleasure? by Jessie Ware because I have been listening to the same album since August more or less.

Currently Reading: Of Strangers and Bees by Hamid Ismailov (highly recced!)

Last Movie: A short film from the Sundance Indigenous Filmmakers retrospective called Sikumi. Feature film All Hands on Deck.

Sweet, Savory or Spicy: All of them? Ok, if hard pressed, sweet. Where’s that fourth slice of cake?

Currently working on: All work no play lately, alas. In my free time, once in a blue moon, slowly making my way through the Steppenwolf Theatre Company podcast Half Hour while taking the same route through my local park on sunny days.

Tagging: @akachankami @marymcmagic-hair @seutendeern @sylvies-chen @mihrsuri @b-radley66 @ballroompink @crazymaryt @dedlund82 (if you all feel like it 😊)

[vierschanzentournee]

12, 16 and 17 for the end-of-year book ask :)

Have a sparkling New Year :)))

Aw, thank you! Hope you have a lovely Hogmanay too :)

12. Any books that disappointed you?

I think mentioned in another ask that The Silver Pigs by Lindsey Davis didn't really live up to my expectations.

16. What is the most over-hyped book you read this year?

Already answered!

17. Did any books surprise you with how good they were?

I didn't expect Of Strangers and Bees by Hamid Ismailov to be one of my favourite books of the year! Also, I found the first 30-odd pages of The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco to be pretty difficult the first time I tried to read it a few years ago, but this time around I absolutely adored the whole thing!

[thephoenixandthecrocodile]

Hello! I’m interested in reading Uzbek literature and just came across an old post of yours, so I hope it’s okay I’m barging into your ask box to ask questions! 😅 I coincidentally went to two museum exhibitions in Paris about Uzbekistan, and now I need to Read Books About It. I am particularly interested in anything pre-1920s, and I came across Days Gone By by Abdulla Qodiriy. I struggled to find a comprehensive summary that didn’t spoil the story, so I wanted to ask if it’s a good book that depicts pre-Russian (or at least pre-Stalinist) Uzbek culture? I would be super grateful for any other recommendations. Did Hamid Ismailov write anything that’s set pre 1920s? Anyway, please feel free to only answer as much or as little as you’re in the mood for, sorry to bother you!! 💕

Oh wow thank you so much for this ask! I love talking about Central Asian literature. I will confess that most of the books I've read so far deal with Central Asian life either during or after the Soviet Union and that is a bias reflective of my time period of interest (Central Asia during WWI and the Russian Civil War) and the fact that I only read and speak English and most of the books translated into English are either Soviet or post-Soviet literature. So my recommends are in no way exhaustive, but they should be a good place to start your journey.

The first book I'd recommend is Days Gone By by Abdulla Qodiriy. it's set in the 1800s, so the Russians haven't fully colonized the region yet, but they have taken a lot of land in the Steppe and relations with the khans are growing tense. It takes place in Turkestan and is about Atabek, a wealthy merchant, and the love of his life, Kumush, and the many struggles they face to be together. It's a fascinating read as it gives great insight into life before 1920 and how the Jadid's felt about women's rights and issues. I'm not sure what is your preferred language, but there are two English translations. One by Carol Ermakova, which is the one I read and enjoyed and one by Mark Reese, which I haven't read yet, but I got to speak to him about translating the book and I really liked his passion for the story and Central Asia.

The other book I'd recommend is Night by Cho'lpon (which I actually like better than Days Gone By, but don't tell anyone ;)). It's set in the 1900s, so much later than Days Gone By, but before the Russian Revolution or WWI. It's about a young woman who is married to an official who is also a sexual glutton and the chaos it causes in his household. Even though it is a Tsarist Central Asia, the focus is on the Central Asian people and life in Central Asia and again it provides an interesting look at how the Jadids felt about women's rights and the issues they faced (and Cho'lpon gets to poke some fun at the Jadids themselves which is fascinating). Christopher Fort did a masterful job with the translation and provided an phenomenal introduction that explores Cho'lpon's life and provides a great analysis of the novel itself.

If you like poetry, I'd also recommend the book 12 Ghazals by Alisher Navoiy and 14 Poems by Abdulhamid Cho'lpon. The poems were translated by Andrew Staniland, Aidakhon Bumatova, and Avazkhon Khaydarov. Navoiy was a poet who write in the 1400s and is considered a father of Central Asian poetry. Cho'lpon, of course, is the father of modern Central Asian poetry.

