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Mahzuna

Uzbek woman poet of Kokand from the first half of the 19th century; she wrote ghazals and muhammas in Uzbek and Persian, and her divan has not survived.

Occupation:
Writer, Poet
Born:
c. 1811
Birthplace:
Kokand, Fergana
Father:
Mulla Boshmon Oxund

Biography

Mahzuna is a pen name; the poet’s own name was Mehribon, and she was known as the daughter of Mulla Boshmon. She was born around 1811 in Kokand, in the Mulla Boshmon neighbourhood of the Qatag‘on quarter. Her father, Mulla Boshmon Okhund, was the imam of the neighbourhood mosque.

She learned to read and write from her parents and mastered Arabic and Persian. She was influenced by Navoi, Jami, Fuzuli and other poets, and wrote in Uzbek and in Persian-Tajik.

Information about her comes mainly from two poets’ tazkiras: Fazli’s “Majmuai shoiron” and Hashmat’s “Tazkirat ush-shuaro”. Fazli describes her as a poet well known in Kokand for her intelligence and quick wit; Hashmat, Pisandi and the historian Ahmadjon to‘ra also mention her skill.

Mahzuna corresponded in verse with Fazli and took part with him in a poetic contest (mushoira). Her divan has not survived; only that contest, an Uzbek muhammas “Oshiq bo‘lmisham” and a Persian ghazal “Sahbo” have come down to us.

There is no reliable information on the date of her death or the later years of her life.

Life path

  1. c. 1811
    Born in Kokand

    Born into an imam’s family in the Mulla Boshmon neighbourhood of the Qatag‘on quarter.

  2. early 19th century
    Education

    Learned to read and write from her parents and studied Arabic and Persian.

  3. first half of the 19th century
    In Kokand’s literary circle

    Wrote in Uzbek and Persian-Tajik, influenced by Navoi, Jami and Fuzuli.

  4. first half of the 19th century
    Poetic contest with Fazli

    Corresponded in verse with the poet Fazli and took part in a poetic contest with him.

  5. 19th century
    Mentioned in tazkiras

    Fazli’s “Majmuai shoiron” and Hashmat’s “Tazkirat ush-shuaro” write about her and her verse.

Works

  • “Oshiq bo‘lmisham”
    Muhammas (in Uzbek)

    Her surviving poem in Uzbek.

  • “Sahbo”
    Ghazal (in Persian)

    A Persian ghazal, another surviving work.

  • Mushoira with Fazli
    Poetic contest

    A verse exchange preserved in Fazli’s tazkira.

Legacy

One of the first known women poets of Kokand; her work is known through tazkiras, and most of her verse is lost.

Era: First half of the 19th century, Kokand Khanate
Mahzuna (c. 1811) — Writer | Shaxs.uz