“There are few states and nations in the world that can be proud of such high human qualities. Over time, the importance and value of the heroic deed of the Shomakhmudov family only grows. “
Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV ,
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan
History is a school, and the past is a model, an example for today’s life. This truth mankind comprehends for many millennia. History keeps both hard times, terrible troubles and innumerable losses that left people with mental wounds. Although they are healing, they have not disappeared without a trace.
That XX century left in the fate of mankind a huge pain of the tragic events of World War II. In the terrible bloodshed, more than 50 million people were killed, over 90 million people were maimed. Millions of people lost their homes.
Under the explosions of bombs in the cars, old men and women went to distant lands. Little children were orphans without understanding what was happening.
But they were given shelter. Who lovingly opened his arms?
“Humanism and generosity are inherent features of our people,” says Ergash-ota Ruziboev, a labor veteran from the Bekabad region. – My childhood was for the war years. I remember that children, evacuated from remote parts, were brought to our cities and villages. Among them were even babies who had not yet learned to speak. Despite the famine, difficult conditions, our people took them under their wing. He warmed mother’s love and care. I do not have enough words to convey the meaning of this humane deed. This is an example of boundless mercy, generosity of the soul, an invaluable tradition inherent in our people.
The greatest Father, the greatest Mother
A talented representative of Uzbek poetry Gafur Gulyam wrote his famous poem “You are not an orphan!” When he was not forty. Almost everyone knows by heart the beautiful work translated into Russian by Anna Akhmatova, in which the generosity of the people, who received hundreds of thousands of children evacuated to our country from the places where the war was being sung, was sung. It is said that the poet wrote poetry in one night, and when the next day he read on the radio, their truthfulness and depth touched the hearts of the inhabitants of not only Uzbekistan.
Are you an orphan? ..
Calm down, dear!
Like a good sun,
leaning over you,
Maternal,
with deep love is full,
Protects your childhood
big country.
Here you are at home.
Here I guard your peace.
Sleep, a piece of my soul,
my little!
I am the father!
I want to give you anything,
They will become my happiness.
All my worries …
The history knows many examples, how in severe years the inhabitants of Uzbekistan accepted evacuated children – who took two, three, and more. The Shomakhmudov family from Tashkent hosted 14 children, Samadov from Kattakurgan – 12, Djuraevs and Ashurkhujaevs from Bukhara – eight children left without parents. In those years, the soul of the Uzbek people became especially clear. The belief that good will surely triumph over evil, gave strength. Thousands of children of different nationalities wore tyubeteyki, learned, it would seem, simple words that have a deep vital meaning – “non”, “ota”, “she”, “aka”, “poach”. They began to work in factories near the parents who adopted them. It seems that on the lathes of industrial enterprises of our country there are still prints of their weak hands.
Famous writer Rahmat Faisiy wrote the novel “Hazrati Inson” (“His Majesty the Man”), which tells about the family of Shamakhmudovs. All the postwar years this book teaches the young generation to live by following the example of the fathers. People’s Artist of Uzbekistan film director Shukhrat Abbasov created on the basis of this work a feature film “You are not an orphan!” The film reveals the kindness, nobility of the Uzbek people and his love for children.
Why are the above-named unique works telling about that difficult time, have all become very expensive? Why each time, to Where do we read those books or watch those films, tears come to our eyes involuntarily? Is pride growing that we are sons and daughters of a noble people?
“During the war, about a million people came to Uzbekistan,” says Nargiza Khidirova, candidate of historical sciences, assistant professor. “More than two hundred thousand were children. Thousands
Uzbek families sheltered children – Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians. They provided food, clothes, and, most importantly, they surrounded me with warmth.
Creating works that raise the spirit of the people, many writers and poets continued creative activity in the rear. A group of writers lived in Tashkent. Among them is the famous Russian poet Anna Akhmatova. In her notes appear such sincere words, capable of stirring any heart:
“In those tough years in Uzbekistan it was possible to meet people of almost all the nationalities of our country. At one plant or on one set, the Russians worked together
and Byelorussians, Moldovans and Ukrainians, Poles and Uzbeks, Lithuanians and Greeks, Kurds and Bulgarians. And how many orphans from the republics captured by the Germans found their new parents in Central Asia!
In Uzbekistan, for example, the already large families, but they also adopted, adopted Russian, Belarusian, Ukrainian, Moldovan, Polish, Greek orphans, gave shelter to refugees, shared with them the last piece of bread, sugar, the latest bowl of pilaf or milk. I want to believe that no one will ever forget this … “
My Motherland is here!
Shomakhmudov remained in history as a family that demonstrated an example of philanthropy. The smith from Tashkent Shoahmad-ota and his wife Bahriya brought up 14 girls and boys who are representatives of Russian, Ukrainian, Tatar, Moldovan, Chuvash, Jewish, Kazakh nationalities. One of the pupils of this family Holida-op (real name Olga) currently lives in the mahalla of the capital
“Dzhararyk”. She is 82 years old, speaks fluent Uzbek:
“The life of my father and mother was a great school for us,” she recalls with tenderness for her parents. – Then it was very difficult. There was nowhere to get a piece of bread. Dad gave everything to us. There was not enough clothes, shoes. Therefore, they did not throw even the oldest, torn things. Mom made patches and changed clothes to younger ones.
