The 19th century saw the journey to Uzbekistan by the linguist, writer, and orientalist Vámbéry, resulting in works on history, linguistics, literary criticism, folklore, ethnography, and geography. He also translated into German samples of the ghazals of Navoi, Fuzuli, Nasimi, Sufi Allayar, and over a hundred Uzbek proverbs. At the same time, he cited Arabic and Latin texts and compared the Turkic and German languages.
In the 20th century, the works of many representatives of Uzbek literature were translated into Hungarian, as were the works of such authors as Lajos Kassák, Géza Szőcs, János Szentmártoni, József Ratkó, Sándor Petőfi, into Uzbek.
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the famous Hungarian writer Sándor Petőfi’s birth. According to the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Hungary to Uzbekistan Gyula Kovács, even though the singer of freedom and independence, Sándor Petőfi, lived only 20 years, his poems have not lost their relevance and have been translated into different languages.
The poet Rustam Musurmon made a significant contribution to familiarizing the Uzbek reader with the poet’s work.
According to the Union of Writers of Uzbekistan, Rustam Musurmon participated in the international poetry translation competition dedicated to the 200th anniversary of Sándor Petőfi’s birth and became its winner.
Such international creative cooperation is essential in developing cultural and diplomatic ties between Uzbekistan and Hungary.
Currently, Uzbek readers will have the opportunity to access the book “Freedom” by Sándor Petőfi and read one hundred of his poems in their native language.
The first translator of Hungarian literature, Iskhok Ibrohim, lived and worked in the 19th century. Rustam Musurmon became the successor of his traditions.
It should be noted that the Union of Writers of Uzbekistan has established cooperation with literary structures of foreign countries, including Hungarian ones. Hungarian poets also actively participate in international academic competitions, conferences, and forums of poets and writers of TURKSOY, the international forum “Classical Poetry” held by the association.
A separate volume of the series “Pearls of Turkic Literature” is dedicated to the work of Hungarian writers and poets.
Nazokat Usmanova, UzA