Actually, Staniland just came out with another poetry collection I haven't read it (but i've just ordered it). It's called Nodira and Uvaysiy: Selected Poems. Nodira was a Central Asian Queen in the 1800s famous for her poetry and Uvaysiy was a woman poet who lived in the palace with Nodira.

For a more contemporary writer, Hamid Ismailov wrote two books that deal with multiple timelines, including a pre-1920 Central Asia. The first book of his I'd recommend is one of my favorites. It's called The Devils' Dance and it is about the last days of Abdulla Qodiriy, Cho'lpon, and Abdurauf Fitrat, as well as Central Asia during the Great Game. It follows the fate of Emir Nasrullah and Madali's Khanates as the Russians and British start to infiltrate the region (the connection between the two story lines is that Qodiriy, in real life and in Hamid's book, was working on a novel about Madali's wife: Oyxon before Qodiriy was arrested and murdered by the Soviets). Actually, Nodira and Uvaysiy, who I mentioned above, play a prominent role in this book as well.

Hamid also wrote a book called Of Strangers and Bees. it's about a modern day Central Asian expat and his connection with a charming bee and the famous physician Ibn Sina. It jumps from the 1000s Central Asia with Ibn Sina and modern day with the expat. I'll admit I've had to reread this book many times because it borrows heavily from Sufism and there are a lot of references that I'm still trying to catch and understand simply because I'm not as familiar with Sufism as I'd like to be.

A little bit of an aside, but Tilted Axis Press, who published both the Devils' Dance and Of Strangers and Bees is a great press that focuses on translating books from the Global South into English and they have a great catalog of Central Asian and South Asian Writers, so definitely check out their entire catalog as well.

Finally, i have to recommend Amanat, even though the stories are set far beyond your interested time frame (most of them are either soviet or post soviet era Central Asia and Russia). The reason I recommend it is because it's the first and only anthology of all Kazakh women writers and it was published just last year, so it needs all the support we can give it. It's also a great look at life in Central Asia as a Kazakh woman.

I hope this was helpful and please keep in touch. I'd love to hear your thoughts as you engage with Central Asian literature. ^_^

[agwitow]

Happy May, my lovelies! (And an extra Happy Beltane to those who celebrate!)

This past month was...very unproductive. Mostly because I was sick for most of it. I didn’t have covid19 (and yes, I was tested), but it was a good three weeks of being sick. Yay for shitty immune systems?

Anywho...  readwithcindy over on YouTube says May is the month for the Asian Readathon. I’m not usually one for official readathons, but a lot of the books on the recommendation list sound amazing, so... I’ve decided I’m going to solely read Asian authors/MCs this month (honestly, only two on my short list are non-Asian authors)

Unfortunately, my “short” list is still 69 books long. I’d make a joke, but that’s an overwhelming number of books. And I mean, yeah, I read a lot, and fairly quickly (here’s what I read in April:

you can really see where I was feeling the worst, can’t ya?)

So, obviously, I need to cut down the number of books to a manageable amount. Which is where, I hope, y’all come in!

Help me pick which books to read this May!

Of the 69 books, there are 13 I’m definitely going to read, 5 of which are poetry. But that still leaves 56 books that I’d like to cut down to only 17. Yes, that means I’m aiming for 30 books this month. No, I don’t know what’s come over me (other than a burning desire to read all of these...)

As per Cindy’s challenges, I am trying to read books from a variety of nationalities. So that’s how I’ve grouped the books. Please vote for your picks here: https://forms.gle/c4GYUgyBuUTwC9bj8

And, just so you are aware, the 13 I’m definitely reading are:

Sea Prayer – Khaled Hossein (Afghan; Poetry/Short Story)

Gates of Thread and Stone – Lori M Lee (Hmong (Miao); YA Fantasy)

Wild Embers – Nikita Gill (Indian; Poetry)

Milk & Honey – Rupi Kaur (Indian; Poetry)

Beauty is a Wound – Eka Kurniawan (Indonesian; Historical/Magical Realism; Translated)

Frankenstein in Baghdad – Ahmed Saadwi (Iraqi; Horror Fantasy)

The Dead Lake – Hamid Ismailov (Kazakh; Historical Fiction)

Soft Science – Franny Choi (Korean; Poetry)

The Pact We Made – Layla AlAmmar (Kuwaiti; Fiction)

If They Come For Us – Fatimah Asghar (Pakistani; Poetry)

