Zohir Alam
Tashkent-born Uzbek prose writer, playwright, journalist and translator, author of the books “Muqaddima”, “Kiyik ko‘zlari” and “Ota o‘gitlari” and the play “Afandining qirq bir pashshasi”.
- Occupation:
- Writer, Prose writer, Playwright, Publicist
- Born:
- 1943 — April 13, 2014
- Birthplace:
- Tashkent
Biography
Zohir Alam (Zohir A’lam) was born in Tashkent in 1943. After school he studied at Tashkent State University (now the National University of Uzbekistan), graduating in 1965. Following military service he worked, from 1967, at the “O‘zbekiston” publishing house.
His first book, “Baxtli bilet” (Lucky Ticket), appeared in 1972. In the years when he worked at the magazine Sharq yulduzi, “Muqaddima” and “BAM manzaralari” (both 1978) and “Kiyik ko‘zlari” (1981) were published; he also has the books “O‘sma ketar, qosh qolar” (1981), “Hammasi bir binoda” and “Zarb” (1987).
In 1985 he published the documentary novella “Ota o‘gitlari”, about Zayniddin Fakhriddinov, who established lemon growing in Central Asia. His best-known dramatic work is “Afandining qirq bir pashshasi”, drawing on the Afandi anecdotes: the play was staged by a children’s puppet theatre, and a novella of the same name followed (1989).
Alam also wrote a great deal of journalism: the collections “Boyovut” (1986), “Mayiz atrofidagi gaplar” (1990) and “Jomboy hangomalari” (1991) deal with the economy, farming, legal matters and failings in these fields. As a translator he rendered into Uzbek the novellas “To‘siq” and “O‘lchamlar” by P. Vasilev, Sergey Zalygin’s novel “Komissiya” (The Commission) and Plutarch’s life of Alexander (1998).
Zohir Alam died in Tashkent on 13 April 2014.
Education
- National University of UzbekistanUniversity · Tashkent · 1965
Career
- «Sharq yulduzi» magazineMagazine staff member · Tashkent
- O‘zbekiston Publishing HousePublishing house staff member · Tashkent · 1967–…
Life path
- 1943Birth
Born in Tashkent.
- 1965Graduated from university
Completed his studies at Tashkent State University.
- 1967At the “O‘zbekiston” publishing house
Began working there after military service.
- 1972First book
“Baxtli bilet” was published.
- 1978–1981Years at Sharq yulduzi
While he worked at the magazine, “Muqaddima”, “BAM manzaralari” and “Kiyik ko‘zlari” were published.
- 1985“Ota o‘gitlari”
A documentary novella about Zayniddin Fakhriddinov was published.
- 1986–1991Journalism collections
The collections “Boyovut”, “Mayiz atrofidagi gaplar” and “Jomboy hangomalari” appeared.
- 1989“Afandining qirq bir pashshasi”
A novella of the same name as the play was written.
- 1998Translation of Plutarch
Plutarch’s life of Alexander was published in Uzbek.
- 2014Death
Died in Tashkent on 13 April.
Books
- “Baxtli bilet” (Lucky Ticket)1972 · Book
The author’s first book.
- “Muqaddima” (Preface)1978 · Book
A book published while he worked at the magazine Sharq yulduzi.
- “BAM manzaralari” (Views of the BAM)1978 · Book
A book on the Baikal–Amur Mainline.
- “Kiyik ko‘zlari” (Eyes of a Deer)1981 · Book
A book of prose.
- “O‘sma ketar, qosh qolar” (The Dye Fades, the Brows Remain)1981 · Book
A second book by the author, published in 1981.
- “Ota o‘gitlari” (A Father’s Counsel)1985 · Documentary novella
About Zayniddin Fakhriddinov, who established lemon growing in Central Asia.
- “Zarb” (The Blow)1987 · Short story
A short story by the author, published in 1987.
- “Afandining qirq bir pashshasi” (Afandi’s Forty-One Flies)1989 · Play and novella
A stage work drawing on the Afandi anecdotes, also written as a novella under the same title; the play was staged by a children’s puppet theatre.
- “Boyovut”1986 · Journalism
Journalistic articles on pressing questions of contemporary life.
- “Mayiz atrofidagi gaplar” (Talk About Raisins)1990 · Journalism
Articles on the economy, farming and legal matters.
- “Jomboy hangomalari” (Tales of Jomboy)1991 · Journalism
A series of journalistic articles.
- Plutarch, “Iskandar Makidunli” (translation)1998 · Translation
An Uzbek translation of a work by the ancient Greek writer Plutarch.