Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-sh8wx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-19T05:55:46.377Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

From Bukhara to Dushanbe: Outlining the Evolution of Soviet Tajik Fiction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2022

Evelin Grassi Open the ORCID record for Evelin Grassi [Opens in a new window]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This article offers an overview of Soviet Tajik Fiction under Stalinism (1920s–1950s) and during de-Stalinization (1950s–1970s) by contemplating the move from Bukhara to Dushanbe as a setting for Tajik stories and novels. In particular, it details the two main literary genres of the period, namely historical and psychological fiction. It argues that when tracing the main stages of evolution of Soviet Tajik fiction from the point of view of the setting one should mainly consider the works by Sadriddin Ayni, Jalol Ikromi and Fazliddin Muhammadiev.

Type
Articles
Information
Iranian Studies , Volume 50 , Issue 5 , September 2017 , pp. 691 - 704
Copyright
Copyright © Association For Iranian Studies, Inc 2017

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

She obtained her Ph.D. in Central Asian Studies from the Università di Napoli “L'Orientale,” Italy, in 2012. Her research focuses on the social history and cultural bilingualism in Central Asia (Iranian-Turkic languages) from the sixteenth century to the present, and on modern Tajik literature. I would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their suggestions and comments. All errors remain mine.

In this article, I have transliterated all terms according to Tajik Cyrillic orthography, since most of the Tajik literary works of the Soviet period were published in that script. Words followed by the izofat (ezafeh) are conventionally written as single words in the Tajik Cyrillic script (e.g. adabiyoti sovetii tojik “Soviet Tajik literature”), but in this article they are shown by hyphenation (adabiyot-i soveti-yi tojik).

