☰ Contents · Literature

The excerpt “Qochoq”

Lessons 41 · 1 lessons · S. Olim, S. Ahmedov, R. Qo‘chqorov. Literature, Grade 8: textbook-collection, Parts 1 and 2. G‘afur G‘ulom publishing-printing creative house, Tashkent, 2014 (revised third edition)
41

“Qochoq” (excerpt from the “Ufq” trilogy)

Textbook: Part 2, pp. 72–91
GoalRetell the content of Said Ahmad’s excerpt “Qochoq” in order and explain the images of Ikromjon, Jannat xola and Tursunboy.
New words
deserter, fugitive · qochoqreed thicket · to‘qayorder, medal · ordenbetrayal · xiyonat
Explanation

The excerpt begins on the day Ikromjon, who lost a leg in the war, is awarded an order in his village. At the club he overhears talk that his own son fled from the army; he tears the order from his chest, says he has no right to wear it, and tells his wife “I have no such son”, then faints. In fact the deserter Tursunboy is hiding in the reed thicket in the desert where his parents are working the land, and only his mother Jannat xola knows; she secretly brings food, a razor and tea, hiding it from her husband even though she is ill. Tursunboy does not value her love, only waits for food; seeing his former sweetheart Zebi with another young man, he burns with jealousy and pain. Jannat xola decides to send her son to the war to clear his name, but she herself dies of grief and illness; Tursunboy watches the funeral secretly from the thicket. Months later Ikromjon meets his son in the thicket, scolds him harshly and demands he return before the people; Tursunboy runs away and is later found dead, alone, and his father buries him himself.

Worked examples
Example: Ikromjon’s tearing off the order shows that shame before the homeland outweighs for him personal honour: he feels his son’s flight as a stain on his own face.
Example: Jannat xola is “between two fires”: on one side she sees her son’s betrayal, on the other she cannot leave him hungry; therefore she secretly carries food.
Class activity

Make a plan of the excerpt’s events with five headings (for example: the day of the order, the mother’s secret, Zebi, her death, father and son).

Practice
1
Where and how does Ikromjon overhear the talk about the deserter?
2
What does Jannat xola secretly bring to her son?
3
Why does Jannat xola decide to send her son to the war?
4
Why does the textbook say the excerpt is hard to read?