Zohidjon Jumanazarov- Insight into the poetic creativity of the poet Muhammad Yusuf
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MUHAMMAD YUSUF: THE POET WHO SANG FROM THE HEART OF A NATION
“It is said that the universe originated from the explosion of a single point, a single particle. If this idea is true, then the essence of poetic speech – namely, poetry - lies in the desire to gather and condense the universe, which has scattered into infinity, back into that very point,” says Ramz Ravshan. Speaking about the sacred duty of a poet, he continues, “Every true poet depicts God in their mother tongue, and a genuine poet, longing for the divine vision, flutters like a bird, expanding the sky of their language.” From the fluttering of a bird’s wings, the melody is born, turning into song, into words. It is no coincidence that the boundless sky is said to have been gifted to both birds and poets.
There have been many poets who, with their words, have expanded the pure sky of our beautiful language. This is also the fortune of the Uzbek people. Today, there is no emotion or concept that cannot be expressed in this language. Those who once considered the Turkic language crude and unsuitable for poetry were put in their place by the great Alisher Navoi as early as the 15th century. At the beginning of the 20th century, when some claimed that writing prose in Uzbek was difficult, Qodiriy and Cho‘lpon astonished them with the unparalleled poetic rhythm of their prose. Even in later generations, great poets – true architects of literary expression – have emerged. Thus, the sacred lineage continues, as long as the nation endures.
In the last quarter of the past century, a guiding star shone in the pure sky of our literature – poet Muhammad Yusuf. With his simple and sincere words, with a poetry uniquely his own, he captured the hearts of the people. In his short lifetime, he made a selfless contribution to elevating national poetry and contemporary songwriting to new heights.
Poet Erkin Vohidov wrote about him: “Our people love Muhammad Yusuf and cherish him in their hearts, honoring him as the singer of the homeland and the voice of independence. They value his delicate, heartfelt poetry, infused with immense love and devotion to the Uzbek nation, and turn his verses into song. His poetry can truly be called “winged poetry’ – soaring high in the sky of the homeland, lifting hearts with it.”
There is likely no poet in the world who has not sung of or praised their homeland. Before Muhammad Yusuf and after him, every poet who has ever picked up a pen has glorified their motherland in verse. This is only natural. Yet Muhammad Yusuf did not depict his homeland with grandiloquent, flowery words that drift from poem to poem; rather, he portrayed it with simple, sincere, and profoundly rich words. The homeland in his poetry is easy to envision and deeply comforting; in one way, it resembles your sister, in another, your mother or father. One perceives the homeland through them and defines its borders with the love and affection felt for them.
Muhammad Yusuf was a poet and a deputy of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan. He entered literature in the late 1970s and was immediately recognized as a serious and remarkable talent – a n artist capable of creating unique and unforgettable imagery, of portraying seemingly ordinary aspects of life with profound originality, and of skillfully using literary forms in an exquisite manner.
One of the most talented figures in Uzbek poetry, Muhammad Yusuf, reached the peak of his creative work at the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century – coinciding with the early years of Uzbekistan’s independence. His short but brilliant life can be explained with Pushkin’s words about Byron: “In his poetry, he involuntarily confessed to the delight and passion of verse.”
Muhammad Yusuf was born on April 26, 1954, in the village of Qovunchi, located in the Marhamat district of Andijan region – an area historically known for the famous Dukchi Eshan uprising of 1898 in Mingtepa. He was raised in an ordinary family.
After finishing high school in 1971, he enrolled at the Republican Institute of Russian Language and Literature. Upon graduation, he began working as an editor at the Uzbekistan Readers’ Society. Over the years, he held various journalistic and editorial roles, including correspondent for the newspaper Toshkent Oqshomi, proofreader at the G‘afur G‘ulom Literature and Art Publishing House, correspondent for O‘zbekiston Ovozi, deputy editor-in-chief of the Uzbekistan National News Agency, and section head at Tafakkur magazine.
