In a world where diplomas are often seen as mere tickets to employment, the true purpose of higher education is sometimes forgotten. But for students like me, university is not just a stepping-stone — it is a transformative experience. It’s where knowledge becomes purpose, curiosity becomes direction, and youth finds its voice.
In 2024, I was admitted to the Uzbekistan University of Journalism and Mass Communications (UzJOKU) on a state scholarship. I study English Philology and Language Teaching under the Faculty of International Relations and Social-Humanitarian Sciences. For me, this wasn’t just the fulfillment of a dream; it was the beginning of a lifelong journey in the pursuit of knowledge and meaningful communication. UzJOKU was established in 2018 by Presidential Decree No. 3737 and holds a unique place as the only specialized media university in Central Asia. In just seven years, it has evolved into a vibrant hub of journalism, international relations, media design, psychology, political science, and philology. But beyond degrees and disciplines, UzJOKU is a space where theory meets practice. Its modern facilities — from professional video studios to audio recording labs — allow students to apply what they learn in real-world settings. What sets UzJOKU apart, however, is not just its infrastructure. It’s the energy that flows between people. Here, passionate teachers transfer their knowledge — and their inspiration — to students who arrive each morning with eyes full of hope and hearts full of ambition. The university’s motto, often repeated by its rector Sherzodkhon Qudratkhoja, captures this spirit perfectly: “A university is the place where people and knowledge meet.”
At a recent Student Media Conference, Rector Qudratkhoja reflected on the institution’s rapid growth:
“These seven years were not ordinary. They were equal to many more. We’ve built the foundation of journalism and the social sciences — once scattered, now unified. The world has changed. That’s why what lies ahead is greater than what we’ve already achieved.”
Today, with nearly 5,000 students and a faculty of distinguished scholars, UzJOKU stands not only as a university but as a movement. Its rector — a renowned journalist, TV presenter, political scientist, and academic — leads with a vision grounded in national values and global thinking. He is also the chairman of the Uzbekistan National Media Association and holds the title of Doctor of Political Science and the prestigious “Mehnat Shuhrati” (Labor Glory) Order.
What I’ve found at UzJOKU is more than education — it’s connection. It’s the meeting point of experience and ambition, of heritage and innovation. It’s where I learned that energy isn’t only physical — it’s emotional, intellectual, and deeply human. And here, that energy is contagious. In a time of information overload and global complexity, institutions like UzJOKU remind us that shaping minds matters. That a university can be more than a building — it can be a living idea. I am proud to be part of this idea, to grow with it, and to contribute to a future where media is not only a profession, but a responsibility.
UzJOKU is not just where I study. It’s where I belong. It’s where people and knowledge truly meet.
About the Author
SHAHNOZA OCHILDIYEVA is a second-year student at the Uzbekistan University of Journalism and Mass Communications (UzJOKU), majoring in English Philology and Language Teaching.
Digital Inequality and Rural Women: Opportunities, Barriers, and Solutions
Sh. Kholmurodova — Student of Social Work, National University of Uzbekistan
Introduction
In 2024, the number of internet users in Uzbekistan reached 80%. But what proportion of this number consists of women living in rural areas? While digital transformation is rapidly becoming an integral part of our daily lives, not everyone benefits equally from this progress. Unfortunately, many women living in rural areas of Uzbekistan still do not have sufficient access to digital technologies. This gap is giving rise to a new form of social inequality — digital gender disparity.
1. The Concept and Relevance of Digital Inequality
Digital inequality refers to the disparity in access to and use of the internet and digital technologies among different segments of society. These disparities often reflect and reinforce existing economic, social, cultural, and gender-based inequalities. Compared to men, urban populations, and high-income groups, rural women face the most significant barriers. These include:
– Lack of access to digital devices and stable internet
– Low levels of digital literacy
– Gender stereotypes and traditional social norms
– Lack of economic independence
Moreover, factors such as marital status, age, and family responsibilities also influence digital access. Married women or mothers with multiple children often have less time and opportunity to use digital technologies.
2. Research and Statistical Data
According to the Ministry of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan (2024), 73% of women in urban areas use the internet, compared to only 48% in rural areas.
The UN’s 2023 *Gender and Digital Equality Report* indicates that in developing countries, women are 30–40% less likely to use the internet than men.
UNESCO’s 2022 study highlighted that many rural women have only heard of digital services but rarely use them in practice due to lack of digital skills.
A 2024 social survey conducted in the Sariosiyo district of Surkhandarya region revealed that 61% of women respondents could not use government e-services or online payment systems.
