This poem is an Uzbek nazira (a creative poetic response and homage) to the famous patriotic masterpiece “O‘zbekiston” by the Hero of Uzbekistan and People’s Poet, Abdulla Oripov. Written in traditional stanzas, the work connects Uzbekistan’s rich historical legacy—referencing luminaries such as Avicenna (Ibn Sino), Al-Biruni, Tamerlane (Amir Temur), Imam Bukhari, and Mahmud al-Zamakhshari—with modern reflections on identity, national pride, and peace. The English translation preserves the stanza structure, rhythm, and classical imagery while ensuring cultural nuances remain accessible to an international readership.
UZBEKISTAN
(A Nazira to Abdulla Oripov’s poem “Uzbekistan”)
I wrote a ballad all about love,
I sang a song of passion true.
Yet, since I tasted no stranger’s bread,
I had not shown my love for you.
Today I write of you, my Homeland,
Perhaps no heavier verse is known.
When soul parts from the dying body,
Mother Earth claims us as her own.
Yet feeble is this pen of mine,
Uzbekistan, true Homeland of mine.
With tulips blooming in her embrace,
A land of gardens, vast and bright.
Where golden sun shines soft as silk,
My Uzbekistan sheds its light.
A sacred garden, pure and fine,
Uzbekistan, true Homeland of mine.
Along your borders stand your braves,
Guardians of your sacred soil.
If I but touch a branch by chance,
The trees bestow their fruitful spoil.
My mother nation, soul of mine,
Uzbekistan, true Homeland of mine.
A cradle holds a child so calm,
Lulled by a soft and tender strain.
No traitor springs from such a cradle,
No room for war on this domain.
The world became a garden fine,
Uzbekistan, true Homeland of mine.
How graceful are the Uzbek maidens,
Dreaming as Zulfiya once dreamed.
A modest maiden’s noble mother
Is virtue’s spark, so pure, esteemed.
You are my honor, pride divine,
Uzbekistan, true Homeland of mine.
Cross over the bridge if you give cheer,
The clear streams ripple in Qarshi’s light.
And should you visit in Ramadan,
The crescent smiles upon the night.
Rich with gold, a precious mine,
Uzbekistan, true Homeland of mine.
Mahmud of Khwarazm brought such pride,
“Jarullah” was his Mecca name.
When such great souls have walked this land,
God blessed this home with holy fame.
My ancient roots, a sacred sign,
Uzbekistan, true Homeland of mine.
Ibn Sina held the soil dear,
Gathering herbs across the land.
This healer born in Afshona
Healed four continents by his hand.
I claim today, he is part of mine,
Uzbekistan, true Homeland of mine.
Amir Temur cast swift justice
On traitors who would sell their birth.
Beruni’s knowledge lit the West,
And lifted men above the Earth.
I hold a grievance in Columbus’ time,
Uzbekistan, true Homeland of mine.
The proudest soul of Muslim faith,
Whose heart knows true humility,
Imam Bukhari penned Hadiths
In the Prophet’s own purity.
Faith’s joy is what I hold divine,
Uzbekistan, true Homeland of mine.
Call them proud if you so choose,
The souls of Turon earn their praise.
Follow the ancestors, descendants,
And rise to great and holy ways.
My freedom, pride, and praise divine,
Uzbekistan, true Homeland of mine.
— Poetry by Rushana Shomurodova
ORIGINAL TEXT (UZBEK)
O‘ZBEKISTON
(Abdulla Oripovning “O‘zbekiston” she’riga nazira)
Ishq haqida yozdim ballada,
Muhabbat haqida kuyladim qoʻshiq.
Musofir nonidan totmaganim-chun,
Oʻz yurtimga boʻlmapman oshiq.
Bugun seni yozyapman Vatan,
Balki boʻlmas bundan ogʻir she’r.
Jondan ayro qolganida tan,
Oʻz bagʻringga olding Ona Yer.
Faqat ojiz qalamim manim,
Oʻzbekiston Vatanim manim.
Quchogʻida lolalar ochgan,
Gulistonim bor mening.
Quyosh zarrin ipak sochgan,
Oʻzbekistonim bor mening.
Nomi qutlugʻ gulshanim manim,
Oʻzbekiston Vatananim manim.
Chegarangda paxlavonlaring,
Qoʻriqlaydi tuprogʻing orin.
Tasodifan bir tegib ketsam,
Daraxtlaring toʻkadi borin.
