TAJIK POETRY

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INTROUDUCTION

The land of high mountains, lakes, hot springs, and the Pamir Highway - that is Tajikistan! A land rich in Persian culture and a hotspot for trekkers, climbers, and adventurers. Tajikistan also has a rich literary history. Tajik literature and poetry developed across two millennia under conflicting influences. It is inextricably linked with the literary developments of Iran, India, and Uzbekistan, and also heavily influenced by the Avesta. Let's take a look at Tajik poetry.

FOLKLORE - THE BEDROCK OF TAJIK POETRY

Folklore is the bedrock of Tajik poetry and literature. It began with a song by the inhabitants of Balkh (modern-day Afghanistan) about how the highlanders of Khatlon (now southern Tajikistan) drove back the Arab troops. Arab chronicles first mention it in 789 AD.

Early local folklore was filled with ideas from the Avesta, the sacred book of Zoroastrianism. They focused on the

• relationship between man and nature

• the struggle between Light and Darkness

• the value of hard work.

Eventually, the long doston poem, the short choma poem, and ritual songs began to form.

PERSIAN ERA

Tajik literature was closely tied to Persian culture before the 16th century. Local authors wrote exclusively in Farsi, the language of Persia. The founder of Persian poetry is regarded as Rudaki, believed to have been born in a small village in Tajikistan. He influenced a group of writers who began to call themselves the "Pleiades of Rudaki". A masterpiece was born - an epic poem, “Shahnameh” (Book of Kings). It was written by Dakiki (from the group Pleiades of Rudaki), who sadly passed away before he managed to finish it. It was finished by Ferdowsi, who included both Islamic and Zoroastrian thought. The epic is twice the size of the Iliad and Odyssey combined. It is mostly about the triumph of humanism.

During the 12th-century era, known as the “Poetry of the Palace”, Persian poets praised their kings through gushing eulogies; “Shack Poetry,” on the other hand, addressed the struggles of the common people and helped them escape their reality into the world of mysticism.

After the invasion of Genghis Khan in the 13th century, there came a period of decline, since many writers were forced to flee to neighboring countries. Local literature was revived in the following century, when poets voiced their complaints against the current system through their allegorical and satirical works.

In the 15th century, local writers began to forge ties with their Uzbek neighbors, which eventually drove Tajik poetry in a new direction.

TAJIK ERA

The split between Sunnis and Shiites in the early 16th century brought monumental changes to Tajik literature. Pervasive criticism of the feudal order in local works began to grow. The genre of satire formed from the growing ideological diversity and controversy. Mullah Mushfiki was one of the best-known.

Then there was poet Abdul Bedil, who lived in India but wrote in Farsi (17th- 18th centuries). His works are packed with mystical Sufi philosophy. He is the father of the literary movement known as the "Bedili school" or "Bedilism".

In the 18th -19th centuries, present-day Tajikistan was divided between the Bukhara and Kokand Khanates. Bukhara Khanate restricted creativity, but in Kokand there was more freedom. There, many famous poets further helped develop the nuances of Bedilism.

SOVIET PERIOD

In the 19th century, the Russian Empire conquered Tajikistan. Tajik poetry absorbed many elements of Russian culture. The most prominent figure of this era was Ahmad Donish. He was known for his harsh criticism of the local authorities and the need for universal education. Other prominent Tajik poets were Vozekh, Sakhbo, Somi, and Shokhin.

In the early 20th century, Jadids emerged. Their ideologies centered around the necessity of educational reforms and the development of the bourgeois class. Among them was Sadriddin Ayni, who eventually acquiesced to the ideas espoused by the USSR.

Soviet literature had a profound impact on Tajik writings through the latter half of the 20th century. Under the influence of the Russian language, other literary forms emerged, yet many local works retained a classic Tajik narrative style.

CONTEMPORARY TAJIK POETRY

After gaining independence in 1991, the development of local literature remained stagnant for some years. Gradually, writers returned to writing in Tajik. Nowadays, poets post their works mostly on social networks and on personal blogs.

CONCLUSION

Folklore is the bedrock of Tajik poetry. It all began with a song by the inhabitants of Balkh about how the highlanders of Khatlon drove back the Arab troops. Early local folklore was filled with ideas from the Avesta, the sacred book of Zoroastrianism. Eventually, the long doston poem, the short choma poem, and ritual songs began to form. Tajik literature was closely tied to Persian culture before the 16th century. Local authors wrote exclusively in Farsi, the language of Persia. Rudaki is considered the founder of Persian poetry. Dakiki, one of Rudaki's followers, wrote an epic called “Shahnameh” (Book of Kings).

During the 12th-century era, known as the “Poetry of the Palace”, Persian poets praised their kings through gushing eulogies; “Shack Poetry,” on the other hand, addressed the struggles of the common people.

After the invasion of Genghis Khan in the 13th century, poetry declined, then arose again during the 14th century in the shape of allegorical and satirical works.

The split between Sunnis and Shiites in the early 16th century brought pervasive criticism of the feudal order to the forefront. The genre of satire formed with Mullah Mushfiki at the forefront, and Abdul Bedil fathered the literary movement known as the "Bedili school" or "Bedilism". In the 18th -19th centuries, the Kokand poets further helped develop the nuances of Bedilism.

In the 19th century, the Russian Empire conquered Tajikistan. Tajik poetry absorbed many elements of Russian culture. Criticism of local authorities was the most common theme. In the early 20th century, Jadids came to the scene. Their ideologies centered around the necessity of educational reforms and the development of the bourgeois class. In the latter half of the 20th century, the influence of the Russian language brought about the development of other literary forms.

After Tajikistan gained independence in 1991, the development of local literature stagnated. Eventually, writers returned to writing in Tajik. Nowadays, poets post their works mostly on social networks and on personal blogs.

SOURCES

1. Image was created via Canva.com

2. Advantour. Tajik Literature and Poetry. Available at https://www.advantour.com/tajikistan/culture/literature.htm