Gafur Gulam, the national poet of Uzbekistan, was born on May 10, 1903, in Tashkent. He initially studied at an old school-madrasa in the Kurgan-tepe neighborhood, then at a Russian-native school. After completing teacher training courses, he worked as a teacher, school director, and chairman of the Education Workers' Union from 1919 to 1927.

The poet contributed to the newspapers 'Kambagal Dehkon', 'Qizil Uzbekistan', and 'Sharq Haqiqati'. In 1923, he wrote the poem 'Children of Felix', and his poem 'Where is Beauty' was published in the newspaper 'Maorif va Oqituvchi'. Starting in 1930, his poetry collections and epics were published, including 'Dinamo', 'Yigit', 'When the Owners Take Over', 'Sketches from China', 'Living Songs', 'Kokan', 'To You', 'Spring', 'Pride of the Uzbek People', 'Manuscript of Honor', and 'Selected Works'.

Between 1929 and 1939, he produced the story collection 'Jurabuza', the play 'Reporter's Trial', and the novellas 'What to Do', 'Living Dead', 'Memorial', and the beloved Uzbek story 'Mischievous Boy'. He translated Shakespeare's masterpieces 'Othello' and 'King Lear' into Uzbek.

Gafur Gulam died in Tashkent in 1966. Posthumously, in 2000, he was awarded the Order of 'For Great Services'. On the occasion of the anniversary, the newspaper prepared a quiz based on Gulam's works.

Source: www.gazeta.uz