Mahzuna (Mehribon Mulla Boshmon qizi)

Biography

Mahzuna (Mehribon Mulla Boshmon qizi) was a gifted Uzbek poet who wrote within the Kokand literary circle in the first half of the 19th century and was known for her fiery lyrics and her sharp poetic contests. She was born in Kokand into an educated and enlightened family; her father Mulla Boshmon was one of the learned men of his time, at home in the sciences and in letters. Her given name was Mehribon, and in poetry she took the pen name Mahzuna, 'the sorrowful', 'she who grieves'. Thanks to her family surroundings she mastered Arabic and Persian from her youth and gained a firm command of the rules of classical literature and of the aruz. Mahzuna was one of the active members of the women's literary circle that formed around Nodirabegim (Komila) and Uvaysiy; her quick wit, her mastery of words and the depth of her thought earned her special respect in literary society. In Fazliy Namangoniy's tazkira Majmuai shoiron she is spoken of warmly and recognised as a rare and sensitive poet. Her poetic contest with the Kokand ruler Muhammad Umarxon (Amiriy) and the court poet Fazliy Namangoniy is especially famous. Only a small part of her legacy has come down to us, but her ghazals and muhammas are of high artistic quality. Sincere and pure love, fidelity, the pain of separation and the delicate feelings of a woman's heart lead in her work; her verse is fluent, highly musical and rich in feeling. A follower of the traditions of Alisher Navoiy and Hafiz, Mahzuna holds, with her brief but meaningful body of work, a worthy place among the Uzbek women poets of the 19th century.

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Works

• G'azallar
• Muxammaslar
• Amiriy va Fazliy Namangoniy bilan mushoiralar