3. Opportunities and Positive Initiatives
There are several existing opportunities to integrate rural women into the digital world:
– Free training through the “Women’s Notebook” social support program
– Access to IT education through IT Park, “DigitALL,” and “One Million Uzbek Coders”
– Remote employment opportunities: e-commerce, content creation, and freelancing
– Special grants, microloans, and startup funding for women entrepreneurs
– Establishment of digital information centers for women within local communities
Pilot projects supported by local authorities, NGOs, and international donors have shown early success. For instance, the IT Park’s “Coding for Women” program has demonstrated positive results in rural areas.
4. Barriers, Stereotypes, and Practical Challenges
Despite the potential, many of these initiatives do not fully reach rural women due to the following barriers:
– Low self-confidence among women
– Family restrictions and lack of support for digital activities
– Poor digital infrastructure in remote areas
– Limited availability of user-friendly content in local languages
– Weak cooperation between local governments, NGOs, and grassroots activists
In addition, there is a shortage of community-level professionals — such as mahalla leaders, social workers, and teachers — who are aware of the issue and can actively facilitate solutions.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Ensuring that rural women can access digital opportunities is crucial for promoting their economic empowerment, social inclusion, and self-development. Achieving digital gender equality should be a central goal in Uzbekistan’s digital transformation strategy.
The following practical recommendations are proposed:
Organize digital literacy courses — mobile outreach units in communities
Develop user-friendly apps designed specifically for women (in Uzbek, with voice features)
Invest in rural internet infrastructure, especially in remote regions like Sariosiyo
Create motivational content that highlights success stories of female digital role models
Establish local women’s digital centers — offering free Wi-Fi, training, and consultation
Clearly designate implementing organizations — including the Ministry of Digital Technologies, the Ministry for the Support of Mahalla and Family, IT Park, UNDP, and local NGOs
References
1. United Nations. Gender and Digital Equality Report, 2023
2. Ministry of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan. Statistical Bulletin, 2024
3. UNDP Uzbekistan. DigitALL: Digital Literacy Platform for Women, 2023
4. Social Survey Report: Sariosiyo District, Surkhandarya Region, 2024
5. UNESCO. Digital Literacy for Women in Rural Areas, 2022
The sun was out, and the temperature had risen. The previous day’s flooding that saturated much, was gone, having receded and also, I suppose been absorbed into the land. Some wind was there, and the paths were winding around trees and then going along the river and over bridges wooden but strong and reliable.
Away from the world, and sometimes other good souls went past, enjoying the routes and the sanguine hint of spring after a long and horrendous winter. One could think of shiny crystals, old books, smiles, coffee, blankets, music, the height of summer, paintings of wild wolves drinking water under the moonlight, and many good things, like some kind of visual manifestation. Or even of divinity, incarnations, gurus and sacred texts, plus the cosmos and its destiny and that of individual soul destinies. Where had everything come from? and where was it going? Sun star lake breeze the earth and trees, cities and countryside’s, billions literally, of souls traversing. Existence was, if anything, big.
A stand of trees had a stone under it, and then another tree more in the sun had a group of smaller rocks washed by the rains and previous waters. Tall beige and golden strands of some kind of wheat-like growths or reeds did reach up confidently to the brightness of the upper air then. And down the way,- flowing water and at times a broken branch for the too strong and fierce nocturnal storms.
But yes, then the day and sun, a treat from the universe for a nature writer, a solitary wandering poet, a soul something like a mixture of vagabond and visual artist, mendicant and monk, wanderer and way-shower.
This article presents the inspiring journey of Shukurilloyeva Lazzatoy Shamshodovna — recipient of the prestigious Faynberg Scholarship. It explores her deeply personal and intellectual encounters with the legacy of Russian poet Aleksandr Faynberg, her collaboration with renowned translator Rustam Musurmon, and her own contributions to making Faynberg’s poetic heritage accessible to English-speaking audiences.
More than a story of achievement, this piece reflects on cultural devotion, literary translation, and the profound impact of scholarship as a bridge between nations.
Article Title:”In the Footsteps of Faynberg: Scholarship, Poetic Legacy, and the Intellectual Journey of Shukurilloyeva Lazzatoy Shamshodovna”
More Than a Scholarship: My Journey with Faynberg’s Legacy “To love a land not by birth, but by heart — is the poetry of belonging.”— A. A. Faynberg
When I first heard the name Aleksandr Arkadyevich Faynberg, I didn’t yet know he would soon become an anchor in my intellectual and emotional world. At the time, I was simply a student looking to better understand literary translation — to make meaning move across languages without losing its soul.Little did I know that this quest would lead me deep into the life and poetry of a man who loved my homeland — Uzbekistan — with astonishing sincerity.
