The higher education system and Uzbek literature suffered a heavy loss. Honored Art Worker of Uzbekistan, famous scientist-teacher, literary critic and translator Asil Rashidov died on September 15 this year at the age of 90.
Asil Rashidov was born in 1930 in the village of Sovungarlik, Jizzakh region. In 1954, he graduated from the Central Asian State University (now the National University of Uzbekistan named after Mirzo Ulugbek) with a degree in journalism.
In 1954-1958 he worked as a literary employee, head of a department in the editorial office of the newspaper “Kizil Uzbekiston” (now “Uzbekiston Ovozi”).
In 1958, he entered the postgraduate course of the Tashkent State Pedagogical Institute, in 1961 he successfully graduated from it and for 56 years fruitfully worked at this institute as a teacher, associate professor, professor of the department of Uzbek literature. In 1981 he was awarded the degree of Candidate of Philology.
During his painstaking work, the scientist created numerous popular science works, including the books “Inson va mehnat madhi” (“Hymn to man and labor”), “Sunmas yulduzlar” (“Everlasting stars”), “Asrga tengdosh maktab” (“ School of the age ”),“ Lesya Ukrainka ”,“ Chinikish maktabi ”(“ School of tempering ”). The works created by him in the years of independence – the brochure “Akam hakida” (“About brother”), dedicated to the memory of his brother, the famous statesman and public figure Sharaf Rashidov, the books “Ezgulikka bakhshida umr” (“Life dedicated to nobility”), “Chingiz Aitmatovning badiy olami ”(“ The Artistic World of Chingiz Aitmatov ”) won the sincere recognition of thousands of readers.
Asil Rashidov also created a kind of creative school in the field of literary translation. He translated with great skill into Uzbek the works of the famous writer Chingiz Aitmatov – “Face to face”, “Jamila”, “Camel’s eye”, “My poplar in a red scarf”, “Farewell, Gulsari!”, “Milky Way”, ” White Steamer ”,“ Early Cranes ”,“ Skewbald Dog Running by the Edge of the Sea ”,“ And the day lasts longer than a century ”, which made an invaluable contribution to the development of the artistic thinking of our people. At the same time, Uzbek readers had the opportunity to read in their native language the stories of the famous Russian writer Alexander Bek “Volokolamsk highway” and the Kyrgyz writer Mirzabek Duisenov “Exam”.
Possessing vast scientific, creative and life experience, the teacher-mentor has earned great prestige among the intelligentsia, the public of our country for his diligence and dedication, care for youth, love and devotion to his native land.
The merits of Asil Rashidov in the development of the higher education system and Uzbek literature have been adequately appreciated by our state. He was awarded the honorary titles “Honored Worker of Art of the Republic of Uzbekistan”, “Honored Teacher of the Republic of Uzbekistan”, and he was also awarded the State Prize of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Medal “Shukhrat”.
The bright memory of the outstanding scientist, creative personality, caring mentor, modest man Asil Rashidov will forever remain in our hearts.
Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan,
Writers’ Union of Uzbekistan