The first pioneering women in the history of Uzbekistan

International Women's History Month is an opportunity to remember the professional achievements of women.

In Uzbekistan, International Women's Day is usually celebrated with flowers, gifts, and concerts. In many countries, traditional solidarity actions marches against discrimination against women and demanding equality are held on this day. To give a special spirit to tradition, we decided to collect information about the first pioneer women who were among the first to step into their profession and field in the history of Uzbekistan. It is worth saying that each of them had a great impact on the development of their professional field.

Let's talk about their fate.

Sabira Kholdorova

Sabira, who was born in Chust, entered an orphanage at the age of 13 and completed the literacy course in six months. A year later, Sabira wears a burqa and starts teaching in Kokan neighborhoods. In 1923-1925, she studied pedagogic courses at the Institute of Women's Education. Sabira Kholdorova was only 17 years old when she became one of the editors of the Soviet newspaper "Yangi Yol".

The late 1920s and early 30s marked the career growth of Kholdorova. After returning to Uzbekistan, she became the editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Yangi Yol" and took an active part in the social life of Uzbekistan. In 1930, she was appointed deputy chairman of the Central Committee for Mass Propaganda, head of the sector of work with women and girls.

In 1936, the attitude towards Sabira Kholdorova, along with other representatives of the Uzbek intelligentsia, changed. A year later, Sabira, with her mother and two children, a 12-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter, gathered the necessary things in two hours, left their house, and moved to a small apartment. A few days later, a "Cherniy Voronok" ("Black Crow") car appeared in front of their apartment door and took away Sobira with her children. The journalist was accused of "loss of class consciousness and involvement in the intellectual revolutionary movement," writes Marhamat Alimova.

Bashorat Mirboboyeva

Bashorat Mirbobayeva was born in the city of Verny (now Almaty - ed. ). It is not known how she came to Uzbekistan, but she started working as a machinist in 1937 and became the first woman to do so in Uzbekistan. Her mentor was the Soviet pilot Abdusamat Taymetov.

On December 29, 1941, Mirbobayeva, together with the head of the government of the Uzbek SSR, Yoldosh Okhunbobayov, led a delegation to the South-Western Front. Later, she was awarded the titles of Honored Railway Worker of the USSR, and Honored Physical Education and Sports Worker of the Uzbekistan SSR.

Zulfiya Umidova

Zulfiya Ibragimovna was born in 1897 in the city of Tashkent in the family of a military officer. In the year of the October Revolution, she began studying at the Petrograd Women's Medical Institute, but it is not known how she moved to St. Petersburg. In 1918-1920, she worked in the evacuation hospital of the Red Army in Tashkent.

During her scientific career, the doctor wrote 80 articles and supervised 32 candidates and 3 doctoral theses.

Yodgor Nasriddinova

In the 1970s, Yodgor Nasriddinova was the second person in the country after Sharof Rashidov, but due to political intrigues and the "Cotton Affair", the politician's career grew faster than it fell.

During her student years, he worked as a manager in the construction of the Big Fergana Canal, Kattakurgan reservoir, and Tashkent-Angren railway. Yodgor was the only woman who held a leadership position in these institutions. Here she met Usman Yusupov, the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Uzbekistan, and transferred him to Tashkent to the position of secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth Union of Lenin.

In the following years, Yodgor opened orphanages, housed evacuees, fed them, clothed them, and amazed her male colleagues with her organizational skills. In 1959, she was appointed chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Uzbek SSR instead of Sharaf Rashidov. She became the first and only woman to hold such a position in Uzbekistan. Yodgor Nasriddinova was so good at her work that even once Rashidov said: "We, men, cannot solve this problem. Entrust it to Yodgor Sodigovna."

Nelya Ataulayeva

Nelya Ataulayeva was born and raised in Tashkent. His mother worked as a school teacher, and her father worked in government positions in the field of education. In 1937, during Stalin's repressions, the family suffered a severe blow: Nelya's father was arrested by the NKVD on suspicion of treason. She and Nelya hug their sister for the last time and promise to return soon. However, he could not fulfill his promise. In 1957, the family receives a letter that he was shot.