We Hunt the Flame – Hafsah Faizal (Sri Lankan; YA Fantasy)

The Map of Salt and Stars – Zeyn Joukhadar (Syrian; Historical Fiction)

And Shall Machines Surrender – Benjanun Sriduangkaew (Thai; Sci-Fi)

Hope your May is as fun as mine is shaping up to be :)

xoxo

[tasksweekly]

[TASK 161: TAJIKISTAN]

In celebration of Tajik Independence Day on September 9th, here’s a masterlist below compiled of over 150+ Tajik faceclaims categorised by gender with their occupation and ethnicity denoted if there was a reliable source. If you want an extra challenge use random.org to pick a random number! Of course everything listed below are just suggestions and you can pick whichever faceclaim or whichever project you desire.

Any questions can be sent here and all tutorials have been linked below the cut for ease of access! REMEMBER to tag your resources with #TASKSWEEKLY and we will reblog them onto the main! This task can be tagged with whatever you want but if you want us to see it please be sure that our tag is the first five tags, @ mention us or send us a messaging linking us to your post!

THE TASK - scroll down for FC’s!

STEP 1: Decide on a FC you wish to create resources for! You can always do more than one but who are you starting with? There are links to masterlists you can use in order to find them and if you want help, just send us a message and we can pick one for you at random!

STEP 2: Pick what you want to create! You can obviously do more than one thing, but what do you want to start off with? Screencaps, RP icons, GIF packs, masterlists, PNG’s, fancasts, alternative FC’s - LITERALLY anything you desire!

STEP 3: Look back on tasks that we have created previously for tutorials on the thing you are creating unless you have whatever it is you are doing mastered - then of course feel free to just get on and do it. :)

STEP 4: Upload and tag with #TASKSWEEKLY! If you didn’t use your own screencaps/images make sure to credit where you got them from as we will not reblog packs which do not credit caps or original gifs from the original maker.

THINGS YOU CAN MAKE FOR THIS TASK -  examples are linked!

Stumped for ideas? Maybe make a masterlist or graphic of your favourite faceclaims. A masterlist of names. Plot ideas or screencaps from a music video preformed by an artist. Masterlist of quotes and lyrics that can be used for starters, thread titles or tags. Guides on culture and customs.

Screencaps

RP icons [of all sizes]

Gif Pack [maybe gif icons if you wish]

PNG packs

Manips

Dash Icons

Character Aesthetics

PSD’s

XCF’s

Graphic Templates - can be chara header, promo, border or background PSD’s!

FC Masterlists - underused, with resources, without resources!

FC Help - could be related, family templates, alternatives.

Written Guides.

and whatever else you can think of / make!

MASTERLIST!

F:

Fatima Kuinova (1920) Tajik Jewish - singer.

Khairi Nazarova (1923) Tajik - actress.

Oydina Usmonova (1928) Tajik - actress.

Mayram Isoeva (1937) Tajik - actress.

Nuqra Rahmatova (1942) Tajik - singer and dancer.

Zebo Aminzoda (1948) Tajik - actress, dancer, and choreographer.

Zebo Aminzoda (1948) Tajik - ballet dancer and choreographer.

Malika Kalontarova (1950) Tajik Jewish - actress and dancer.

Sitora Alieva (1963) Tajik - actress and director. 

Firuza Alifova (1980) Tajik, Uzbek - singer.

Shabnam Surayyo (1981) Tajik - singer.

Tahmina Rajabova (1982) Tajik - actress and newscaster.

Manija Dawlat (1982) Tajik - singer and dancer.

Feruza Jumaniyozova (1984) Tajik / Uzbek - singer.

Nigina Amonqulova (1986) Tajik - singer.

Noziya Karomatullo (1988) Tajik - singer, pianist, violinist, and tabla player.

Tahmina Niyazova (1989) Tajik - singer.

Farzonai Khurshed (1989) Tajik - singer.

Nigora Kholova (1989) Tajik - singer.

Manizha / Manizha Dalerovna Khamraeva (1991) Tajik - singer.

Vita Tsybulska (1991) Tajik, Ukrainian - model.

Parisha Jan (1994) Tajik - model and Face of Central Asia 2018 (instagram: parishajan94).

Sunam Kofi (1995 or 1996) Tajik - model.

Shakha Shomirova (1997) Tajik - instagrammer (shomirova).

Jasmine Karimova (1998) Tajik / British - singer-songwriter.

Dina Saeva (1999) Tajik - instagrammer (senoritasaeva).

