Abdulla Oripov (poet)


Abdulla Oripov was an Uzbek poet, literary translator, and a politician. He is best known as the author of the lyrics to the State Anthem of Uzbekistan. In addition to writing his own poetry, Oripov translated the works of many famous foreign poets, such as Alexander Pushkin, Dante Alighieri, Nizami Ganjavi, and Taras Shevchenko, into the Uzbek language.
Oripov was also a statesman. He was a member of the Senate of Uzbekistan from 2005 until his death in 2016. He also served as the head of the Copyright Committee of Uzbekistan from 2000 until his death.
Oripov received many awards during his lifetime. He became a National Poet of the Uzbek SSR in 1989. In 1998, he was awarded the title Hero of Uzbekistan, the highest honorary title that can be bestowed on a citizen by Uzbekistan.

Life

Abdulla Oripov was born on March 21, 1941, in the village of Nekuz in Qashqadaryo, then the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic. His sister is the surgeon and women's rights activist Bibisora Oripova. In 1958, Oripov graduated from high school with honors. In 1963, he graduated from Tashkent State University with a degree in journalism. Oripov had six children, five daughters and a son. He died on November 5, 2016, in Houston.

Work

Oripov started writing poetry during his student years. His first collection of poems, Mitti yulduz, was published in 1965.
From 1963 to 1974, Oripov worked at the Yosh gvardiya and Gaʻfur Gʻulom publishing houses. Between 1974 and 1980, he worked for different periodicals, such as Sharq yulduzi and Gulxan.
In 1971, Oripov became a member of the Writers' Union of Uzbekistan. From 1994 until 2009, he served as the head of the union.
Oripov was also a statesman. He was a member of the Senate of Uzbekistan from 2005 until his death in 2016. He also served as the head of the Copyright Committee of Uzbekistan from 2000 until his death.

Literary works

The following is a list of Oripov's books of poetry:
Oripov also penned a book on poetry, Ehtiyoj farzandi, in 1988.

Literary translations

Oripov translated the works of many famous foreign poets, such as Alexander Pushkin, Dante Alighieri, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Jenő Heltai, Kersti Merilaas, Khalil Rza Uluturk, Lesya Ukrainka, Nikola Vaptsarov, Nikolay Nekrasov, Nizami Ganjavi, Qaysin Quli, Sergey Baruzdin, Taras Shevchenko, and Yeghishe Charents, into the Uzbek language. In particular, he translated Dante's Divine Comedy into Uzbek. Oripov's own works in Uzbek have been translated into Russian and many other languages.

Awards

Oripov received many awards during his lifetime. In 1983, he was awarded the State Hamza Prize. In 1989, he became a National Poet of the Uzbek SSR. In 1992, he received the prestigious Alisher Navoiy State Prize. In 1998, he was awarded the title Hero of Uzbekistan, the highest honorary title that can be bestowed on a citizen by Uzbekistan.