Faynberg was a Russian poet. But his soul seemed to have crossed borders before his poems ever did.He revered Uzbekistan not merely as a distant land, but as something akin to a spiritual home.I was moved to learn that on Alisher Navoi’s birthday, Faynberg would go to the Milliy Bog’ (National Park) in Tashkent — sometimes even before local Uzbek admirers — to pay tribute to the great classical poet. “I visit the garden not as a guest, but as a grandson returns to the shade of his grandfather’s tree,” Faynberg once wrote in a letter to his friend.
Through his poems, he made Uzbek literature accessible to Russian readers. That effort — that reverence — touched something deep within me. I thought: If he worked so lovingly to introduce our heritage to others, why shouldn’t I do the same for his legacy?
But I didn’t know where to start. Then came a fateful day — one I now call a turning point. I had the privilege of meeting Rustam Musurmon, a renowned Uzbek poet who had translated Faynberg’s works into Uzbek. Meeting him face-to-face was not just an academic experience — it was a spiritual alignment. He offered insight, encouragement, and, most importantly, he gave me the sense that this work was worth doing.
From that day forward, I began to translate Faynberg’s poetry — not into prose, not into mechanical language, but into English verse that tried to preserve the emotional resonance of the original. Translating poetry is often described as “dancing with a ghost.” You must move with what you cannot see, yet must feel. With each poem I translated, I felt closer not just to Faynberg, but to his vision — of cultures intertwined, of languages as bridges, not walls.
Soon, I found myself writing articles about him, publishing in respected literary journals, organizing and participating in evenings dedicated to his memory, and speaking at events where his name, once unfamiliar to many, began to gain recognition. In a quiet, beautiful way, Faynberg became part of my life — not as a historical figure, but as a silent mentor. And then, came that unforgettable day.
At the Council meeting held in Uzbekistan State World Languages University to honor academic and cultural achievements, I heard the voice of our distinguished Rector, Professor Ilhomjon Madamonovich Tuxtasinov, call out: “The recipient of the Faynberg Scholarship Shukurilloyeva Lazzatoy …”
When she said my name, something inside me shifted. It wasn’t just excitement — it was a sense of fulfillment. I felt gratitude, pride, and a strange kind of peace. Not because I had “won” something — but because I had understood something. I had come to see that my purpose was never just to win a scholarship. Even if I had not received it, I would still be grateful for what this journey had taught me: That cultural memory, when translated with sincerity, can become a form of love.
This was never about a certificate. It was about discovering what it means to carry someone’s voice across languages, to protect their memory, and to give them new life in the minds of others. Through Faynberg, I learned that true poetry is not written — it is lived. It is in walking to a monument in the early morning out of respect. It is in crossing the border of language, not to invade, but to embrace. It is in the quiet work of making another’s vision visible again.
As Faynberg once wrote: “One who loves another land may die in silence — but his echo, if translated well, will outlive us all.”I now know what that echo feels like. And I am proud — humbled, truly — to be part of it.
Postscript
As I continue translating his works and sharing his legacy with the world, I remember that the truest scholarship is not always found in awards, but in the lives we honor, and the meanings we carry forward. Faynberg may have passed, but his poetry lives — in Russian, in Uzbek, and now, little by little, in English.
My impressions from Erkin Vohidov’s epic poem “Rebellion of Souls”
“Rebellion of Spirits” is a work written by Erkin Vahidov, a prominent representative of modern Uzbek literature. It is an epic poem about the Bengali poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. The work is composed of several legends and parts, which narrate the lives of characters who lived in different historical periods.
The poem is dedicated to the heroic and tragic fate of the fiery Bengali poet Nazrul Islam, who lived and worked in the first half of the last century. Nazrul Islam’s bitter fate served as a means for the poet to express the pain in his own heart. The poem “Rebellion of Spirits” is based on the life of this rebellious Bengali poet. The following lines by Nazrul Islam are used as an epigraph to the epic:
You were born free, forever
Be free!
Regarding the creation of this work, the poet himself says:
“If the task of a writer or poet were simply to narrate the life and adventures of a person, then there would be no easier craft in the world than writing. After all, a creator must artistically analyze the life and fate of their protagonist, and use that opportunity to present their own observations and reflections about life! The fate of my hero, Nazrul Islam, offered rich material in this regard. A difficult period of creative searching began. I had to abandon the initial draft of the epic, and after many attempts, the current version—presented to readers—emerged.”