Amina Rahimova (1999 or 2000) Tajik - model.

Malika Iskandarova (?) Tajik, Uzbek - model.

Kibriyo Rajabova (?) Tajik - singer.

Nodira Mazitova (?) Tajik - actress and model.

Tamanna Fayz (?) Tajik -  tv journalist (instagram: tamanno.fayz_)

Bonu Zulaykho (?) Tajik  - singer. 

Shahnoz Eronshoh (?) Tajik - model and Miss United Nations Tajikistan 2016.

Zarnigor Husainova (?) Tajik - model and Face of Central Asia 2017.

Surayyo Qosimova (?) Tajik - singer.

Guljahon Ruzadorova (?) Tajik - actress, model, Ms Nations of the World Tajikistan 2018, and writer.

Manizha Saboh (?) Tajik  - singer. 

Fotima Makhmadalieva (?) Tajik - model.

Soffi_1111_official (?) Tajik - model.

Fatim.Performans (?) Tajik - model.

Robiya Nabieva (?) Tajik / Uzbek - instagrammer (yaibor).

Kordignus (?) Tajik - model (instagram: cordignus)

Parvina️️️ (?) Tajik - instagrammer.

Azi_o1_ (?) Tajik - instagrammer.

Krasiviee7 (?) Tajik - instagrammer.

Farzonna (?) Tajik - instagrammer.

Farahnozkaa (?) Tajik - instagrammer.

Manizha_21_97 (?) Tajik - instagrammer.

Istamova_dilya (?) Tajik - instagrammer.

Parvina Hasanova (?) Tajik - instagrammer (parinoz_5555).

Safina Goibova (?) Tajik - model, Miss Planet Grace 2017, Vice Miss Top Model CIS 2018, Face of Central Asia, Face of Asia TOP 10, and Miss Cosmo World-Miss Photogenic 2017.

Nilufar Sherzod (?) Tajik - model and Miss United Nations 2010.

Leyla Manizha (?) Tajik - Instagrammer (leyla.manizha).

F - Athletes:

Zebiniso Rustamova (1955) Tajik - archer. 

Albina Kamaletdinova (1969) Tajik - archer. 

Gulsara Dadabayeva (1976) Tajik - swimmer. 

Mavzuna Chorieva (1992) Tajik - boxer. 

Isaeva Nodira (?) Tajik - Taekwondo ITF practitioner and kickboxer. 

Umeda Parsaeva (?) Tajik - bodybuilder (instagram: umedaparsaeva).

M:

Jurabek Murodov (1942) Tajik - singer-songwriter.

Tolib Shakhidi (1946) Tajik, Russian - actor and composer.

Yunus Yusupov (1949) Tajik - actor.

Davlatmand Kholov (1950) Tajik - musician. 

Daler Nazarov (1959) Tajik - actor and singer-songwriter.

Oleg Fesov / Oleg Fezov (1963) Tajik - singer, guitarist, keyboardist, oud player, sitar player, tabla player, and composer.

Jamshed Usmonov / Djamshed Usmonov (1965) Tajik - actor, director, producer, and screenwriter.

Nobovar Chanorov (1970) Tajik - singer.

Aleksandr Bargman (1970) Tajik - actor.

Tabriz Shakhidi (1975) Tajik - instagrammer (itabriz).

Avi Benedi (1980) Tajik Jewish, Austrian Jewish, Russian Jewish - singer-songwriter, guitarist, pianist, and drummer.

Jonibek / Jonibek Murodov (1986) Tajik - singer.

Amridin Sirojidinov (1992 or 1993) Tajik - model.

Abdul Qader Hamid (1993 or 1994) Tajik - model.

Nurkhon Saidasanov (1995 or 1996) Tajik - model.

Navid Mullo-Abdolov (1995 or 1996) Tajik - model.

Chetan Vaishnav (1997 or 1998) Tajik - model.

Lior Babadost (?) Tajik Jewish, Austrian Jewish, Russian Jewish - director.

Jam Shokirov (?) Tajik  - model (instagram: jamshokirov).

M - Athletes:

Alimzhon Rafikov (1962) Tajik - footballer.

Khakim Fuzailov (1964) Tajik - footballer.

Mukhsin Mukhamadiev (1966) Tajik - footballer.

Tokhirjon Muminov (1970) Tajik - footballer.

Rustamhodza Rahimov (1975) Tajik - boxer.

Akmal Kholmatov (1976) Tajik - footballer.

