We need to create powerful works filled with universal human ideas that promote peace and harmony among nations – Baki Mirzo
An interview with Poet, Journalist, Academician of the Uzbekistan, and people’s writer Baki Mirzo
By Jakhongir Nomozov
— Share something about your writing career
— Since my first book was a collection of poetry, I didn’t set a specific time frame for writing it. It was published in 1992, and I included poems I wrote from 1984 to 1991, inspired by my impressions from the 3rd seminar for young writers of the Union of Writers of Uzbekistan in February 1984.
These poems had been published in magazines like “Guliston”, “Yoshlik”, “Yosh kuch”, and in the Uzbekistan Literature and Art newspaper during the most intense literary period of our republic.
I included poems that had earned praise from mentors.
While selecting the poems, I was always mindful of the strictness and balanced perspective of People’s Poet of Uzbekistan, mentor Erkin Vohidov.
During the editing process, I removed weaker poems. When the mentor asked, “Did you really include this in the book?!” I would feel embarrassed, but I believe his strictness made me more demanding of myself.
Some ghazals, which were praised by him after I read them at the seminar, were also included.
My first prose book, (Where Are You, Charos), was written in five months upon the suggestion of Azizbek Abduvaliev, the chief editor of the “Suhbatdosh” newspaper. It was published in the newspaper in several issues.
At the request of my readers, I then published it as a book. Fifty thousand copies were sold in bookstores across the republic. I can confidently say that this short story brought me success and fame!
— How do you distinguish between reading and writing books?
— Reading is the preparation for writing, while writing is the display of the skill developed during the preparation process. The time dedicated to reading is no less important than the time spent writing!
— What role does criticism play for you, and how do you relate to it?
— I follow the saying, “Criticism is the fruit of the future!” After writing more than forty published works, including five volumes of essays, ten volumes of novels, and four volumes of short stories and poetry, I always submit my work to critics for feedback before publishing. I take their critical opinions seriously, revise my book, and add new thoughts. I believe that looking at a work through the eyes of others, especially critics, greatly contributes to its success.
Now, even though I am over seventy and have become a well-known writer, I always pass my books through the eyes of scholars before publishing. A writer should not dislike criticism; rather, they should see the critic as an open-minded friend who protects them from writing weak or mediocre work! Even from harsh criticism, one should strive to improve their work. Unfortunately, many young writers today dislike critical opinions. They haven’t yet found their own path, haven’t tested their talents through various trials, and mostly seek praise rather than constructive criticism. This undermines the development of literature, rather than elevating it. For this reason, I believe that serious advancements in contemporary poetry, innovations that touch the hearts of the people, are scarce among young writers.
— What concerns you the most about the development or progress of literature?
— What worries me most is the lack of dedication among writers, the failure to read others’ works, and the lack of interest in the work of fellow creators.
Many well-known writers with successful careers either read very little or do not read at all.
This issue leads to stagnation, apathy towards new ideas, and the failure to develop.
The literary environment in the regions does not satisfy me; even in a large city like Tashkent, it is difficult to find a thriving literary atmosphere that can truly satisfy a writer.
This raises the question, why?
Most writers are not entrepreneurs and are running after daily survival, which means they have little time to dedicate to their creative work. It seems that they have failed to improve their standards of living in a meaningful way. The higher organizations that should support them are absorbed in their own problems and do not offer any help.
I want to address one more issue.
The government’s indifference to the development of literature and the work and fate of poets and writers reflects a different policy in practice compared to what is said in words! The two state awards named after Khamza and Navoi, which were traditionally given to writers, have been abolished.
Furthermore, the award presented annually to five writers by the Union of Writers of Uzbekistan has also been stopped.
Why? After all, isn’t it necessary to encourage creators who serve the development of spirituality and literature?
Why do they toil in obscurity? Especially since writing is a very hard job, if a writer does not receive recognition at the right time, they will lose passion for their work.
— What is your greatest goal as a writer?
—My greatest goal as a writer is to serve the cultural, social, and educational development of my people.
Even more importantly, in recent times, I strive to bring my nation, which has distanced itself from reading, back to books, to cultivate artistic taste, raise its spirituality, and promote a culture of eloquence. Another important goal of mine is to introduce new ideas and thoughts to the world! To achieve these tasks, I am constantly engaged in research and reading.
— In contemporary literature, there are many works that focus more on form than content. What is your opinion on this?
—I believe that form is secondary; the main issue is to fight against those who, by inciting wars, trying to extinguish hope for the future, and selling weapons to escalate the flames of war, are spreading panic among the masses. For this, we need to create powerful works filled with universal human ideas that promote peace and harmony among nations.
— How do you identify true talent as a writer or poet? What role does society play in recognizing talent?
—I don’t think this is difficult. A true writer has a unique perspective on life, seeing things differently, more deeply, and noticing aspects others do not. They enter literature with their own voice, their pain, and their WORD. Their works stand out from others’ works, and they do not abandon their style when expressing emotions and events. They are not afraid of hardships in creating great works. In other words, they understand much earlier than those without talent that there is no way but creativity and they dedicate their life to their work. They place creativity above everything else.
True talent feels the deep pain of society, strives to heal its wounds, and sympathizes with society. Society will eventually recognize them. If society is on one side and talent is on the other, talent will never be recognized or read!
— What innovations in world literature surprise you? What changes will these innovations bring for writers?
—Although I live in a remote village in Uzbekistan, I always have the opportunity to keep up with world literature.
The opportunities provided by the internet help me a lot. Now, in world literature, the vibrant developments and explorations of the previous century, which amazed readers, have become rare. European and Latin American literature once fascinated and astonished us. Works published in English would quickly be translated into Russian, and we would soon have the opportunity to read them in Uzbek. But now, these opportunities are declining worldwide, including in our country. Many translators have become fixated on Turkish literature, and some even translate works without careful selection, considering only their own interests.
These works often do not meet the standards of world literature.
Publishers are preoccupied with republishing works that were translated and printed in huge numbers last century!
This prevents literature from reaching a new stage of development. However, despite my critical views above, I believe in the future of literature. One day, people will understand the true purpose of the internet and, tired of its lies and falsehoods, will return to literature.
Literature, which serves to purify and enrich their spirits, will become their closest friend again.
Read: Literature always leads the Culture
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Jakhongir NOMOZOV is an Uzbek journalist and writer
