☰ Contents · Literature

An excerpt from the “Boburnoma”

Lessons 16 · 1 lessons · B. To‘xliyev, B. Karimov, K. Usmonova. Literature: textbook-collection for Grade 10 of secondary schools and for students of secondary specialised and vocational institutions, Parts 1–2. 1st edition. “O‘zbekiston milliy ensiklopediyasi” State Scientific Publishing House, Tashkent, 2017
16

Excerpts from the “Boburnoma”

Textbook: Part 1, pp. 114–148
GoalUnderstand the content of the excerpt from the “Boburnoma” and the marks of Bobur’s style.
New words
memoir · xotiranoma (memuar)narration of events · voqealar bayoniheir to the throne · valiahdpainter, miniaturist · musavvir
Explanation

The excerpt in the textbook starts with events of the year 912 (1506–1507): Bobur sets out for Khurasan, hears that Sultan Husayn mirza has died and meets Husayn Boyqaro’s sons at Murghab. He observes and records the order of the meeting, who sat where, the sons’ lateness and the feasts; he spends twenty days sightseeing in Herat and lists the city’s madrasas, gardens and hospitals. On the way back snow falls: Bobur and his companions trample the snow to make a path, and during the storm, when the cave looks too small and most people are left outside, Bobur too refuses to go in and sits in a hollow he has dug in the snow; once it turns out the cave is roomy, he goes in and calls the young men nearby in as well. Arriving in Kabul, he puts down a revolt organised by his brother and relatives, and instead of killing them sends them away to Khurasan. In spring he counts 34 kinds of tulips around Kabul. The excerpt tells of a great battle with a powerful rival in India, and then of Bobur offering himself in place of his son Humoyun, who lay seriously ill, praying for his recovery; Humoyun recovers and Bobur names him heir. At the end of the excerpt a scribe has added Bobur’s death and his qualities.

Worked examples
Example: on the Herat tour Bobur lists, one by one, dozens of gardens, madrasas, tombs, baths and hospitals he saw – this shows his observation and wish to record information precisely.
Example: Bobur does not kill his rebellious brother and relatives but sets them free, recalling the claim of kinship; thus he shows strength and magnanimity together.
Class activity

Find 4 traits of Bobur’s character in the excerpt (observation, courage, justice, kindness) and match one episode to each.

Practice
1
Which year’s events does the excerpt begin with and why does Bobur set out for Khurasan?
2
How long was Bobur in Herat and what did he see?
3
How does Bobur treat the rebels in Kabul?
4
Why, in the snowstorm, does Bobur stay outside rather than enter the cave while it is thought too small for everyone? What quality of his does this show?