Yusup Abdusalomov (1977) Tajik, Russian - wrestler. 

Rauf Hukmatov (1978) Tajik - judoka. 

Rahmatullo Fuzailov (1978) Tajik - footballer.

Shamil Aliev (1979) Tajik - wrestler. 

Yusuf Rabiev (1979) Tajik - footballer.

Parviz Sobirov (1980) Tajik - judoka. 

Alisher Dodov (1981) Tajik - footballer.

Rasul Boqiev (1982) Tajik - judoka.

Dilshod Nazarov (1982) Tajik - hammer thrower. 

Anvar Yunusov (1982) Tajik - boxer. 

Nematullo Asranqulov (1982) Tajik - judoka. 

Nizom Sangov (1983) Tajik - weightlifter. 

Sherali Dostiev (1985) Tajik - boxer. 

Ruslan Rafikov (1986) Tajik - footballer.

Mukhamadmurod Abdurakhmonov (1986) Tajik - judoka. 

Daler Tukhtasunov (1986) Tajik - footballer. 

Jahon Qurbonov (1986) Tajik - boxer. 

Jamshed Ismailov (1987) Tajik - footballer. 

Akmal Saburov (1987) Tajik - footballer. 

Ibrahim Rabimov (1987) Tajik - footballer. 

Akhtam Khamrakulov (1988) Tajik - footballer. 

Dilshod Vasiev (1988) Tajik - footballer. 

Alisher Gulov (1989) Tajik  -  taekwondo practitioner.

Farkhod Negmatov (1989) Tajik - taekwondo practitioner.

Sherzod Shakirov (1990) Tajik - footballer.

Davronjon Tukhtasunov (1990) Tajik - footballer.

Farkhod Tokhirov (1990) Tajik - footballer.

Manuchekhr Dzhalilov (1990) Tajik - footballer.

Nuriddin Davronov (1991) Tajik - footballer.

Rustam Iskandari (1991) Tajik - wrestler. 

Naim Ulmasov (1992) Tajik - footballer.

Umedzhon Sharipov (1992) Tajik - footballer.

Khurshed Beknazarov (1992) Tajik - footballer.

Akhtam Nazarov (1992) Tajik - footballer.

Manouchehr Ahmadov (1992) Tajik - footballer.

Furug Qodirov (1992) Tajik - footballer.

Murolimzhon Akhmedov (1992) Tajik - footballer.

Iskandar Dzhalilov (1992) Tajik - footballer.

Davron Atabaev (1993) Tajik - sprinter. 

Komronshokh Ustopiriyon (1993) Tajik - taekwondo practitioner.

Farkhod Kuralov (1993) Tajik - middle-distance runner. 

Alisher Dzhalilov (1993) Tajik - footballer.

Jahongir Ergashev (1994) Tajik - footballer.

Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev (1994) Tajik - footballer.

Shavkat Rakhimov (1994) Tajik - boxer. 

Romish Jalilov (1995) Tajik - footballer.

Asror Vohidov (1995) Tajik - boxer. 

Oybek Abdugafforov (1995) Tajik - footballer.

Nozim Babadjanov (1995) Tajik - footballer.

Behruzi Khojazoda (1995) kurash and judoka practitioner.

Amirbek Juraboev (1996) Tajik - footballer.

Tabrezi Davlatmir (1996) Tajik - footballer.

Komron Tursunov (1996) Tajik - footballer.

Firdavs Chakalov (1996) Tajik - footballer.

Jahongir Aliev (1996) Tajik - footballer.

Shahriyor Daminov (1997) Tajik - canoer. 

Shakhrom Sulaimonov (1997) Tajik - footballer.

Muhsindzhon Abdugaffor (1997) Tajik - footballer.

Dzhamshed Rakhmonov (1997) Tajik - footballer.

Olim Kurbanov (1998) Tajik - swimmer. 

Rustam Yatimov (1998) Tajik - footballer.

Saidkhodzha Mukhammadsharifi (1998) Tajik - footballer.

Alisher Barotov (1999) Tajik - footballer.

Sheriddin Boboev (1999) Tajik - footballer.

Ehson Panjshanbe (1999) Tajik - footballer.

Karomatullo Saidov (1999) Tajik - footballer.

Vahdat Hanonov (2000) Tajik - footballer.

Shervoni Mabatshoev (2000) Tajik - footballer.

