Conference on “The Literary Heritage of Sharof Rashidov in the Context of the ‘New Uzbekistan’ Strategy” Held in Jizzakh
The plenary session of the conference was held at India’s Sambhram University, and the three breakout sections took place at the Sharof Rashidov Information and Library Center of the Jizzakh Region.
In line with the decision of the Parliamentary Commission of the Oliy Majlis (No. 2, dated August 2, 2023), the Republican Scientific-Practical Conference, “The Literary Heritage of Sharof Rashidovich Rashidov in the Context of the ‘New Uzbekistan’ Strategy,” was held on September 20, 2024, in Jizzakh, as part of the “Sharof Rashidov – A Talented Poet, Writer, Patron of Literature and the Arts” Project.
The conference was financially supported by the Public Fund for Support of NGOs and Other Civil Society Institutions under the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It was organized by the Scientific and Educational Memorial House-Museum of Sharof Rashidovich Rashidov, in collaboration with the Administration of the Jizzakh Province, the Sharaf Rashidov International Public Fund, universities in Jizzakh, and the Jizzakh branch of the National Association of Nongovernmental Noncommercial Organizations of Uzbekistan.
The event aimed to conduct a scholarly examination and assessment of the literary contributions of Sharof Rashidov, a distinguished statesman, writer, and poet. The primary objective of the conference was to establish a new forum for discussions about Rashidov’s literary legacy in the context of the “New Uzbekistan” Strategy. The conference brought together over 60 prominent scholars and literary experts from Azerbaijan, the United Kingdom, Italy, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Participants highlighted the growing public and academic interest in the creative and practical legacy of Sharof Rashidov over the past decades among the public, scholars, researchers, and writers, particularly in relation to the study of Uzbekistan’s recent history. This increasing interest has been reflected in significant national milestones, including decrees issued by Uzbekistan’s first President, Islam Karimov, and current President, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, marking the 75th anniversary (1992) and the 100th anniversary (2017) of Rashidov’s birth. There have also been academic conferences hosted about the life and work of Sharof Rashidov, such as a National Scientific Conference at the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan (2017) and the International Interdisciplinary Scientific-Practical Conference “Sharof Rashidov – A Man of the Era” (2021).
A key focus of the conference was to assemble researchers from a broad spectrum of academic and educational institutions, concentrating their attention on Rashidov’s literary heritage. His work is recognized for its invaluable contributions to universal spiritual values, societal philosophical thought, ethics, and aesthetics, shaping a unique paradigm of cultural and educational development in 20th-century Uzbekistan.
The growing influence of Uzbekistan’s young scientific community was clearly evident at the conference, as demonstrated by the diversity of topics covered in the presentations included in the program.
In order to popularize Sharof Rashidov’s literary works, a new edition of his book The Victors, published for the first time for young readers in Uzbek Latin script, was presented to conference participants.
The conference achieved its goals: the participants listened to and discussed several interesting and original reports, which were included in the official conference proceedings. Participants expressed confidence in people’s great interest in the 1950-80s, as well as in the outstanding statesman and writer Sharof Rashidov himself, his historical contributions to the growth of all sectors of the economy, social sphere, and literature and culture of Uzbekistan, strengthening the ongoing stability and friendship of peoples.