References

Ayni, Sadriddin. Dakhunda: Roman [Highlander: novel]. Tashkent: Matba‘a-yi Qazan, 1930. In Arabic script.Google Scholar
Ayni, Sadriddin. Ghulomon: Roman [Slaves: novel]. Stalinobod: Nashriyot-i davlati-yi Tojikiston, 1935. In Latin script.Google Scholar
Ayni, Sadriddin. Kulliyot [Complete works]. 16 vols. Dushanbe: Nashriyot-i davlati-yi Tojikiston, Irfon, and Matbuot, 1958–2010.Google Scholar
Ayni, Sadriddin. Muntakhab-i asar-ho-yi ilmi [Selected critical works]. Vol. 1 of the Muntakhab-i asarho-yi ilmi by Sadriddin Ayni, edited by Nazarzoda, Sayfiddin. Dushanbe: Donish, 2008.Google Scholar
Ayni, Sadriddin. Yatim: Roman [Orphan: novel]. Stalinobod: Nashriyot-i davlati-yi Tojikiston, 1940. In Cyrillic script.Google Scholar
Azizqulov, Jum‘aboy, and Mullojonova, Zakiya. Fehrast-i asar-ho-yi S. Ayni va adabiyot-i oid ba u: to okhir-i sol-i 1961 [List of the works by S. Ayni and a bibliography pertaining to him: up to the end of the year 1961]. Dushanbe: Nashriyot-i Akademiya-yi Fanho-yi RSS Tojikiston, 1963.Google Scholar
Bečka, Jiří. “Problème de l’écriture au Tadjikistan” [The question of script in Tajikistan]. In Pand-o Sokhan. Mélanges offerts a Charles-Henri de Fouchécour, edited by Balaÿ, Christophe, Kappler, Claire, and Vesel, Živa, 43–51. Tehran: Institut Français de Recherche en Iran, 1995.Google Scholar
Bečka, Jiří. Sadriddin Ayni. Father of Modern Tajik Culture. Naples: Istituto Universitario Orientale, 1980.Google Scholar
Bečka, Jiří. “Tajik Literature from the Sixteenth Century to the Present.” In History of Iranian Literature, edited by Rypka, Jan, 485–605. Dordrecht: D. Reidel, 1968.Google Scholar
Bečka, Jiří. “The Historical Veracity and Topicality of the Novel Margi sudkhūr by Sadriddin Aynī.” In Yádnáme-ye Jan Rypka. Collection of Articles on Persian and Tajik Literature, edited by Bečka, Jiří, 197–207. Prague: Academia, 1967.Google Scholar
Bečka, Jiří. “Two Outstanding Satires of Modern Tajik and Iranian Literature.” Archív Orientální 38, no. 4 (1970): 400–430.Google Scholar
Bergne, Paul. The Birth of Tajikistan. National Identity and the Origins of the Republic. London: I. B. Tauris, 2007.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Braginskij, Iosif Samuilovich. Sadriddin Ajni: Žizn’ i tvorčestvo [Sadriddin Ayni: life and works]. Moscow: Goslitizdat, 1959.Google Scholar
Brown, Deming. Soviet Russian Literature since Stalin. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1978.Google Scholar
Clark, Katerina. The Soviet Novel: History as Ritual. Chicago, IL: Chicago University Press, 1981.Google Scholar
De Chiara, Matteo, and Grassi, Evelin, eds. Iranian Languages and Literatures of Central Asia: From the Eighteenth Century to the Present. Cahiers de Studia Iranica 57. Paris: Peeters, 2015.Google Scholar
Dunham, Vera. In Stalin’s Time: Middle-Class Values in Soviet Fiction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1976.Google Scholar
Ghafurov, Qodirjon. “Maorif” [Education]. In Entsiklopediya-yi adabiyot va san‘at-i tojik 2, edited by Qurbonov, Alamshoev, Azizqulov, Jum‘aboy, Demidchik, Larisa, Tabarov, Sohib, Shukurov, Muhammadjon, Hodizoda, Rasul, Qanoat, Mu‘min, et al., 158. Dushanbe: Sarredaktsiya-yi ilmi-yi Entsiklopediya-yi soveti-yi tojik, 1989.Google Scholar
Grassi, Evelin. “Alcune considerazioni sul racconto Margi sudkhūr ‘La morte dell’usuraio’ dello scrittore tagico Sadriddin Ajnī” [Some remarks on the story Marg-i sudkhur “Death of a usurer” by the Tajik writer Sadriddin Ayni]. Oriente Moderno 89, no. 1 (2009): 67–86.Google Scholar
Hitchins, Keith. “Modern Tajik Literature.” In Persian Literature, edited by Yarshater, Ehsan, 454–475. New York: Columbia University Press, 1988.Google Scholar
Ikrami, Djalol, La fille du feu [Daughter of fire]. Translated from Russian by Mazzi, Antoinette. Moscow: Éditions du Progrès, 1966.Google Scholar
Ikrami, Jalal. Firuzeh [Firuzah]. Translated by Razm’azma, Hushiyar. Tehran: Tus, 1371/1992–93.Google Scholar
Ikromi, Jalol. Asar-ho-yi muntakhab [Selected works]. 3 vols. Dushanbe: Adib, 1987–89.Google Scholar
Ikromi, Jalol. “Dar bora-yi nasr-i ta‘rikhi-yi revolyutsioni” [On the historico-revolutionary fiction]. In Hayot, kahramon va adabiyot, edited by Tursunzoda, Mirzo, 152–183. Dushanbe: Irfon, 1977.Google Scholar
