The Uzbek Language in Khorasan

Uzbek people, who constitute a significant part of Afghanistan's population, have been living since ancient times in the country's northern and northeastern provinces, as well as in the cities of Kabul and Herat. According to Article 16 of the country's Constitution, the Uzbek language has official status in areas where the majority of the population speaks Uzbek. However, despite the establishment of the first printing press in Kabul in 1873, the number of books published in Uzbek has not exceeded several dozen annually due to various historical circumstances.

It is well known that Uzbek literature took deep roots in the ancient lands of Khorasan. The first major literary movement in this region began in Herat in the 15th century. Lutfi Heravi, who produced works during the era of the great Timurids, was one of the masters who composed beautiful poems in Uzbek and created the epic Gul va Navro‘z (Flower and Nowruz).

Ali-Shir Nava'i elevated this literary tradition to a high level, unified the country through his literary contributions, and became internationally recognized as the founder of the Uzbek language and literature.

Over time, the oasis of Balkh also became a new and important center of the Uzbek language and literature during the Ashtarkhanid period. Later, due to the historical circumstances prevailing in the region, this literary environment gradually moved to the opposite bank of the Amu Darya. This process contributed to the further enrichment of literary relations between the two neighboring regions and their shared cultural heritage.

So, after these historical developments, through what factors did Uzbek literary traditions continue to survive in the territory of Afghanistan?

First, the traditional gatherings of book readers, which were widespread among the Uzbek people, became a fundamental element in preserving national literature and culture. During these cultural gatherings, the works of great figures such as Mir Ali-Shir Nava'i, Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur, Muhammad Suleiman's son Fuzuli, Khoja Nazar Sufi Allah Yar, and Babur Rahim Mashrab, as well as the Uzbek translation of the Shahnameh, were enthusiastically read.

Second, the teaching of literary works in unofficial madrasas operating among Turkic-speaking communities became an integral part of their educational programs.

Third, active commercial relations between the regions situated on both banks of the Amu Darya facilitated the mutual exchange of cultural values.

In addition, every year a group of young people from Afghanistan traveled to the scientific and cultural centers of Bukhara and Samarkand to pursue education. As a result, they became more closely acquainted with Uzbek literature and brought some copies of rare books back to Afghanistan.

Due to historical and political circumstances, the fields of printing and publishing in Afghanistan faced certain difficulties until 2003. This situation also adversely affected the publication of literature in the Uzbek language.

Ninety years after the establishment of the first central printing press in Kabul, that is, only in 1963, the first rare example of cultural heritage in the Uzbek language was officially published within the borders of Afghanistan. This work was the poetic divan of Sultan Husayn Mirza, a great thinker and statesman.

In the period following 1978, the relevant ministries, the Academy of Sciences, and creative organizations in the country began to attach serious importance to publishing works in the Uzbek language.

These cultural and educational initiatives encouraged local writers to produce literary works in their mother tongue.

During that period, well-known writers such as Vahidi Juzjani, Matin Andkhoyi, Ashraf Azimi, Shafiqa Yarqin, Ayhan Bayani, Burhanuddin Namiq, Tashqin Bahayi, and Qayyum Azizi made significant contributions to the development of the Uzbek literary environment.

After 1978, certain reforms were introduced in Afghanistan's education system, providing Uzbek and Turkmen children with the opportunity to receive primary education in their mother tongue.

A special Uzbek language department was established within the Ministry of Education, while an Uzbek language and literature department was opened at Kabul University. Experienced specialists from Uzbekistan were invited to work in this department.

Furthermore, the first Uzbek-language newspaper, Yulduz, began publication.

However, by the middle of the 1980s, the educational program's activities had come to a halt as a result of internal political instability. Due to ideological conflicts within the country, the education system faced serious decline.

Nevertheless, in 1990, an organization named after Ali-Shir Nava'i was established in Kabul.

Only four years after beginning its activities, the organization was relocated to Mazar-i-Sharif.

The organization primarily focused on developing the Uzbek language, organizing national events, and publishing books, newspapers, and magazines in the mother tongue.

Unfortunately, due to political turmoil in the country, the organization's existence was also short-lived.

However, rare works such as “Muhabbatnoma,” “Shajara-yi Tarakima,” and “Yurak Sozlari” remained in our possession as the legacy of the Ali-Shir Nava'i organization.

In the history of Afghanistan's public broadcasting media, the first Uzbek-language radio broadcast was launched in 1972, during the tenure of Prime Minister Musa Shafiq, in the form of a half-hour program.

