The People’s Bakhshi of the Republic of Uzbekistan, holder of the “El-yurt hurmati” order, Boltaev Shoberdi Boltaevich, passed away today at the age of 81. Hearing the sorrowful news about the master bakhshi, kind words are once again being spoken about his creativity, his school, and his folk style. His life path will be remembered for continuing the oral epic tradition, imprinted in our artistic memories, and conveying it to the younger generation.
Shoberdi bakhshi Boltaev was awarded the President of Uzbekistan’s Certificate of Honor in 1993, received the title “People’s Bakhshi of Uzbekistan” in 2002, and in 2007 was deemed worthy of the “El-yurt hurmati” order. These awards are a fitting assessment of his priceless contribution to art, his modest image on stage, and his melodies-dastans that awakened hearts.
The master bakhshi’s repertoire was wide-ranging: dastans such as “Alpomish,” “Oltin qovoq,” “Ollanazar Olchinbek,” “Kuntug‘mish,” “Suluvxon,” “Sanam gavhari,” “Malla savdogar,” “Oyparcha” gained new breath in his performance. Along with this, termas such as “Do‘mbiram,” “Mehmondir,” “Tilar,” “Nima kerak,” “Bilmadi,” “Oypari” also signify the continuity of living melodies along his path. Each of these, as soon as it appeared on stage, would lead the audience into the world of legends, blended with the images of heroes, exclamations and comparisons.
Since 1999, as a member of the Writers’ Union of Uzbekistan, Shoberdi bakhshi Boltaev served creativity and the harmony of text and music. If in 2002 his terma titled “Oyparcha” was published by the “Tafakkur” publishing house, then in 2019 the dastan “Malla savdogar” was offered to readers by the “Akademiya” publishing house. These publications were an important stage in transferring the heritage of the bakhshi school into written sources.
The sound of the dutar resonant with his voice, the serenity on stage, and his respect for the word enriched the environment of traditional performance. Shoberdi bakhshi Boltaev was also a generous mentor to students: in practice he taught how to harmonize the art of reciting dastans, the spirit of heroes, melody, and perception. For this very reason, his school continues even now, and termas and dastans are passing onto the shoulders of performers of the new generation.
Farewell, great bakhshi. His name, word, and melody will be preserved in the people’s memory. The creativity of Shoberdi bakhshi Boltaev, by continuing the songs about magnanimity, courage, and love in our legends and in our spirit, will remain a guiding light for future generations as well.
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