Jahangiri, Guissou. “The Premises for the Construction of a Tajik National Identity: 1920–1930.” In Tajikistan: The Trials of Independence, edited by Djalili, Mohammad-Reza, Grare, Frédéric, and Akiner, Shirin, 14–41. New York: St. Martin, 1997.Google Scholar
Lazard, Gilbert. “Caractères distinctifs de la langue tadjik” [Distinctive features of the Tajik language]. Bulletin de la Société de Linguistique de Paris 52 (1957): 117–86.Google Scholar
Muhammadiev, Fazliddin. Kulliët [Complete works]. 5 vols. Dushanbe: Adib, 1990–92.Google Scholar
Muhammadiev, Fazliddin. “The Duel.” In At the Foot of the Blue Mountains. Stories by Tajik Authors. Translated from Russian by White, Monica. Moscow: Raduga Publishers, 113–132.Google Scholar
Mullojonova, Zakiya, and Fayzulloev, Ne‘mat. Fehrast-i asar-ho-yi S. Ayni va adabiyot-i oid ba u: solho-yi 1962–1976 [List of the works by S. Ayni and a bibliography pertaining to him: 1962–1976]. Dushanbe: Donish, 1978.Google Scholar
Nabavi, Abdukholiq. “Maqom-i Fazliddin Muhammadiev dar tashakkul-i nasr-i jadid-i tojiki” [The role of Fazliddin Muhammadiev in the formation of the new Tajik fiction]. Paragraph 1 of Chapter 3 in Justor-ho va ibtikorot dar nasr. Dushanbe: Adib, 2009.Google Scholar
Ostonova, Anora. “Adib” [Writer]. In Entsiklopediya-yi adabiyot va san‘at-i tojik 1, edited by Qurbonov, Alamshoev, Azizqulov, Jum‘aboy, Demidchik, Larisa, Tabarov, Sohib, Shukurov, Muhammadjon, Hodizoda, Rasul, Qanoat, Mu‘min, et al., 107. Dushanbe: Sarredaktsiya-yi ilmi-yi Entsiklopediya-yi soveti-yi tojik, 1988.Google Scholar
Perry, John Robert. “From Persian to Tajik to Persian: Culture, Politics and Law Reshape a Central Asian Language.” In Linguistic Studies in the non-Slavic Languages of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Baltic Republics, edited by Aronson, Howard I., 279–305. Chicago, IL: Chicago Linguistic Society, 1996.Google Scholar
Perry, John Robert. “Script and Scripture: the Three Alphabets of Tajik Persian, 1927–1997.” Journal of Central Asian Studies 2, no. 1 (1997): 2–18.Google Scholar
Perry, John Robert. “Tajik Literature: Seventy Years is Longer than the Millennium.” World Literature Today 70, no. 3 (1996): 571–573. doi: 10.2307/40042068CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Perry, John Robert, and Lehr, Rachel. “Introduction.” In The Sands of Oxus. Boyhood Reminiscences of Sadriddin Aini. Translated by Perry, John Robert and Lehr, Rachel. Costa Mesa, CA: Mazda Publishers, 1998.Google Scholar
Shakuri [Shukurov], Muhammadjon-i Bukhoroī. Ravshangar-i buzurg: Dar bora-yi ustod S. Ayni [The great enlightener: remarks on the master S. Ayni]. Dushanbe: Adib, 2006.Google Scholar
Shukurov, Muhammadjon. Nasr-i realisti va tahavvul-i shuur-i estetiki [Realistic prose and evolution of aesthetic perception]. Dushanbe: Irfon, 1987.Google Scholar
Shukurov, Muhammadjon, and Demidchik, Larisa. Nasr-i Jalol Ikromi [The fiction by Jalol Ikromi]. Dushanbe: Irfon, 1979.Google Scholar
Shukurov, Muhammadjon, Demidchik, Larisa, Hoshim, Rahim, Levin, Minel’ I., Solehov, Safar, Sharifov, Jamshed, Nabavī, Abdukholiq et al., eds. Jashnnoma-yi Ayni [Ayni’s celebration]. 11 vols. Dushanbe: Nashriyoti Akademiya-yi Fanho-yi RSS Tojikiston and Donish, 1960–2010.Google Scholar
Solehov, Shamsiddin. “Jalol Ikromi va Bukhoro” [Jalol Ikromi and Bukhara]. Paragraph 10 of Chapter 1 in Adabiyot va shinokht-i on. Dushanbe: Irfon, 2009.Google Scholar
Tursunzoda, Mirzo, and Ma‘sumi, Nosirjon, eds. Ta‘rikh-i adabiyot-i soveti-yi tojik [History of Soviet Tajik literature]. 6 vols. Dushanbe: Donish, 1978–84.Google Scholar
Usmonov, Ibrohim, and Davronov, Davlat. Ta‘rikh-i matbuot-i tojik [History of the Tajik press]. Dushanbe: Maorif, 1999.Google Scholar
Vositzoda, Abdujalil. “Irfon” [Knowledge]. In Entsiklopediya-yi adabiyot va san‘at-i tojik 1, edited by Qurbonov, Alamshoev, Azizqulov, Jum‘aboy, Demidchik, Larisa, Tabarov, Sohib, Shukurov, Muhammadjon, Hodizoda, Rasul, Qanoat, Mu‘min, et al., 515. Dushanbe: Sarredaktsiya-yi ilmi-yi Entsiklopediya-yi soveti-yi tojik, 1988.Google Scholar