However, in subsequent years, this broadcast was also discontinued because of the changes that took place in the country.

As a consequence of the political situation in 1998, the scope of cultural and educational activities related to the Uzbek language and literature became significantly restricted.

Thus, due to unfavorable circumstances that continued for many years, Afghanistan's Uzbek people faced certain restrictions in receiving education in their mother tongue, developing printing and publishing, and promoting their literary heritage on a wider scale.

Political and administrative borders in the region caused the Afghan Uzbek literary environment to become separated from the broader literary world of Central Asia, leading to a slowdown in the development of national literature.

As a result, many Afghan Uzbek writers were compelled to produce their works in other languages.

Nevertheless, some devoted poets consistently continued the literary traditions of the Uzbek language.

They drew inspiration from the works of distinguished literary figures such as Ahmad Yasawi, Sufi Allah Yar, Ali-Shir Nava'i, Fuzuli, Mashrab, and Huwayda.

In particular, writers such as Qadiri Pelangpush, Mawlana Nimatullah Mahwi Qaysari, Junaydullah Hazik, Nadim Qaysari, Muqimi Andkhoyi, Gurbat, Samimi, Nazihi Jalwa, Ghamgin, Khayri Faryabi, Nawa, Mawlawi Ilmi, Mawlawi Nusrat, Anbar, Nafiri Faryabi, Ergesh Uchqun, and Matin Andkhoyi made significant contributions to preserving Uzbek literary traditions and the Uzbek written word in Afghanistan and transmitting them to future generations.

During that period, literary production was largely limited to poetry, while the development of prose remained somewhat behind. This situation had a certain impact on the formation of the overall literary environment.

Ultimately, the beginning of the 21st century became a particularly productive period in the cultural life of Afghanistan's Uzbek people.

The Uzbek language was granted official status.

The activities of the Uzbek language and literature department at Kabul University were revived.

In addition, relevant departments were established at universities in Faryab, Jawzjan, Sar-e Pol, Balkh, and Takhar, and the teaching of national languages at the academic level was introduced into Afghanistan's higher education system.

Appropriate space was allocated to the Uzbek language in radio, television, and press publications, and special Uzbek television channels and radio networks were launched.

Most importantly, the Uzbek Language Day was included in the country's official calendar.

This is regarded as a symbol of the local Uzbek people's cultural determination to preserve their national identity, ethnic unity, and social resilience.

Thus, since 2019, Afghanistan's Uzbek people have been celebrating their mother tongue's special day both within their homeland and abroad, in a spirit of profound respect for and devotion to cultural values.

Various prestigious cultural and educational events, major academic gatherings, new book presentations, and meaningful literary meetings have been organized.

At these commemorative gatherings, particular attention has been devoted to the priceless value of our mother tongue, its unparalleled position as the mirror of our nation, and the sacred responsibility of transmitting it to future generations in its original and unaltered form.

Despite the existing circumstances and changes in the country, Afghanistan's Uzbek people have not abandoned their tradition of celebrating the national day of their mother tongue.

This blessed day demonstrates the people's cultural determination to understand their identity and serves to unite people around spiritual values.

Such a determined commitment to preserving the mother tongue is one of the finest examples of people-to-people diplomacy.

In fact, the initiative to celebrate “Uzbek Language Day” in Afghanistan emerged in the autumn of 2018, following a meeting at the Embassy of Uzbekistan.

At that time, Ambassador Yadgar Khoja Shadmanov recognized a group of Afghan Uzbek intellectuals for their contributions to the cultural sphere.

Inspired by this recognition, the intellectuals united around a new idea aimed at further strengthening cultural relations between the two countries.

The proposal of the intellectuals was fully endorsed by the country's leadership, and by a decision of the Council of Ministers, 21 October (29 Mizan) was officially declared “Uzbek Language Day.”

During the first grand celebration in Kabul, the congratulatory message of Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was read and broadcast in the Uzbek language for the first time at the Presidential Palace.

This historic event opened a new chapter in cultural cooperation between the two countries.

In this way, valuable initiatives aimed at strengthening the influence of the Uzbek language in these lands began.

Afghanistan's Uzbek people celebrate this blessed day regularly every year.

Today, this special occasion is also widely known among the people as “Uzbek National Language Day.”

This celebration represents the brightest expression of Afghanistan's Uzbek people's boundless love for their mother tongue, their awareness of their national identity, and their determination to preserve their rich cultural heritage for future generations.
Dr.AZİZULLAH ARAL