The legacy of the poet who voiced the people’s pain
Muhammad Aminkhoja Muqimiy was one of the most famous and socially engaged Uzbek poets of the second half of the 19th century, known for his critical and satirical style. Through his poetry, he exposed the corruption of officials, the suffering of the people, and the injustices caused by colonialism. His satires, such as “Tanobchilar” (“Land Measurers”) and “Saylov” (“Election”), became so popular that they were recited among the people like folk songs. Yet the poet himself lived in poverty, within the narrow walls of a madrasa cell. This life experience deepened the sincerity and populist spirit of his poetry.
