Navoi and His Contemporaries
This article discusses the activities of writers who were contemporaries of the great poet and thinker Alisher Navoi in the literary environment of the 15th century, as well as his attitude toward them. The research investigates which of his contemporaries Navoi referred to in his works and how he evaluated them.
Keywords: 15th-century, literary environment, Navoi’s contemporaries, socio-political and cultural life, tazkira, manaqib-holot.
Any genius, first and foremost, emerges and reaches maturity within the environment surrounding them. From this perspective, one of the key factors that led to Alisher Navoi’s rise to prominence was undoubtedly the literary environment in which he lived. The formation of Navoi’s personality should primarily be understood as a result of the Timurid state.
Navoi’s childhood was spent under the patronage of Timurid Abu’l-Qasim Babur. During the reign of Sultan Abu Said, the poet faced numerous difficulties. However, after 1469, when his friend Husayn Bayqara took control of Khorasan, the poet’s life became more stable, and his creativity flourished. Although the period under Husayn Bayqara was not without its challenges, Navoi himself endeavored to stabilize the political situation and preserve the strength of the state. As both a political figure and a writer, he strove to change the worldview of people, particularly state officials, through his actions and literary works.
He created numerous literary figures, such as the virtuous Farhod, who exemplified high moral qualities. In his tazkiras and manaqib-holots (biographies of saints), Navoi narrated the lives of those exemplary individuals he encountered in life. The primary goal behind these creations was to present a model of righteous living to different segments of society.
“Navoi, in his literary and philosophical works, advanced the theory of the perfect human being based on his mystical views and aesthetic ideals, not as empty rhetoric disconnected from real life. The roots of this idea can be found in the socio-political and cultural life of the 15th century. In other words, the great poet’s works are filled with hopes for humanity and his ideas on achievable goals,” writes one scholar.[1; 83].
Although it cannot be called an ideal period, the second half of the 15th century saw Herat become one of the largest cultural centers of the time during the reign of HusaynBayqara. Literature, music, miniature painting, calligraphy, and other artistic fields flourished. It was in this environment that great writers like Abdurahman Jami and Alisher Navoi emerged. However, these two unequaled literary figures did not appear in a vacuum. They were influenced by the rich literary atmosphere of their time and by numerous contemporaneous individuals, including poets like Lutfi, Shaykhim Suhayli, MavlonoSaifi, Osafi, Binoiy, Hiloliy, Hatifi, Behishtiy, Gadoiy and Pahlavon Muhammad. Many of them were close friends, like-minded colleagues, and early mentors for Navoi.
As Shuhrat Sirojidinov writes, “The great poet and thinker Alisher Navoi, through his works, propagated spiritual purity, patriotism, and enlightenment, leaving a significant literary, philosophical, and scientific legacy to his descendants. His thoughts on social progress and personal development align with the ideas of ancient philosophers. One of the central characteristics of Navoi’s creativity is, without doubt, his emphasis on love, mutual respect, tolerance, and goodness between people.”[2; 3].
Literary scholar Abdukodir Hayitmetov, in his article “Navoi’s Contemporaries and Spirituality”, also discusses the spiritual environment surrounding the great poet[1; 74 – 83]. He highlights the mentors and influential individuals who directly impacted Navoi, such as Husayn Bayqara, Abdurahman Jami, Sayyid Hasan Ardasher, Khoja Yusuf Burhon, HusaynVoiz Koshifi, Mavlono Riyazi, Mir Kamoliddin Husayn, Khoja Abdullah Sadr, Mir Atullah and Pahlavon Muhammad. These figures are explored in the context of their spiritual influence on Navoi’s development.
Understanding Navoi’s contemporaries is not particularly difficult, as the poet himself provides ample information about them in his “tazkiras” and other works. In his “Khazoyin al-Ma’ani”, for example, the poet dedicates sections to his mentors Abdurahman Jami, Sayyid Hasan Ardasher and Pahlavon Muhammad. In later sections, he lists other poets who were his close friends and associates providing brief descriptions of their lives and works. In particular, he mentions several contemporary poets, both living and deceased at the time of writing, such as Muammoi, Khoja Kamol, Mir Sadr, Badi’iy, Yor Tanbal and Sabzavari. In the following sections, the names of living poets like Mir Atayi, Fanoi, Osafi, Sulayman, Binoy, Mashhadi and Katibiy are recorded.The poet notes that he does not mention all poets, since many of them are already discussed in his other work “Majalis al-Nafais”, directing the reader to explore that source for further information:
“O‘zgasin qilmadim аndin mazkur,
Ki, “Majolis”da erurlar mastur”[3; 506].
Understanding Navoi’s contemporaries, particularly the writers and thinkers of his time, is essential for gaining a deeper understanding of his biography and the content of his works. As we see, the influence of these individuals on his creative process and intellectual development is profound.
