Ozod Sharafiddinov: The Creative Bravery of a Great Critic
“Literature is the textbook of life,” as the saying goes. One of the most accomplished teachers of this textbook, without a doubt, was Ozod Sharafiddinov, Hero of Uzbekistan and literary scholar (1929–2005). His work went beyond the limits of ordinary academic activity, serving as a school of immense bravery for the spiritual and moral awakening of the nation.
When Ozod Sharafiddinov entered literary criticism, he established new standards in the Uzbek literary process. His main strength lay in his extraordinary commitment to truthfulness and artistic integrity. His work “Zamon. Qalb. Poeziya” (Time. Heart. Poetry, 1962), written in the 1960s, attests to this. In this book, he ruthlessly criticized lifeless, propagandistic poetry and demonstrated that the true function of poetry is to reflect the inner world and the emotional turbulence of the human heart.
For Ozod Sharafiddinov, a creator was not merely a simple chronicler of the times but a discoverer who revealed beauties in life that had yet to be perceived. He was among the first to notice the budding talents of a new generation, such as Abdulla Oripov and Erkin Vohidov, and inspired their creative flights. His paternal care for these young artists played a decisive role in the subsequent rise of Uzbek poetry.
The Revival of the National Spirit
The most brilliant pages of the scholar’s work coincided with the eve of independence and the years following it. During this period, his pen produced in-depth analytical portraits of the prominent representatives of national literature: Oybek, G‘afur G‘ulom, Abdulla Qahhor, Shayxzoda, Mirtemir, and others. He freed their work from the molds and constraints of the Soviet era, highlighting their true contributions to the people’s literature.
His contributions to the restoration of the legacy of jadid literature, which suffered under the oppressive regime, are particularly invaluable. His book “Understanding Cho‘lpon” (1994) helped the nation rediscover its own intellectual heritage. Through this work, Ozod Sharafiddinov rose not only as a scholar but also as a dedicated public figure fighting for historical truth. His journalistic essays on the topic, such as “Why I Changed My Belief” (1997), resonated as the spiritual summary of an entire era.
Translation and the “World Literature” Journal
The creative range of Ozod Sharafiddinov was not limited to literary criticism. As a skilled translator, he also made a significant contribution to Uzbek literature. He translated works of Françoise Sagan and Vladimir Voinovich into Uzbek. Most notably, his translation of Paulo Coelho’s famous novel “The Alchemist” introduced Uzbek readers to contemporary global literary thought.
From 1997 until the end of his life, he served as editor-in-chief of the “World Literature” journal, a natural continuation of his work. Under his leadership, the journal became a platform not only for translations of global literature but also for advancing national literary criticism to new heights.
The pinnacle of Ozod Sharafiddinov’s creativity is his book “The Joy of Understanding Creativity” (2004). In it, the scholar summarized nearly half a century of his academic and life experience, analyzing the philosophical and spiritual roots of the creative process.
Ozod Sharafiddinov’s work teaches us two things: devotion to truth and love for talent. His works continue to illuminate our spiritual life and deepen our understanding of the role of literature in the life of individuals and society. He is not only a mentor of his own era but also a spiritual guide for future generations. His creative bravery has earned a permanent place in the golden pages of Uzbek literary history.
Madina Mamasaidova
Master’s student at the Uzbekistan University of Journalism and Mass Communications
