The wisdom of Alisher Navoi, the keen observations of Babur, the realism of Abdullah Qadiri, the courage of the Jadids, and the ingenuity of contemporary writers - the rich history of Uzbek literature brings together a broad range of influences, and the names of its writers and poets are recognized around the world.
Many forms of folklore and literary expression in Uzbek literature - such as the art of the bakhshi (poetic storytellers), the verbal wit of askiya, and the tales and anecdotes of Khoja Nasreddin - have been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Folklore
Oral traditions are a key part of folk wisdom. Proverbs, sayings, tales, and legends – many of which date back to before the 9th century – have been passed down through generations and continue to shape the Uzbek way of seeing the world.
Epic tales and legends have long held a cherished place in Uzbek culture, particularly the long-form narratives known as dastans. The most celebrated of these is the epic Alpamysh, which tells the dramatic story of the Uzbek hero Alpamysh – his heroic feats, long captivity, and love for Barchin. Within Uzbekistan alone, there are over 30 recorded versions of the tale, and even more beyond its borders. The Alpamysh legend is considered part of the broader heritage of the East and appears in the folklore of Kazakhs, Tatars, Bashkirs, and other peoples.
In 2019, Uzbekistan marked the 1,000th anniversary of the Alpamysh epic with nationwide festivals, scholarly conferences, and the unveiling of a monument to Alpamysh in Termez – a symbolic tribute to this cornerstone of cultural heritage.
Another treasured genre of Uzbek folklore is the fairy tale. Among the best-known are Three Watermelon Seeds, Zumrad and Kimmat, Bay and Kaziy. Closely related are the humorous anecdotes from the popular cycle of stories about Khoja Nasreddin – a clever trickster who mocked social inequality and human folly. His adventures are most often set in Bukhara, where a statue of Khoja Nasreddin now stands near the Lyabi-Khauz reservoir – a favorite spot for atmospheric photographs.
The wit and wisdom of this beloved figure remain woven into everyday life in Uzbekistan. Internationally, stories of Khoja Nasreddin have been recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Also featured on the UNESCO list is askiya – a traditional genre that showcases verbal agility and quick wit. This form of competitive dialogue centers on a chosen topic, with participants improvising clever, tactful jokes in real time. These verbal duels are not only a cultural institution but also a living tradition in Uzbekistan, where eloquence, warm humor, and sharp repartee are deeply valued.
Classical Uzbek Literature
Classical Uzbek literature spans more than a thousand years, from the 9th to the 19th century, and is typically divided into three stages.
The first stage (9th–13th centuries) marks the emergence of a written literary tradition, primarily in Arabic, shaped by the growing influence of Islam, which had entered Central Asia in the 8th century. Key literary figures from this period include Ahmad Yugnaki and Mahmud Kashgari.
The second stage (14th–15th centuries) is linked to the rule of the Timurid dynasty and is widely regarded as the golden age of Uzbek literature. During this era, Alisher Navoi and Abdurahman Jami produced some of the most distinguished works of Uzbek poetry and prose. Persian and Chagatai were the dominant literary languages of the time.
The third stage (16th–19th centuries) saw the flourishing of court culture, accompanied by the development of refined court poetry. Among the notable poets and writers of this period were Boborohim Mashrab, Muhammad Riza Ogahi, and Muhammad Aminkhoja Mukimiy.
The works of Alisher Navoi and Babur are considered the crowning achievements of classical Uzbek literature.
Alisher Navoi (1441–1501)
Alisher Navoi is widely regarded as the most prominent writer and poet in Uzbekistan. His full name was Nizamiddin Mir Alisher, while “Navoi” – meaning “melodious” – was his literary pseudonym. Navoi is credited with founding the Chagatai literary language, which later served as the foundation for the development of modern Uzbek in the 20th century.
In this sense, his role in Uzbek literary history is often compared to that of Shakespeare in English literature. Both figures produced works that set the standard for future generations, addressed timeless themes such as love, fate, and death, and came to symbolize the cultural spirit of their nations.
Hamsa
Navoi’s most renowned work is a collection of five narrative poems titled Hamsa (from the Arabic for “five”). While other poets also composed such quintets, Navoi’s achievement was groundbreaking: he wrote his Hamsa in the Chagatai language, thereby elevating it to the literary level of Persian and Arabic, which until then had been considered more prestigious and refined.
All five poems are highly regarded, but two are especially well known: Farhad and Shirin and Leyli and Majnun.
The story of Prince Farhad and Princess Shirin is a tragic tale of love undone by the deceit and intrigue of the malevolent ruler Khosrow.
Equally sorrowful is Leyli and Majnun, the story of a young man named Qais, who comes to be known as “Majnun” (“madman” or “possessed”) because of his all-consuming love for Leyli. When Leyli is forced to marry another man, she eventually dies of heartbreak, and Majnun dies beside her grave.
Both of these poems have inspired countless works of art – including operas, musical dramas, miniature paintings, bas-reliefs, and films – and have been translated into many languages. One of the most recent English adaptations of Farhad and Shirin was by the poet A`zam Obid, published in 2020.
Babur (1483–1530)
Babur was a renowned military commander and the founder of the Mughal dynasty in India, which endured for more than three centuries. As a writer, he is best known for his memoirs, the Baburnama.
