Hero of Uzbekistan Ibrahim Gafurov dies at 88

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Ibrahim Gafurov, a prominent literary scholar, writer, translator, public figure and Hero of Uzbekistan who played a significant role in the development of the country’s literature, culture and intellectual life, died on 6 June at the age of 88.

Gafurov was born in Tashkent on 27 December 1937. After graduating from Tashkent State University with a degree in philology, he began his professional career in book publishing.

Over the years, he worked at the State Publishing House for Fiction and the Gafur Ghulam Publishing House of Literature and Art, holding senior editorial positions.

He gained wide recognition through his long-standing work in journalism and literature. Gafurov served as deputy editor-in-chief of the newspaper Uzbekistan Adabiyoti va San’ati and editor-in-chief of the newspaper Milliy Tiklanish. Holding a Candidate of Sciences degree in philology, he was also actively involved in teaching, contributing to the training of specialists in philology and journalism at the National University of Uzbekistan and the Uzbekistan State World Languages University.

Gafurov also left a notable mark on the country’s social and political life. He headed the Central Council of the Milliy Tiklanish Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, was elected to the Oliy Majlis and served as deputy chairman of the Committee for Press and Information.

During more than six decades of academic and creative activity, Gafurov authored numerous articles, books and monographs devoted to key issues in Uzbek literature. His research and literary criticism on the works of prominent cultural figures, including Abdullah Qadiri, Oybek, Usman Nasyr, Maqsud Shaykhzoda, Mirtemir, Zulfiya, Said Ahmad, Erkin Vakhidov and Abdulla Aripov, occupied an important place in Uzbek literary studies.

He also earned special recognition for his work in literary translation. Gafurov translated into Uzbek the works of many leading figures of world literature, including Fyodor Dostoevsky, Guy de Maupassant, Ernest Hemingway, Gabriel García Márquez, James Joyce and Chingiz Aitmatov, helping to establish his own school of literary translation.

Until the final days of his life, he remained actively involved in the country’s public and cultural life, supporting young authors and contributing to the development of literature and the arts in Uzbekistan.

For his many years of service and contributions to the state, Gafurov was awarded the title Hero of Uzbekistan, the honorary title Honoured Artist of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the Dustlik and Mehnat Shuhrati orders.

The memory of Ibrahim Gafurov, who made a significant contribution to the development of national culture, science and education, will remain in the history of Uzbekistan and in the hearts of his students, colleagues and readers.