In 1996, he became a member of the Writers’ Union of Uzbekistan. Initially, he worked as a literary consultant, and from 1997 until his passing, he served as deputy chairman of the Writers' Union of Uzbekistan.
His contributions to literature were duly recognized. By the decree of the First President of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, Muhammad Yusuf was awarded the “Dostlik” (Friendship) Order and was honored with the prestigious title of “People’s Poet of Uzbekistan.”
His first poem was published in 1976 in the newspaper O‘zbekiston Adabiyoti va San’ati (Uzbek Literature and Art). However, it was not until nine years later, in 1985, that his first poetry collection, Tanish Teraklar (Familiar Poplars), was published. In this collection, the poet openly and lyrically shared his emotions and personal experiences. Interestingly, both literary critics and fellow poets warmly welcomed his work.
Muhammad Yusuf was fortunate in life: at the very beginning of his creative journey, fate led him to Erkin Vohidov, who immediately recognized his extraordinary talent and helped nurture it. Later, he developed a close relationship with another prominent poet, Abdulla Oripov. These two distinguished contemporary poets played a key role in guiding Muhammad Yusuf’s creative direction. Their works influenced each other – intertwining in themes, imagery, and poetic rhythms, enriching one another.
Like all great poets, Muhammad Yusuf also engaged in translation. He approached this work with deep responsibility, rendering his translations with expressive artistry. Though he initially learned the craft of translation by studying the works of major poets, his translations became creative masterpieces in their own right. To describe his approach, one might aptly use Vasily Zhukovsky’s famous words: “A translator of prose is a slave; a translator of poetry is a rival.”
For Muhammad Yusuf, every word and every event in his life was poetry. He lived as if he were a bird soaring through the skylight and radiant. Yet, his life was cut short far too soon. His creative journey ended in mid-flight... The poet passed away on July 29, 2001. The only consolation for the loss of such a profound and emotionally rich poet like Muhammad Yusuf is the legacy he left behind – his poetry, which undoubtedly continues to shape and enrich Uzbek literature.
His creative works include “Tanish Teraklar” (1985), “Bulbulga Bir Gapim Bor” (1987), “Iltijo” (1988), “Uyqudagi Qiz” (1989), “Halima Enam Allalari” (1989), “Ishq Kemasi” (1990), “Ko‘nglimda Bir Yor” (1991), “Bevafo Ko‘p Ekan” (1991), “Erka Kiyik” (1992), and “Osmonimga Olib Ketaman” (1998). Although he is no longer with us, Muhammad Yusuf lives eternally in the hearts of the people. He is the soul of the nation!
In conclusion, I can say that while anyone may sing of their homeland and motherland, only a true poet – one who deeply understands the people’s hearts – can express this love with sincerity and artistic perfection. Muhammad Yusuf stands as a shining example of this. Through his poetry, he calls upon people to cherish and protect the values and traditions that define our nation. His simple yet heartfelt imagery reflects the sacred essence of his homeland – the beloved land, the holy soil, and the profound reverence for the motherland.
My homeland, you bear unending dreams,
Legends that made even stones shed tears.
Thinking of your past, my spirit screams,
Your chest holds martyrs through the years.
My heart burns deep in spring’s embrace,
At dusk, I gaze where moonlight fades.
Akmal, Ikrom left in haste,
Yet Fayzullos stand, bold and brave.
About the Author:
Zohidjon Jumanazarov, Project Manager of the International Teachers Association.
He was born on March 14, 2006, in the Narpay District of the Samarkand region, Republic of Uzbekistan. He is currently a student at the Uzbekistan State Institute of Arts and Culture.
Zohidjon Jumanazarov is the Awardee of the National Award “Stars of New Uzbekistan” and serves as the Project Manager at the International Teachers Association. In addition, he is a member of the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals.
He is the author of three books:
- Sociology of Management
-Art Management
- Ethical Leadership
The article was published without interference!