Her first film was dedicated to women: poetess Zulfiya, professor Irina Raykova, doctor of medical sciences Zulfiya Umidova, and typist Bashorat Mirbobayeva. During her career, he shot about 20 documentaries.

Tamarakhonim

Tamarakhonim was born on March 29, 1906, in the family of Anna and Artyom Petrosyan, who were exiled to Gorchakovo station (now Margylan) in Turkestan.

Tamara Petrosyan studied at the Moscow Theater Technical School (1923-24). She was interested in art from a young age: at first, he danced and sang among the women of Margilon and Fergana. Yusufzhan learned Uzbek dance movements from Usta Olim Komilov, and singing and acting skills from Hamza, Konstantin Stanislavsky, Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko, and others.

In 1925-29, she played the roles of Halima (F. Zafari, "Halima"), Shirin (Khurshid, "Farhod va Shirin" ), Gulchehra ( Uzeir Hojibekov, " Arshin mol olon") in musical dramas staged in Andijan, Ko'kan, Samarkand theaters. In 1929-34, she worked at the Uzbek State Musical Theater in Samarkand (the theater was moved to Tashkent in 1931), and in 1934-35 at the Khorezm Theater. In 1934, she played the role of Indra in the ballet "Ferenji" by M. Yanovsky.

Zulfiya Isroilova

Zulfiya Israilova (March 1, 1915 - August 1, 1996) is a Uzbek poetess, journalist, translator, and public figure known as "Zulfiya". People's Poet of Uzbekistan (1965) and Hero of Socialist Labor (1984).

In 1931, she entered the Women's Pedagogical Institute and graduated in 1934. In 1935, he entered the graduate school of the Institute of Language and Literature under the Committee of Sciences of the Uzbek SSR.

In the second half of the 1950s, he actively participated in the movement of Asian and African writers under the slogan of peace and international solidarity and visited many countries of the world. Her trips to India, Egypt, Japan, and neighboring republics left a deep mark on the poet's work. Poems such as "Mushoira", "My Son, there will be no war", "The Dead of Kazakhstan", and "I did not draw a picture" brought fame to Zulfiya. The scope of life depicted in Zulfia's poems has expanded, and scenes of the life of foreign peoples have also entered her work. From the 70s, a rainbow of new colors appeared in the depiction of national life in his work, and authenticity and emotion increased. The principle of philosophical perception of reality, which began with the poetic bouquet "Thoughts" (1965), continued in the poetic books "Visol" (1972), "Years, years..." (1975), and demonstrated the beginning of a period of real artistic growth in the poet's work. He returned to the epic genre and created the epic "Sunny Pen" (1970) dedicated to the last trip of Uzbek Oybek. At the same time, the poet wrote a series of poems dedicated to children ("Lolaqizgaldok", 1975).

Tamara Rajabova

I wanted to add my beloved mother as well. She was one of the main and alive sample of champion women in my life.

My mother, Tamara Rajabova, is an incredible and inspiring individual. Born in 1962 in the Surkhandarya region, South Uzbekistan into a farming family, she broke societal norms and became the first girl in her area to pursue higher education. Sent to Dushanbe Medical College in SSR Tajikistan, she not only completed her education but also earned a government scholarship due to her outstanding academic performance.

Returning to her hometown after graduation, Tamara dedicated herself to promoting a healthy lifestyle within her community. In 1984, she began her professional journey as a nurse in the ICU units of Sarosiya, Surkhandarya region. Balancing family and career with seven children, she demonstrated resilience and dedication throughout her more than 20 years of experience in medicine.

As her career progressed, Tamara extended her impact by transitioning into a teaching role, sharing her wealth of knowledge with young doctors. Additionally, she took a voluntary initiative to visit her father's hometown, a place lacking access to quality medical services. During these visits, she provided medical care to the community and motivated young men to pursue education in medicine, leaving a lasting impression on the local population.

Tamara Rajabova's life story is a testament to her commitment to both her family and the well-being of her community. Her pioneering spirit and dedication to education and healthcare have undoubtedly left a lasting legacy.