The Embassy of Uzbekistan in the U.S. and Canada is organizing a celebration of the 580th Anniversary of Alisher Navoi – a great poet, statesman and the founder of Uzbek literature. He was born in Herat, on February 9, 1441. Alisher Navoi became an incredibly famous poet. He was active for many years in a society that was afflicted by endless wars after the death of Temur. Alisher Navoi received an exceptionally good education for those days. He knew all poetic forms, wrote mostly in Turkish, and used Persian little.

Navoi was well known as a literary scholar. He supported poets, scientists, and artists. He was a master of various fine arts, including painting. He was a very good architect as well, and designed many schools, hospitals, inns, bridges, roads, and channels.

Navoi’s poems in old Uzbek were collected into four parts that were called “Chor-Devon” (The Four Divans). His poems in Persian were collected and called “Devoni-Foni” (Foni’s Divans). His most important work is the “Khamsa” (Quintuple), five poems written between 1483 and 1485.

Alisher Navoi spent his last years in Herat and died on January 3, 1501. His works are a lasting part of world literature and have been translated into many languages.

To mark the occasion, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in the U.S. and Canada is hosting a free, open webinar featuring remarks by leading scholars and officials, including Dr. Fred Starr, Dr. Scott Levi, Dr. Laurel Gray, Mark Reese, Joan Weeks, poet Andrew Staniland, and Deputy Minister of Culture of Uzbekistan Kamola Akilova. Kamola Azimova, Uzbek language instructor at Ohio State University, and students will recite poems of Alisher Navoi, and there will be musical performances and more.

Date: February 9, 2021 at 10AM EST