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
35
From “Risolayi falsafayi siyohon”
Textbook: Part 1, pp. 193–197
GoalUnderstand the content and ideas of the four chapters of Anbar Otin’s “Risolayi falsafayi siyohon.”
“Risolayi falsafayi siyohon” (“Treatise on the philosophy of the dark ones”) was written in 1910 (1328 Hijri) and is regarded as one of the first examples of the philosophical-publicistic trend in Uzbek literature. In the first chapter the author writes about the colour black, explaining with the examples of the cauldron and the black lamp that peoples of the south and east, though dark-skinned, are equal to others in mind, strength and thought, and that they work and give their fruit as a gift to others; she also recalls that black brows and hair stand at the base of beauty. In the second chapter she exalts the image of the mother through the “farq” – the parting in a woman’s hair. In the third chapter she calls “unfortunate” not the working people but those who grew rich on the labour of others and earned the people’s hatred, and she extols the labour of Farhod. In the fourth chapter darkness is linked with oppression: the power of justice overcomes oppression.
Worked examples
Example: The cauldron is black but cooks food and feeds people; with this the author shows that outward colour does not determine a person’s worth.
Example: In the third chapter Farhod, who laboured against rocks and rivers, is mentioned not as unfortunate but as a great hero.
Class activity
Discussion: justify the thesis “a person’s worth is determined not by appearance but by labour and character” with two arguments from the treatise.
Practice
1
What idea about skin colour is put forward in the treatise?
Colour does not determine a person’s worth or intellect; the difference lies in outlook and conduct.
2
How is the image of the mother exalted in the second chapter?
She describes the mother as a loving, wise nurturer who brought into the world and raised even great scholars.
3
Whom does the author call “unfortunate” (baxti qaro)?
People who avoid labour, grow rich from the work of others and earn the people’s hatred.
4
How are darkness and justice linked in the fourth chapter?
Darkness is a symbol of oppression; not the sun but the power of justice overcomes it.