Formally, the epic consists of an Introduction, a Tale about Eternity, five chapters, and a Conclusion. Each of the five chapters is divided into different stories and narratives:
In the first chapter: “The Poet’s Heart,” “The Song of Rebellion,” “The Tale of Selflessness”
In the second chapter: “Rebellion,” “The Tale of Ignorance”
In the third chapter: “In Captivity,” “The Tale of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb”
In the fourth chapter: “Shadows,” “A Tale about Higher Spirits”
The fifth chapter includes: “Freedom,” and “The Tale of Ascetics and Mystics”
When analyzing the parts of the epic in terms of content, the following conclusions can be drawn: In the “Introduction” (Muqaddima), the poet describes human behavior and the turning points in their way of life. He emphasizes that each path has an entrance and an exit. Even life’s hardships can be avoided—but there is one feeling that is impossible to escape.
In the section “The Poet’s Heart,” the writer emphasizes: “The nature of your talent is rebellion.” The “Tale of Selflessness” highlights the bravery of those who did not accept injustice and violence on earth. It presents, for example, the ancient Indian custom of burning a wife along with her deceased husband. At the end of the tale, the poet calls people to fight for truth and emphasizes that one should not fear death on the path of justice.
At the beginning of the “Rebellion” part of the second chapter, the poet introduces it with the words: “Calcutta, 1926.” It depicts a conflict between Hindus and Muslims in Calcutta. Nazrul Islam was wrongly accused of inciting religious hatred, even though it was the invaders who had sparked the conflict. Nazrul’s only “fault” was that he openly spoke the truth to the people and tried to prevent the bloodshed. As a result, he was arrested. This part of the work teaches readers many lessons and encourages them to live with gratitude for the present.
Since the entire poem is dedicated to the memory of Nazrul Islam, the poet does not want to remain a silent observer of the injustices in Nazrul’s homeland. He remembers many others who have also been victims of injustice across the world. He repeatedly emphasizes that it is the ordinary person who suffers the most from the injustice and oppression present in society.
References:
Erkin Vohidov “Rebellion of Souls” – Tashkent. Nodirabegim Publishing House, 2020.
Nizomiddinov A.A. “Interpretation of character and social environment in Erkin Vakhidov’s epic “Rebellion of Souls” – “Central Asian research journal for interdisciplinary studies” 2022.
Norboyeva Sh.J., Ochilova N.U. “Sketches in the Fate of the Poet in the Work ‘Rebellion of Souls'” – “Scientific-Practical Conference of Young Scientists” – pp. 120-122.
Khusniya Sharofiddin qizi Otaboyeva was born in 2004 in a family of intellectuals in the Khonka district of the Khorezm region, Uzbekistan. She is currently a fourth-year student majoring in Primary Education at Urgench State Pedagogical Institute.
She is the author of more than 30 articles and 3 books and has participated in several anthologies and literary almanacs. A recipient of the prestigious Alisher Navoi state scholarship, she has demonstrated academic excellence and a deep commitment to educational and literary pursuits.
Otaboyeva is also the winner of numerous national and international competitions and an official member of various international organizations. She has been honored with multiple international diplomas, certificates, and medals. Her articles have been consistently published in leading journals and newspapers from countries such as Germany, Italy, Poland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Argentina.
Suitors kept coming to our house one after another. Yet my heart did not warm to any of the marriage candidates. Maybe it wasn’t their fault at all. To be honest, I didn’t feel ready to run a household, to be someone’s wife.
That evening, more matchmakers came. They’d already been turned down once — why did they come back? Didn’t they understand? My poor mother looked at me pleadingly.
— Mother, I’ve already said no! Tell them not to come again!
— My child, — my mother replied calmly, — matchmakers come to a house with a daughter. How can we just slam the door on guests? That’s not our custom, my dear. Your fussiness is wearing me out. Now I swear, whoever next knocks at our gate asking for your hand, I’ll give you away and be done with it. That’s it.
You’re already twenty. Do you still think you’re so young? Your peers are building happy families. And you? You’re being picky, turning your nose up at everyone. “Be careful not to keep choosing and end up with something far worse,” she warned.
Seeing how serious my mother was becoming, I felt trapped, torn between my own wishes and hers.
The next morning, my aunt came over. Mother told her everything. — Don’t worry! — said my aunt, as if she had been waiting for this. — Leave it to me. I’ll see your daughter married. Of course she’ll agree.
Not long after, I was engaged to my aunt’s son. There was really no other way — there were family ties between us. It was decided that we would have the wedding in three years…
After the engagement, I worked tirelessly, day and night, like an ant, trying to win over my parents-in-law. They treated me like their own daughter. But my sisters-in-law couldn’t stand it. They’d say openly to my mother, “Well, she is still just your sister’s daughter, after all.”