Ona xalqim, jon-tanim manim,
Oʻzbekiston Vatanim manim.
Alla eshitadi bolang beshikda,
Bunday bola bo
ʻlmas yurtpurush.
Boqsahamki yovlar teshikdan
Bu Vatanda bo
ʻlmaydi urush.
Dunyo bo
ʻldi chamanim manim,
O
ʻzbekiston Vatanim manim.
Nozanindir o
ʻzbek qizlari,
Zulfiyaning hayolin surar.
Hayosini saqlagan qizning,
Onalari asli mastura.
Sensan nomus va shanim manim, Oʻzbekiston Vatanim manim.
Rag
ʻbat bersang ko
ʻprikdan kelib,
Mavjlanadi Qarshingda zilol.
Ramazonda buyursang tashrif,
Oqshomlari jilmayar hilol.
Tuprog
ʻi zar, ma’danim manim,
O
ʻzbekiston Vatanim manim.
Xorazmning faxri Mahmudga,
Makka ahli dedi Jarulloh.
Shunday bashar o
ʻtgan bo
ʻlsa bil.
Yurtga nazar solibdi Alloh.
Olis tarix qadamim manim, Oʻzbekiston Vatanim manim.
Ibn Sino tuproq ardoqlab,
Giyohlar-u nabodat terdi.
Afshonadan chiqqan bu tabib,
To
ʻrt qit’aga tabobat berdi.
Aytgum, bu kun, u manim manim, Oʻzbekiston Vatanim manim.
Vatan sotar xoyinpurushni
Amir Temur tortdi jazoga
Beruniyning tahsilin olib, Gʻarb millati uchdi fazoga.
Kolumpda bir alamim manim, Oʻzbekiston Vatanim manim.
Musulmonning ulugʻ magʻruri
Xushu boʻlmoq asli dilida
Hadis yozdi Imom Buxoriy
Soʻnggi Paygʻambarning tilida.
Iymon zavqin tuyganim manim
Oʻzbekistin Vatanim manim.
Kiborli deb oʻylang mayli
Turon ahli tahsinga loyiq.
Ajdodlarga ergashing avlod,
Siz ham boʻling buyuk mashoyiq.
Erkim, faxrim va madhim manim,
Oʻzbekiston Vatanim manim.
(c) Rushana Shomurodova
CONTEXTUAL & CULTURAL NOTES
Nazira: A classical Eastern poetic genre where a poet composes an artistic response/homage to a celebrated masterpiece, matching its rhyme scheme or thematic tone.
Abdulla Oripov (1941–2016):** Hero of Uzbekistan, National Poet, and author of the Uzbek National Anthem. His poem “O‘zbekiston” is one of the most iconic works of modern Uzbek literature.
Zulfiya (1915–1996): A prominent Uzbek poetess and cultural icon who symbolizes fidelity, grace, and feminine poetic
tradition.
Qarshi: Capital city of the Qashqadaryo region in southern Uzbekistan, historically known for its iconic 16th-century
vaulted bridge over the Qashqadaryo River.
Jarullah: An honorific title meaning “The Neighbor of God,” granted by Mecca scholars to the great Khwarazmian scholar Mahmud al-Zamakhshari (1075–1144) for his monumental linguistic work on the Quran.
Ibn Sino (Avicenna, 980–1037): Universal scholar born near Bukhara in Afshona, recognized worldwide as one of the most influential founding fathers of modern medicine.
Beruni (Al-Biruni, 973–1048):** Polymath who calculated the Earth’s radius with remarkable precision and predicted the existence of an inhabited landmass across the ocean long before Columbus.
Amir Temur (Tamerlane, 1336–1405): Renowned ruler, military strategist, and founder of the Timurid Empire headquartered in Samarkand.
Imam Bukhari (810–870): Islamic scholar born in Bukhara, compiler of Sahih al-Bukhari, the most authentic collection of Hadith in Sunni Islam.
Turon: Historical term for the ancient Central Asian region encompassing modern Uzbekistan.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Rushana Shomurodova is an Uzbek poet, medical scholar, and writer based in Uzbekistan. She pursues her medical degree at Turon University while actively contributing to modern Uzbek literature through bilingual poetry and lyrical works. Her poetry frequently explores themes of national identity, historical legacy, spiritual devotion, devotion, and youth perspectives. She writes in both Uzbek and English.