“The talented 15th-century Persian poets, such as Khoja Mas’ud Qumi, Amir Shaykhim Suhayli, Mawlana Naderi, Kamoliddin Binoi, Badriddin Hiloli, Osafi, Sogari, Mawlana Subhi, Sayyid Hasan Ardashir, Mawlana Yusufshoh, Hafiz Yur, and Pahlavan Muhammad, were among the scholars and artists who were contemporaries and close associates of Alisher Navoi. In his works, particularly in the “Majalis”, Navoi not only provides information about these poets, but also emphasizes where and how he met them, through whom they were introduced, and which of them remained his regular companions in conversation”.[4; 21 – 22].
One of the most significant works that provides valuable information about Navoi’s contemporaries, particularly the poets of that era, is Majālis al-nafā’is. As noted earlier, the poet himself frequently emphasizes this. The work consists of eight sections, which the author refers to as majālis (sessions or gatherings). In the tazkira, which provides information about the literary figures, the poets are categorized according to whether they were alive at the time the work was written, or based on the regions where they were active. One of Navoi’s primary goals in creating this work was to preserve the names of the artists of his time for posterity. The author expresses this intention as follows: “It came to my broken memory and weary heart that a few pages should be written, and this book should bear the names of the poets of this era, so that these unfortunate ones may be recorded among the great poets of old, and their followers might join the ranks of their leaders” [5; 8].
Navoi even includes poets who are mentioned with a single verse in his tazkira (biographical anthology). “As can be seen from the table of contents of the “Majlis”, Navoi provides information about 459 poets and writers, as well as events from the literary life. Regardless of the subject, the author was personally acquainted with these individuals, either directly or through mutual relations” [6; 361]. This closeness enhances the authenticity of the information presented in the tazkira, and reflects the author’s both literary and humanistic relationships with his contemporaries.
The author critiques talented but unproductive writers in his tazkira, those who fail to apply themselves. Through highlighting both the accomplishments and shortcomings of these individuals, he aims to exert influence on society. By praising exemplary writers, he encourages others to aspire to similar standards of excellence.
“It is noteworthy that Navoi approached the character of each poet with a concrete and impartial perspective. He believed it essential to highlight the flaws in their personalities and the imperfections in their moral character, even when they were included in his anthology” [6; 362]. Navoi adhered to this principle of impartiality and truthfulness not only in his general works, but also in his manāqib (biographies) and ḥālāt (accounts), such as “Khamsat al-Mutahayyirīn”, “Ḥālāt of Sayyid ḤasanArdashīr”, and “Ḥālāt of Pahlavan Muhammad”.
It would have been unthinkable for Navoi not to document the rise of his era, to leave unrecorded such historical progress through his literary work. For this reason, he consistently expressed his views on his time and its people in nearly all of his writings.
In essence, studying the creative endeavors and activities of Navoi’s contemporaries broadens our understanding of the social and cultural milieu in which this great genius flourished. Indeed, without delving into the works of the intellectuals of his time, we cannot fully grasp the depth and meaning of Navoi’s own works. This highlights the necessity of a comprehensive exploration of the cultural atmosphere of that period.
Conclusion:
1. The literary flourishing of Jami, Navoi, and many others in the latter half of the 15th century was a product of the Timurid state.
2. To fully understand Navoi’s literary heritage and that of his contemporaries, it is crucial to study the cultural environment of that period.
3. Navoi’s tazkiras, biographical works, and other writings are key sources for learning about his contemporaries, with “Majolis un-Nafais” being the most significant.
4. Navoi provided material and moral support to all scholars and writers of his time. He encouraged young poets, pointed out their achievements and shortcomings, and laid the groundwork for literary criticism. He considered it his duty to document and evaluate the work of his contemporaries.
5. Navoi made it a priority to write about the vibrant literary scene and achievements of his era. He mentioned hundreds of contemporaries, even recognizing those who contributed only a single significant verse. He expressed his views on each individual and noted their closeness to him.
References:
- Hayitmetov, A. Literary Heritage of Our Horizons. Tashkent: Ukituvchi, 1997.
- Sirojiddinov, Sh. Alisher Navoi’s Ideals. Tashkent: Navoiy University, 2018.
- Alisher Navoi. Collected Works, Vol. 6. Khazoyin al-Ma’ani, Fawoid al-Kibar. Tashkent: Fan, 1990.
- Shodiev, E. Alisher Navoi and Persian-Tajik Writers. Tashkent: Ukituvchi, 1989.
- Alisher Navoi. Collected Works, Vol. 13. Majalis al-Nafa’is. Tashkent: Fan, 1997.
- History of Uzbek Literature, Vol. 2. Tashkent: Fan, 1977.
