Biography
Otajon (Atajan) Abdalov was born in 1856 in Khiva, the capital of the Khanate of Khiva. Little is known of his childhood. Encyclopaedic accounts say that he attended a Russian school in Petro-Aleksandrovsk (today Turtkul), learned several foreign languages, was drawn to literature and wrote poetry himself.
He learned the printer’s craft from Ibrahim Sultan, an Iranian who had come to Khorezm. Lithography, in which text is transferred to a stone and printed onto paper, needed no complicated typesetting, and in 1874 a lithographic press, one of the first in Central Asia, began work in Khiva at the court of Khan Muhammad Rahim II. Abdalov is named as its organiser; the people of Khiva nicknamed him “Otajon bosma”, “Otajon the printer”.
In 1876 he lithographed Abdunosir Farohiy’s “Nisab as-sibyan” and presented it to the khan. It is regarded as the first printed book not only of Khiva but of the whole of Central Asia. He chose the works to be published himself and proposed them to the khan for approval, while well-known calligraphers and poets of the time helped prepare the manuscripts.
Between 1876 and 1910 the Khiva press issued more than ten books. They include the “Hayrat ul-abror” part of Navoi’s “Khamsa” (1880), “Khazain ul-maani” (1881), “Chor devon” (1882), Ogahiy’s “Tavizul oshiqin” (1882), the ghazals of Muhammad Rahim II, who wrote as Feruz (1897), and the anthology “Majmuat ush-shuaro” (1900).
After 1917 Abdalov directed printing in Khorezm: his press produced the decrees and historical documents of the people’s government and newspapers in Uzbek, Russian, Turkmen and Karakalpak. With his pupils Ota Miskinov, Qilich Karimov and Boyjon Otajonov he set up the output of books and newspapers; the first issue of the newspaper “Inqilob quyoshi” appeared in March 1920, and from 1 May 1923 it was printed at a printing house under his direction.
Russian Wikipedia and Wikidata give 1927 as the year of his death, while the Uzbek encyclopaedic article and some other publications give 1939; the sources disagree. He is regarded as the founder of book printing in Khorezm.
Career
- Court of the Khanate of KhivaPrinter at the lithographic press · Khiva · 1874–…
Works
- “Nisab as-sibyan” by Abdunosir Farohiy (1876)Lithographed edition
A book printed in Khiva and presented to the khan; it is regarded as the first printed book of Central Asia.
- “Hayrat ul-abror”, part of Navoi’s “Khamsa” (1880)Lithographed edition
A poem from Navoi’s “Khamsa”, issued by the Khiva press.
- Navoi’s “Khazain ul-maani” (1881)Lithographed edition
A collection of Navoi’s lyric poetry issued by the Khiva press.
- Navoi’s “Chor devon” (1882)Lithographed edition
An edition of Navoi’s lyric collections.
- Ogahiy’s “Tavizul oshiqin” (1882)Lithographed edition
A work by Ogahiy, the Khorezmian poet and historian.
- Ghazals of Muhammad Rahim II (Feruz) (1897)Lithographed edition
A volume of verse by the khan of Khiva, who wrote under the name Feruz.
- “Majmuat ush-shuaro” (1900)Lithographed edition
An anthology of poets issued by the Khiva press.
Life path
- 1856Birth
Born in Khiva, the capital of the Khanate of Khiva.
- 1874Start of lithographic printing
A lithographic press, one of the first in Central Asia, began work at the court of Khan Muhammad Rahim II in Khiva; Abdalov became its organiser.
- 1876“Nisab as-sibyan”
Printed Abdunosir Farohiy’s book and presented it to the khan; it is regarded as the first printed book of Central Asia.
- 1880–1882Navoi and Ogahiy editions
Issued Navoi’s “Hayrat ul-abror”, “Khazain ul-maani” and “Chor devon” and Ogahiy’s “Tavizul oshiqin”.
- 1897–1900The khan’s verse and an anthology of poets
Published the ghazals of Muhammad Rahim II (Feruz) and the anthology “Majmuat ush-shuaro”.
- 1917–1920Printing for the people’s government
Directed the printing of decrees, documents and newspapers in Uzbek, Russian, Turkmen and Karakalpak; the first issue of “Inqilob quyoshi” appeared in March 1920.
- 1923Newspaper at the printing house
From 1 May “Inqilob quyoshi” was printed at a printing house under his direction.
- 1927Death
Sources differ on the year: 1927 (Russian Wikipedia, Wikidata) or 1939 (the Uzbek encyclopaedic article).
Legacy
Abdalov is regarded as the first Uzbek printer and the founder of book printing in Khorezm. The lithographed editions issued in Khiva preserved and circulated the works of Navoi, Ogahiy and other poets, and he largely chose the works to be printed himself.
Era: The Khanate of Khiva and the first years of Soviet rule in Khorezm, 1870s to 1920s- A lithographic press begins work at the khan’s court in Khiva (1874)
- “Nisab as-sibyan” is printed, the first printed book of Central Asia (1876)