☰ Contents · Literature

Anbar Otin and the “Treatise on the philosophy of the dark ones”

Lessons 34–35 · 2 lessons · B. To‘xliyev, B. Karimov, K. Usmonova. Literature: textbook-collection for Grade 11 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, 2018
34

Anbar Otin

Textbook: Part 1, pp. 190–192
GoalLearn about Anbar Otin’s life and creative environment.
New words
woman teacher (otin-oyi), a literate woman who ran a girls’ school · otinautobiographical poem “Biography” · «Tarjimayi hol»pen-name · taxalluswoman poet · shoira
Explanation

Anbar Otin (1870–1910) was one of the Uzbek women poets of the second half of the 19th and early 20th century. In her “Tarjimayi hol” (“Biography”) she writes that her father was Farmonquli Marg‘iloniy and her mother Ashurbibi Qo‘qoniy, that they were weavers and belt-makers, and that the family lived in great poverty. She was married in Kokand; at the age of eight she studied at Dilshod otin’s school and was very keen to learn Navoi’s ghazals, and her teacher expressed hope that she would become a great poet. Anbar Otin wrote in Uzbek and Tajik, was influenced by Uvaysiy, regarded Navoi as the greatest of teachers and was interested in the work of Muqimiy, Furqat, Kamiy, Zavqiy and Shavqiy. After a physical injury she spent most of her life in bed, yet she kept busy reading and writing poetry.

Worked examples
Example: Anbar Otin calling Navoi the “greatest of teachers” shows that she relied on the classical literary tradition.
Example: Reading and creating even while bedridden shows the strength of her will.
Class activity

Life ribbon: arrange in order the stages birth – family – school – marriage – becoming bedridden – the “Risola” (1910).

Practice
1
In which years did Anbar Otin live?
2
Where and with whom did she receive her schooling?
3
Which authors influenced or interested Anbar Otin’s work?
4
Why is Anbar Otin’s biography valuable for studying the history of women’s creative work?