23.03.2021

The literature of Uzbekistan suffered a heavy loss. The People’s writer of Uzbekistan Khudayberdy Tukhtabaev passed away on March 22 this year at the age of 88.

Khudayberdy Tukhtabaev was born on December 17, 1932 in the Uzbekistan District of the Ferghana Region. In 1955, he graduated from the Tashkent State University.

Kh.Tukhtabaev embarked on his career in 1955 as a secondary school teacher. Then, he productively worked as a literary worker in the newspapers «Toshkent Haqiqati» (‘The Truth of Tashkent’), «Sovet Uzbekistoni»  (‘Soviet Uzbekistan’)  (now - «Uzbekiston Ovozi» - ‘Voice of Uzbekistan’), deputy editor-in-chief in the magazine «Sharq Yulduzi» (‘The Oriental Star’), chief editor of the youth publishing house of Uzbekistan, magazines «Gulxan» (‘The bonfire’) and «Yosh kuch» (‘The Youth Power’), made a significant contribution to the development of national literature and press. Later, he headed the Republican Fund «Iste’dod» (‘Talent’) and the International Charitable Fund «Oltin meros» (‘The Golden Heritage’).

As a mentor and author with extensive knowledge and great experience, the writer for many years hosted the program for children «O’yla, Izla, Top!» (‘Think, Search, Find’) on National TV and Radio Company of Uzbekistan.

Khudayberdy Tukhtabaev, with his rich creativity, which has a deep educative value, became an outstanding representative of the Uzbek children’s literature.

During his more than sixty years of creative career the talented writer created such  collections of stories as «Shoshqaloq» (‘Bustler’), «So’qmoqlar» (‘The Paths’), «Muhabbat Qo’shig’i» (‘The Love Song’), «Jonginam, Shartingni Ayt» (‘Darling, Tell Me Your Terms), stories «Mystery Solved», «The adventures of Amanbai and Davranbai», novels «Riding a Yellow Diva»,  «The End of a Yellow Diva», «Light in an Abandoned House», «Golden Head of The Avenger», «Years and roads», «Fight of Wizards, or In the Land of Sweet Melons», «The Sad Eyes», «People of Paradise», «Qiz talashgan o’smirlar» (‘The Teenage Boys Arguing Over a Girl’), «Quyonlar saltanati» (‘The Hares’ Kingdom’) and «Qiz bolaga tosh otmang» (‘Don’t Offend a Girl’).

The novel «Riding a Yellow Diva» became especially well-known in our country and abroad. This work has been translated into more than 40 foreign languages, published in millions of copies.

The creative and social activities of the writer were even more vivid in the years of Independence. Along with the creation of works that serve to educate the young generation in the spirit of high spiritual and moral values, the writer made a worthy contribution to the widespread popularization of literature and reading in our society.

As an accomplished writer and selfless organizer, he also mentored many young writers.

The merits of Khudayberdy Tukhtabaev in the development of the Uzbek literature and art have been highly appreciated by state. He was awarded with the titles of People’s Writer, Honored Worker of Culture of Uzbekistan, received the State Prize of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Order of «Fidokorona hizmatlari uchun» (‘For Selfless Labour’).

In loving memory of the outstanding writer, caring mentor, sincere and modest person Khudayberdy Tukhtabaev, who will forever remain in our hearts.

 

Sh. Mirziyoyev, T. Narbaeva, N. Ismoilov,

A. Aripov, S. Saidov, I. Gafurov

 

 

 

• 
• 
•