Little by little, their attitude toward me changed. Sometimes I was bewildered. No matter how hard I tried to please them, they always found faults, whispered behind my back, tried to turn others against me, and humiliated me quietly.
One day we went out to the fields to plant tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons, and melons. By noon, we had finished planting all the seedlings…
At one point, when my mother-in-law finally had a moment to breathe, she asked: — Have you seen the scissors? Anora wanted me to sew a small quilt if I had time. I’ve searched everywhere but can’t find them. Did you happen to see them?
It was as if my sister-in-law Khadicha had been waiting exactly for this. She raised her voice so my mother could hear clearly: — Why bother searching? Your precious bride has them at her house, under her quilt. I’ll fetch them right now. You see how sly your dear daughter-in-law is? Even when she hears this, she just sits there pretending to know nothing. There’s much more to her than you’d believe.
I was stunned. I didn’t even get the chance to defend myself — as soon as one stopped, the other picked up. I had worked day and night alongside them, never once needing those scissors. I couldn’t imagine how they ended up at my place.
From that day on, even my father-in-law and mother-in-law stopped trusting me. — Why did I ever take an old maid like you for my daughter-in-law? You’ve brought nothing but trouble. Get out of my sight, — my aunt finally spat one day.
Truth is like air. You breathe it in to live, but you cannot see it. My husband, too, began straying down the path of betrayal. Still, I swallowed it all. For life’s great sorrows, I found courage; for the small ones, patience.
The fights grew worse day by day. At last, unable to endure it, I returned to my parents’ house and poured everything out to my mother. She scolded me. — It must be partly your own fault. Go back to your husband’s house.
Three days later, I returned. But my father-in-law and mother-in-law only mocked me: — Couldn’t you fit into your mother’s tight womb, yet can’t seem to fit into our big house? Leave the way you came. We don’t want a daughter-in-law like you.
They themselves took me back to my parents’ home.
Three months later, I gave birth. I waited so long, hoping that now, with a child, they’d come and take me back. But no one ever came.
Never throw away your self-worth under someone else’s feet just to win their favor — they won’t see it anyway.
Brides, too, are someone’s daughters, raised with hardship by their parents. I don’t so much pity myself as I do my mother’s years of sacrifice.
Maybe if I’d agreed to those other suitors my mother suggested, my life would have turned out differently.
Life is like riding a bicycle — you have to keep moving to maintain your balance. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself in situations you never expected.
Life is a journey. And how we travel it is entirely up to us.
My biggest mistake was living with my husband without officially registering our marriage. Sometimes I blame fate for it. But what fault is it of fate? It was all because of my own impatience, my failure to look ahead and think wisely.
People are easily charmed by sweet words. But when your trust shatters into pieces, that’s when you realize the depth of the tragedy. You pour out your tears, but nothing goes back to how it was.
Even before my little girl was born, it seemed her destiny had already been marked — a life without a father. After she was born, we needed to get her a birth certificate. But since we didn’t have an official marriage paper, we were forced to register her under my father’s last name.
Sometimes I wonder: if we had at least formalized our marriage, maybe we wouldn’t have divorced so quickly. I kept trusting him when he said, “We’ll register after the wedding.” Then it was one excuse after another, until we ended up like this.
Now my daughter is growing up never knowing a father’s love. At night, thoughts of her future steal my sleep. Even when I took him to court, I couldn’t get her his surname. He denied his paternity.
How wretched is powerlessness — I couldn’t even defend my rights. My daughter is older now. She keeps asking me, “Why did you and Dad separate? Why do I have Grandpa’s last name? What’s the reason?” But I have no answer, no words that could soothe her. For some reason, I can’t even look her in the eye.
I’ve learned — though too late — that when young people start building a family, they must pause and truly think it through. Because regretting later is pointless. And oh, how deeply I’ve regretted it…
At times like this, my teacher’s words echo in my mind: “First, don’t make a mistake when choosing your profession — it should give you both honor and bread. Second, don’t make a mistake when choosing your life partner. Let him be your shoulder to lean on. Bind your fate to someone who will never become a burden you’ll regret.”
I understood all this only too late. Now, what would regret change? Nothing. I must keep moving forward, find the strength within myself so that my daughter can be happy.
So to all the future brides out there, to the young girls who can’t yet see beyond today — “Dear girls, don’t rush. Before you marry, think deeply. Because happiness is in your own hands. It’s like a delicate bird trembling in your palm — if you’re careless, it will fly away.”