The Baburnama holds a unique place in Uzbek literature as its first autobiographical work. Spanning over 30 years, the narrative begins with Babur’s youth in Fergana, continues through his time in Kabul, and concludes in India shortly before his death. Through these memoirs, readers gain insight into the stages of his life and the major historical events of the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He recorded vivid and detailed observations of the cities, landscapes, peoples, and customs of his time, all conveyed in a personal and engaging first-person voice.
The Baburnama remains relevant even today. One such example is Babur’s account of a hilltop gazebo in Andijan - Bogishamol - where he would retreat for reflection. Today, that site is home to Babur Park, a peaceful space where visitors can pause and rest amid the bustle of the city.
20th Century Literature
The 20th century was a complex era in both the history and literature of Uzbekistan. It was marked by a dramatic shift from a traditional way of life - in which power was held by khans - to socialism under Soviet rule. Many of the key events and ideas of this period were powerfully reflected in the works of the Jadids, a group of intellectuals who advocated for reform and secular education in society.
Following the formation of the USSR, Uzbek literature began to feature strong heroic and humanist themes. Writers produced numerous works related to World War II, as well as stories depicting the hardships of the post-war years.
Among the most prominent Uzbek poets and writers of the 20th century were Abdurauf Fitrat, Chulpan, Hamza (Hamza Hakimzade Niyazi), Abdullah Qadiri, Gafur Gulam, Abdullah Kahhar, Askad Mukhtar, Erkin Vahidov, Aibek, and others.
Jadids
At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, a literary and educational movement known as Jadidism emerged in Uzbekistan. Among its most prominent members were Mahmudkhoja Behbudiy, Abdullah Avloni, Abdurauf Fitrat, Hamza, Chulpan, and others.
The movement’s name comes from the Arabic phrase usul al-jadid, meaning “new method”, reflecting the activists’ focus on modernizing education and society. Largely due to their efforts, secular schools were established in Uzbekistan, the oppression of women began to decline, newspapers were launched, and literature was enriched with European genres.
Tragically, the movement’s fate was cut short. In the 1930s, most of its leaders were repressed and executed. Yet they left behind a profound literary legacy. Among their notable works is Padarkush (Parricide) by Behbudiy, which explores the consequences of a child’s lack of education and guidance. Another is The Pranks of Maisara by Hamza, a satirical play that critiques the vices of the upper class and celebrates the cleverness of ordinary people in traditional Uzbek society.
Chulpan’s novel Kecha va Kunduz (Night and Day) is often cited as one of the most symbolic works of the era. In it, night represents the old order, while day symbolizes hope for a brighter future. The novel remained unfinished - only the Kecha (“Night”) section was written and published. That unfulfilled Kunduz (“Day”) reflects the unrealized hopes of both the protagonist, Zebi, who remains trapped by the traditional world, and Chulpan himself, who was executed in 1938. Today, the incomplete novel is often seen as a metaphor for the interrupted fate of the Jadids and the Uzbek intelligentsia as a whole.
At the turn of the 21st century, the legacy of the Jadids began to be reinterpreted and revived. In 2024, the exhibition Jadids. Letters to Turkestan opened at Tashkent City Mall. Designed as a labyrinth, it features a series of modern exhibition halls with rare documents and powerful multimedia installations. In 2025, the concept for a future Jadid Heritage Museum was also presented at the Biennale of Contemporary Art in Bukhara. The museum is planned as a cultural space within the former home of Usman Khojaev, a renowned Uzbek educator of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Abdullah Qadiri: Bygone Days
Abdullah Qadiri’s Bygone Days is widely regarded as the most iconic, reprinted, translated, and widely read work of Uzbek literature in the 20th and 21st centuries. Published in 1926, it was the first Uzbek novel.
Set in Tashkent and Margilan during the mid-19th century, the story unfolds under the reign of the last Kokand khan, Khudoyarkhan. Against a backdrop of rigid traditions, political intrigue, and vivid Uzbek rituals, the novel follows the tragic love story of the young nobleman Atabek and the girl Kumush-bibi.
In 1969, the novel was adapted into a film titled Gone Days, directed by Yuldas Agzamov, which went on to become a classic of Uzbek cinema.
Bygone Days has been translated into numerous languages. One of the most notable modern English translations was produced by American scholar Mark Reese and published in 2019.
Contemporary Uzbek Literature
The contemporary period of Uzbek literature began in the late 20th century. It is reflected in the later works of Abdulla Aripov and Erkin Vakhidov, as well as in the writings of Khurshid Davron, Hamid Ismailov, Sukhbat Aflatuni, and others.
Today’s leading Uzbek writers draw on both classical Eastern and European literary traditions. Many works are deeply rooted in the region’s poetic heritage. For example, poet Khurshid Davron often weaves allusions to classical poets such as Navoi and Mashrab into his verse. Erkin Vakhidov employed the traditional genre of qasida in his poem Ode to Man, a major work of modern Uzbek poetry. In 2020, this piece was performed in eight languages at an online event marking the 75th anniversary of the United Nations.
In the 21st century, Uzbek prose has continued to evolve. One of the most acclaimed works is Hamid Ismailov’s novel The Devil’s Dance, which has won multiple prestigious awards and found a wide readership. Its mystical narrative is tied to the figure of Abdullah Qadiri and the unwritten novel he was never able to complete. Drawing on historical sources, Ismailov imagines the novel as if authored by Qadiri himself, while also recounting the tragic fate of this major figure in Uzbek literary history.