ARTISTIC-AESTHETIC INTERPRETATION OF THE IDEA OF PATRIOTISM IN THE POETRY OF ERKIN VOHIDOV

University of Business and Science. Filologiya oʻzbek tili yoʻnalishi 2-kurs talabasi Egamberdiyeva Diloromxon Olloberdi qizi.

Introduction: The second half of the twentieth century in Uzbek poetry is distinguished by a new stage in the development of national self-awareness and the idea of patriotism. During this period, the творчество of Erkin Vohidov became one of the brightest expressions of inner resistance and the aspiration for freedom formed under colonial conditions. In the poet’s works, patriotism is interpreted not as ordinary sentimental love, but as a philosophical-aesthetic category connecting national identity, historical memory, and future prospects. Although the idea of patriotism in literary studies has often been examined within ideological or emotional contexts, its semiotic and stylistic mechanisms within the artistic system have not been sufficiently analyzed. This article aims to fill that gap by examining the patriotic motifs in the poet’s major works from the perspective of poetic language, imagery, and symbolic systems.

In Erkin Vohidov’s poetry, the representation of the national spirit is expressed through artistic images and symbols, interpretations of national values, and love for the mother tongue. The idea of patriotism appears not merely as a theme, but as the central axis of the entire poetic system. Under Soviet rule, this idea was conveyed not openly, but in metaphorical forms. In the poet’s lyrics, the image of the Motherland is often embodied through symbols such as mother, mountains, rivers, and soil. These symbols possess not only emotional but also deep semiotic meanings: they express the symbolic resistance of national identity against the “alien” culture of colonialism. For example, through images of nature (mountains and rivers), the poet emphasizes the thousand-year historical stability and resilience of the people.

Main Part

The artistic-aesthetic interpretation of patriotism in Erkin Vohidov’s works is most vividly reflected in the qasida “Oʻzbegim” (1968) and the epic poem “Ruhlar isyoni” (“Rebellion of Spirits”). These works reveal the motives of inner rebellion and the preservation of national identity under colonial conditions.

The qasida “Oʻzbegim” is one of the most important examples of national pride and self-awareness in Erkin Vohidov’s creativity. The qasida is distinguished by being written in the aruz meter and by its closeness to the classical qasida genre, yet in content it is interpreted as a new call for national awakening under colonial conditions. In the qasida, the word “oʻzbegim” gains rhetorical power through repetition (anaphora), thus enabling a transition from personal address to collective national identity.

The beginning of the qasida emphasizes historical depth:

• “Your history has remained hidden through thousands of centuries, my Uzbek,

Your peers are Pamir and the white-haired Tianshan, my Uzbek.”

In these lines, the image of the Motherland is embodied through mountains and nature. The Pamir and Tianshan mountains symbolize not only geography, but also the thousand-year historical strength of the people and the hidden endurance of the national spirit. By mentioning great ancestors such as Afrosiyob, the Orkhon inscriptions, Al-Biruni, Al-Khwarizmi, and Al-Farabi, the poet awakens national pride. Through the lines:

• “Descendant of Al-Biruni, Al-Khwarizmi, Al-Farabi,

Perhaps your true lineage is Ozluq, perhaps Tarkhan, my Uzbek,”

He emphasizes the great scientific and cultural heritage of the Uzbek people. These symbols become aesthetic means for preserving and restoring national identity during the colonial era.

In the qasida, the heavy blows of colonialism are expressed in the lines:

• “Many khans and many sultans

Passed over your poor head, brandishing their swords.”

Here, historical tragedies are presented metaphorically, and the poet avoids direct political criticism by expressing inner resistance through symbolic language. The repetition of the word “oʻzbegim” carries not only rhythmic but also emotional and philosophical weight — it ensures the transition from the personal “I” to the collective national “we.” As a result, the qasida becomes not simply a hymn, but a manifesto of national awakening. Its popularity in the musical performance of Sherali Joʻrayev also demonstrates how deeply it penetrated the hearts of the people.

Another vivid expression of patriotism can be observed in the epic poem “Ruhlar isyoni” (“Rebellion of Spirits”) (1978–1979). Dedicated to the life of the Bengali poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, the work expresses the aspiration for freedom of the Uzbek people through his image. The poem consists of several legends and deeply artistically analyzes such urgent issues as human destiny, social injustice, and the struggle for freedom.

In “Ruhlar isyoni,” the spirit of freedom and rebellion occupies a central place. The appeal in the introduction:

• “You were born free — remain forever free!”

Defines the spirit of the entire poem.

In the section “Legend about Eternity,” through the depiction of a caravan struck by disaster in the desert and a traveler who survives, the eternal struggle of humanity, spiritual endurance, and aspiration for freedom are portrayed. Here, Vohidov uses a philosophical-aesthetic approach, elevating patriotism from an individual spiritual rebellion to a collective national awakening. Through the image of Nazrul Islam, he metaphorically expresses the colonial condition of the Uzbek people.

Although the poem is written in epic form, it is enriched with lyrical emotions and philosophical reflections. Its system of symbols (spirits, rebellion, eternity) transforms patriotism from a mere emotional feeling into a profound philosophical category.

Patriotism in the poet’s other poems such as “Mother Soil,” “Landscape of Dawn,” and “Spring” is also expressed through images of nature, love for the mother tongue, and historical memory. Symbols of nature (rivers, soil, mountains) signify the stability of national identity, while language represents the foundation of the national spirit. Through these elements, patriotism in Vohidov’s poetry appears not only as an emotional phenomenon but also as an aesthetic and philosophical instrument.

The poet’s style, while simple and close to the people, possesses deep metaphorical and semiotic layers. This has made his work one of the brightest examples of Uzbek poetry.

Conclusion

In Erkin Vohidov’s poetry, the idea of patriotism is interpreted at a highly artistic and aesthetic level. In the qasida “Oʻzbegim” and the epic poem “Ruhlar isyoni,” the poet expresses national pride, the aspiration for freedom, and the spirit of independence through symbols, metaphors, and rhetorical devices. Under colonial conditions, metaphorical language and symbolic systems reveal the motives of inner rebellion and the preservation of national identity.

As a result, patriotism in Vohidov’s works becomes not merely an emotional feeling, but also a philosophical-aesthetic instrument. Even today, his works play an important role in educating the younger generation in the spirit of patriotism and in strengthening national self-awareness. The poet’s legacy remains one of the golden pages of Uzbek literature and serves as an example of national pride and the spirit of freedom for future generations.

This analysis demonstrates that the aesthetic power of Erkin Vohidov’s poetry lies in his ability to deeply artistically interpret the idea of patriotism. His творчество deserves even deeper study in Uzbek literary scholarship.