Draft:Aminjon Shukuhi

Aminjon Shukuhi (Tajik: Аминҷон Шукӯҳӣ; born Aminjon Khojibayev; 1923–1979) was a Soviet Tajik poet, celebrated in modern Tajik literature as a lyrical poet. He was honored as a People's Poet of Tajikistan and received the Abuabdullo Rudaki State Prize of the Tajik SSR in 1965. For nearly a decade, Shukuhi served as the chief editor of the central newspaper of the Tajik SSR, Soviet Tajikistan. He was the first chairman of the Union of Journalists of the Tajik SSR and led the State Committee of the Tajik SSR for Television and Radio Broadcasting from 1967 to 1976. Additionally, he was a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the Tajik SSR for four consecutive terms.

Biography Aminjan Shukuhi began his creative journey in the 1930s, with his first publications appearing in the early 1940s. In 1947, at the age of 24, he became a member of the Union of Soviet Writers. The peak of Shukuhi's creativity came in the 1950s when he published a series of lyrical collections, establishing himself as a leading figure in the genre. One of his earliest works was the collection The Voice of the Heart. Shukuhi skillfully captured the post-war atmosphere of change and transitioned from rigid patriotic and ideological forms to more romantic themes, earning significant attention, especially among the youth. The renowned Tajik poet Kulali noted: “Shukuhi’s poems were an anthem for the youth, and we eagerly awaited his new creations.”

A pinnacle of Shukuhi’s lyrical poetry was the poem You Are Not a Flower (Tu Gul Ne), which introduced a fresh perspective to established imagery in Persian ghazals. Decades later, this poem remains one of the most celebrated works of 20th-century Tajik literature. Among his larger works, the poem The Alley of Lovers received critical acclaim and resonated with his admirers.

In 1965, Shukuhi was awarded the Abuabdullo Rudaki State Prize, the highest literary honor in Tajikistan, for his cycle of poems Family and Love. He also served for nearly a decade as the chief editor of the central newspaper of the Tajik SSR, Soviet Tajikistan. Later, he became the deputy chairman of the Union of Writers of Tajikistan, the first chairman of the Union of Journalists of Tajikistan, and from 1967 to 1976, he led the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting.

Shukuhi was also a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the Tajik SSR for four terms and became one of Tajikistan's most renowned children's writers. His trilogy Where Does the Water Flow From? is considered a masterpiece of children's literature and has been translated into multiple languages. The title itself became an idiomatic expression in modern Tajik. His children's poems are part of the educational curriculum and feature in many primary school textbooks.

In addition to poetry, Shukuhi was a highly skilled journalist and publicist. His editorials and essays are still used as educational resources for budding philologists. His famous satirical piece Where Are You, My Sunshine? became a bestseller and is regarded as one of the best satires of the Soviet era.

As a prose writer, Shukuhi demonstrated his talent through several notable works, including the 1961 novella Shakhlo and its sequel Shakhlo and Shifo, co-written with H. Askar. These works, addressing the struggle against ignorance, remain relevant today. His later prose works, such as Personal Signature, The Fairy of the Island, and the novel The Zigzags of Roads (which gained recognition across the Soviet Union), solidified his reputation as a gifted prose writer.

Shukuhi was also an accomplished humorist, with the collection The Tales of Mullolatifa offering a vivid portrayal of folk humor in literature. He was known as a lyricist, with many of his poems set to music and performed by renowned artists. One of his most enduring contributions was the song Love Came and Changed the World from the film Time for the Son to Marry, composed by Ziyodullo Shahidi and sung in Russian by Batyr Zakirov. This song remains a classic in Tajik music, even 50 years later. Shukuhi also wrote the libretto for the opera The Return and was successful as a playwright, with his war-themed play Nights of Separation and musical-comedy television productions warmly received by audiences.

Aminjan Shukuhi interacted with many prominent writers of his time, including Bulat Okudzhava, Alexei Surkov, Sergei Baruzdin, and Semyon Lipkin, who praised his work. His writings were published in Germany, the United States, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine, and other countries.

He passed away in 1979 and was laid to rest in the Central Cemetery of Dushanbe.

Awards

• People's Poet of Tajikistan
• Recipient of the Abuabdullo Rudaki State Prize
• Twice awarded the "Order of the Red Banner of Labor"
• Awarded the "Order of the Badge of Honor"
• Recipient of commendations from the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and the Tajik SSR

Notes

• Svetlana Kolosova. Shukuhi Aminjan // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Pseudonyms. — 2009. — 510 pages.
• Shukuhi // Literary Encyclopedic Dictionary, edited by V. M. Kozhevnikov and P. A. Nikolaev. — Moscow: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1987. — 752 pages.
• The Lyrical Element in Modern Tajik Prose. Accessed March 20, 2016. Archived April 1, 2016.
• The Castle Over the Grave. Accessed June 20, 2022. Archived June 12, 2023