Problematic:

Mehrnigori Rustam / Mehrnigor Rustam / Mehrnegar Rostam (1994) Tajik - singer. - Appropriation of box braids.

[sicvisumsuperis]

After all, if jealousy could rouse heaven and time to intrigue, how much more easily could it move a human heart?

Hamid ismailov, The Devils’ Dance

[rathertoofondofbooks]

See my huge #bookhaul in my Stacking the Shelves post! (24 Jun)

See my huge #bookhaul in my Stacking the Shelves post! (24 Jun)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews, which is all about sharing the books that you’ve acquired in the past week!

So last week I had a small book haul with just three books being added to my bookcase. Well, this week is a humungous book haul – I’m not quite sure how it happened but I’ve well and truly gone to town with the new books this week!!

  I bought these books:

[explore-chat]

The Shaping Clay

by Hamid Ismailov

Crack open your door, silence, to the murmurs of a cottage under the cradle of the sleeping clay. In the long fingers of the wind, like the trills of a flute poppies and water lilies wake to a new day.

The sky is still more dexterous which sculpts the vault of a heavenly earth where the blue holds a glaze. Oh, potter, mold me silence, take good care not to lose even a word in the heart of a child.

At the end of summer in the middle of Russia, when the water is transparent, who flies the planes? Like the first falling leaves on the pond, the life-savers at the end of the path,

is like a feeling in the elevator when it drops brutally following the beams, the numbers and letters like mountaineers tumbling into the abyss.

Their cries rise a whirl toward the ceiling, filling up the concrete halls like what remains unsaid about this summer? But then again, what can the bridge of a violin say?

(via Language for a New Century)

[monicabarraclough]

Deep Signal - The Illustrated Anthology has launched on Kickstarter!

Stories from Ken Liu, Aliette de Bodard, Hamid Ismailov, Elaine Lee, Mike Kaluta, Christopher Moeller, Bryan Talbot, and more!

I’m part of the “and more,” and am so excited to be a part of this great book! Two stories of mine are in the anthology: No Titans but Our Own, illustrated by the illustrious @patreddingscanlon and Gluttony, a flash fiction written to accompany an awesome piece by Bryan Talbot!

Please support and/or signal boost! Thank you everybody

[proto-language]

tsym @urtica-dioica-22 for the tag <3

1. Best book you have read in 2021 so far?

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

2. Best sequel you have read in 2021 so far?

The Fortune of War by Patrick O'Brian (I've actually barely read any sequels this year!)

3. A new release you want to check out?

Artifact Space by Miles Cameron

4. Most anticipated book release of the second half of the year?

Fall of the Argosi by Sebastien de Castell

5. Biggest disappointment?

I'm still reading it so I might be surprised later on, but The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde just isn't what I'd hoped it would be! (Also, the fact that Play of Shadows by Sebastien de Castell has been delayed to next year :()

6. Biggest surprise?

Of Strangers and Bees by Hamid Ismailov - I really enjoyed it even though it partially lies outwith the genres I'd usually read. Also, Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold, because I genuinely really enjoyed the romantic (sub)plot.

7. Favourite new author (either new to you or debut)?

A tie between Becky Chambers and Lois McMaster Bujold - it's clearly a year for female sci-fi authors in my brain?

8. Favourite new fictional crush?

Childermass... my beloved...

9. Newest favourite character?

Hilarion, from Frontier Wolf by Rosemary Sutcliff! Who, come to think of it, is decidedly Childermass-like. Although I think my love for him is a bit tied up in my love for the story as a whole, because I just think the way he fits into it is so beautiful.

10. A book that made you cry?

I don't think any of them have, but Frontier Wolf and Shards of Honor both came close!

11. A book that made you happy?

As Grace said, all of them!

12. Most beautiful book you have bought or received this year?

There are a few contenders! The Long Way To A Small Angry Planet had a lovely spacey cover; Now We Shall Be Entirely Free's cover has shiny bits and just makes me feel things in general; and I love the way that Way of the Argosi is clearly related to the main series of Spellslinger books, but still distinct!

13. What book do you need to read by the end of the year?

Among books I already own, I'd like to try and get through This Thing of Darkness by Harry Thompson, Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell, A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers, and one or two more Aubreyad books. As for books I don't own atm, I'd like to read Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold (the sequel to Shards of Honor), Promise of Blood by Bryan McClellan, and Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez! Also, I suspect, lots of linguistics textbooks.

I'll tag @phoenixflames12 @chiropteracupola and @margridarnauds, if you fancy doing it!