The story told by
Dedicated to the blessed memory of my great-grandmother Abduvohidova Ibodat (1926-2006)
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This is the story of my great-grandmother, which illustrates the strength of Central Asian women. Born into wealth, her family faced Dekulakization (a political repression campaign involving the arrest, deportation, or execution of millions of kulaks—wealthy peasants) and had to leave all their fortune behind. At the age of 15, she married her cousin, stepping into a life of hardship.
She might have become a famous singer or dancer, but instead, she devoted herself first to her two younger brothers and then to her eight children. After years in which her brothers became renowned literary and musical figures and her children grew up to be intellectuals and scholars, her legacy still remains within us.
Early Life and Family Background
She was born in 1926 in Turbat (a region in modern Kazakhstan). Her father, Abduvohid-hodja, was a descendant of Ismoil-ota, one of the great preachers of Islam. Her mother, Maysara, was the daughter of the wealthiest man in Turbat. She had a sister, two older brothers, and two younger brothers. Since her family had the means to finance her education, she was literate, which was uncommon for women of that period. Her family, of noble origin, was educated and intelligent. They had a deep appreciation for music, art, and literature. However, everything began to change after the Soviets implemented the Dekulakization campaign. First, the Bolsheviks confiscated their lands and then began to persecute her father. Unable to remain in Turbat, they had to move to Tashkent, where her uncle was living.
Struggles and Survival in Tashkent
Zahid Haknazarov, the younger brother of Ibodat and a famous conductor, described his childhood and family in the first chapters of his book “About Myself and Music.”
Part of the book about moving to Tashkent:
“In 1929 we barely managed to escape persecution by the Bolsheviks, who wanted to arrest my father as a representative of, in their opinion, the wealthy layer of the village. Thus, our family ended up in Tashkent, and his small shop at the entrance to the Turbat mosque was looted by the Turbat poor people.”
My mother Gulnoza remembers how my great-grandma told her that on the way from Turbat to Tashkent, her family collected all the valuables and all the gold jewelry they were wearing into a bundle and put it in a well. They intended to return for it when everything would be settled, but they never managed to do so. The only piece of jewelry that she hid in her paranja, left from that time. Photo from the family archive.
That is how my great-grandmother ended up in Tashkent, and a series of misfortunes began. Once wealthy landowners, her family was unaccustomed to menial work and struggled with poverty. First, her father and older brother, who were working on the Tashkent tram system at the time, died in succession.
Her father died from an electric shock in 1921, and her brother was hit by a tram in 1924. Then, on the morning of June 13, 1941, her mother passed away, leaving them as complete orphans. At that time, she was only 12, and her brothers were 3 and 10 years old, respectively. Since her older sister was an adult and married, she was able to move on with her life (unfortunately, little is known about her future). Their uncle sent her younger brothers to an orphanage and left my great-grandmother at home to manage the household duties. Despite all the difficulties she faced, she did not forget her younger brothers. She often visited them in the orphanage and allocated money for their education.
In her uncle’s house, she met her future husband, his son. He was a year younger than she was, and she often looked after him. At the age of 15, she married him, but her marriage was far from easy. Her father-in-law and mother-in-law never missed an opportunity to remind her that she was an orphan and should be grateful for their shelter. To them, she was akin to a maid. She was often punished if she did not complete all her duties.
Her husband was a creative and musical person, but being an only child and spoiled, he often engaged in external affairs and led a reckless lifestyle. Despite all this, my great-grandmother, like the majority of Central Asian women, maintained her marriage for the sake of the children. She had eight children, one of whom was my grandmother Asolat. For this achievement, she was awarded the honorary title of “Mother of the Heroine” in the USSR, which was regarded as the highest honor given to mothers in the Soviet Union.
“It was a cold winter, and my sister Ibodat saved up money for a coat. At the same time, I entered the conservatory, but I needed money to pay for my studies. My dear sister insisted that I take her saved money, saying that she could buy a coat later. I reluctantly took the money. That winter she never bought a coat”
Later on, when he became a famous Uzbek conductor, he often invited her to his concerts and my great-grandmother proudly attended them. After all, it was partly her merit as well. Not to forget about her second brother Sodir Vakhidov, a musicologist who studied Uzbek Soviet songs and was the author of many articles and monographs. . She supported him in his endeavors too.
She, like her brothers, was interested in art. She was a wonderful singer and dancer, as her children describe her. Neighbors loved to invite her to their weddings to listen to the folk songs she sang. When she danced tanovar (traditional Uzbek dance), everyone moved aside to make room for her. Perhaps, if not for her difficult fate, she could have become a famous singer.
*song Sanamjon audio
“Mom’s favorite song was Sanamjon, but after Abduholiq’s (her son) death, she began singing it so sadly that I wanted to cry,” her daughter Karomat remembers.
Additionally, being literate helped her become the foreman of the Lenin state farm. She advocated for women's right to education, encouraging girls to go to school.
Karomat (her daughter) says: “Mom’s life consisted not only of difficulties but also of many happy moments. She was educated, talented, and always optimistic.”
Photo of the mosque near their house and their father’s shop in modern days, taken by a family member while visiting Turbat
Cover of the book “About Myself and Music.” Ibodat’s brother is illustrated on it.
The only piece of jewelry that she hid in her paranja, left from that time. Photo from the family archive
Photo of a copy of the 1944 year’s medal. The original one is unfortunately lost
Photo of Sodir Vakhidov from the book “About Myself and Music”
Abduholiq was the only child whose death she saw during her lifetime. Towards the end of her life, she raised her 2 younger brothers, 8 children, 21 grandchildren, and even experienced the presence of great-grandchildren. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to see her myself, but I view her life story as a symbol of resilience and inspiration of a woman thanks to which I possibly exist.
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