Darvishbek Rahmonov

Darvishbek Rahmonov was born in 1952 in Osh, in the Kyrgyz SSR. His father was Urinboy Rahmonov, the founder of the Babur Uzbek Music and Drama Theatre in Osh. Darvishbek chose the circus rather than the theatre.

In the mid-1970s he met a troupe of strongmen (palvons) in Osh and began performing as a strongman himself: his acts included lifting stones, snapping chains and bending iron. Later he added illusion and hypnosis to his programme. He is described, with photographs, in Tolqin Obidov’s book on Uzbek palvons (1979).

In 1978 he entered the Tashkent Studio of Variety and Circus Art and graduated in 1981. Encyclopedia articles describe it as one of only three schools of its kind in the USSR.

In 1981 Rahmonov founded the “Qaldirg‘och” (“Swallow”) model circus troupe under the culture department of the Yangiyul district in the Tashkent region and became its artistic director. The troupe became a laureate of All-Union review competitions and, in 1986, of the Tashkent region’s Komsomol prize, and it won first place at republican competitions four times and second place twice.

Former members of the troupe now perform in professional circuses abroad; one of them is Tuychi Tojiboyev, known as Tuychi Khan. The troupe has toured abroad and appeared on Uzbek television.

By a decree of the President of Uzbekistan dated 26 August 2002, Rahmonov was awarded the Shuhrat medal for his contribution to the development of art and culture.