Holida-paz is pleased that on the initiative of the head of the state the monument to Shamakhmudov’s family returns to the center of the capital.
“After this news, my mother dreamed,” she says. “She has a snow-white headscarf on her head, smiling.” It seems that her spirit is calm in the next world …
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, especially noting the noble deed of this family during the Second World War, said that there are few states and nations in the world that can be proud of such high human qualities. Over time, the importance and value of the heroic deed of the Shomakhmudov family only grows.
Along with this, the head of state stressed that in order to restore historical justice, perpetuate the noble qualities and values of our people, it is fair to return the memorial ensemble of Friendship of Peoples, dedicated to the Shomahmudov family, to the square in the center of our city faces.
These days on the square in the center of Tashkent is lively. Thousands of workers and specialists are working at an accelerated pace here. And strength and energy adds to them the realization that a monument dedicated to the Shomahmudov family, showing an example of unbending will and true heroism, – a monument to human kindness will appear very soon!
“After the war, my brother found me and wanted to take me with him,” continues Holiday-opa. “But I did not agree.” After all, my homeland is here! It was in Uzbekistan that I felt real care for myself, found friends, and found my happiness. Where else is such a beautiful country? The Memorial Ensemble of Friendship of Peoples is a monument not only to my parents, but to the entire Uzbek people, its kindness and greatness. How good that he will stand in the center of the city!
The torn eyelash is not lost
A resident of the city of Gijduvan, Bukhara region, Khakim Bekmurzin, crossed the 90-year boundary. At the word “war” she shudders. Memories of those hard years do not allow sleep. The Second World War took not only guys, but also girls. I took them from my parents, tore my relatives from my arms.
Hakima, born in Mordovia, in 1942 volunteered for the front. She began to serve in the company of communication. But her tasks were not limited to telegraph. Such as she, the girls had to transfer the wounded to the machines, send to the sanitary unit. Before the eyes of the young Khakim, soldiers were dying. It hurt to see the ruined cities and villages.
Finally, the war was over. Having lost their parents by that time, Hakima did not know what to do. After consulting with friends, everyone decided to go to Uzbekistan.
“Then there was hunger everywhere,” recalls Khakim Bekmurzin. “But the Uzbeks gave us shelter, they shared with us the last piece of bread.” They taught us a lot. I still remember this with gratitude. And I consider myself the daughter of this land.
Hakima found her happiness here. She married a World War II participant Sadik Hikmatov. We worked together. They had five children. And now Hakima-buvi has more than thirty grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She blesses everyone for good deeds.
The most important condition for a happy life is peace. A person can not sleep peacefully, if behind the walls of his home there is a whistle of bullets. But even today, many people in the world need bread and water. That is why we must preserve peace and tranquility, prosperity in our country, our independence as an apple of our eye.
There is no doubt that it is these feelings that our compatriots are experiencing on this blessed day of Remembrance and Honor Day.
“Our family moved from Odessa during the war years,” said Vladimir Poletayev, a resident of the city of Navoi. – My father often told how in those years, large families of Uzbek families took evacuees to their homes, generously shared everything they had. The pope always said: “We should be grateful to this land, this people.” That’s why our whole family consider Uzbekistan its homeland. Work hard to make a contribution to its development.
“This holiday leaves a bright mark in our life,” notes Umarjon-ota Zhuraev, a participant of the Second World War from the village of Varzik of the Chustky District. – Taking advantage of set by the head of state an opportunity, I am going to a sanatorium in Yalta. In the coming days we will go there together with my son Samingon. Like other front-line soldiers, I am very pleased with such immense attention.
I am 93 years old. Often I look back on my life’s journey. The war caused the people sorrow, it turned into darkness and my youth – the brightest years. On the day of sending to the front, my mother, according to an old custom with the hope of returning, gave me a bite to eat. Although disabled, I still returned. During the war they lost a lot. One thing is consoling: we have put our lives at stake for the sake of the freedom of mankind, the destruction of fascism. A victory was not easy. In it – the holy blood of more than half a million of our compatriots and the heroism of the soldiers returning from the battlefields. Today I am surrounded by the attention of eight children, about one hundred grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I live, feeling the care of the state. We were very pleased with the news about material encouragement and moral support on the initiative of the President of the country. War is a big trouble. Let her never be. May peace and tranquility, a happy and prosperous life be eternal.
Here it is appropriate to resort to the figures of the military period, which are not always called, but really reflect the great work, dedication, steadfastness and will of the people. In those years, the population of Uzbekistan in the defense fund handed over 649.9 million rubles in cash, a loan of 4 billion 226 million rubles, 52.9 kilograms of gold and silver. On the front sent 7 million 518 thousand gymnasts, 2 million 636 thousand cotton padded jackets,
2 million 221 thousand pairs of boots and shoes. Products were sent to more than 246 million, 1 million 282 thousand tons of wheat, 482 thousand tons of potatoes and vegetables, tons of melons, fresh and dried fruits.
Recollection of hard times teaches us the good and charity peculiar to the Uzbek people. On the eve of the great holiday in Uzbekistan, noble deeds are launched. After all, their essence and meaning are eternal, as the Memory itself!
“Narodnoe slovo”, May 2, 2018.
