Mukhammad Amin-Khodzha Mukimi

Born 1850 or 1851, in Kokand; died there May 25, 1903. Uzbek poet.

The son of a baker, Mukimi was educated in a madrasa. He and the poet Z. Furkat headed a literary circle of poets who imbued Uzbek lyric poetry with new social meaning—sympathy for the common toilers. Mukimi highly valued progressive Russian culture. His democratic world view is reflected in his satirical verse.

Mukimi exposed the extortionate practices of the bureaucrats (”The Land Surveyors,” “Woe to Our Country”), traders and factory owners (“Satire on Viktor-bai,” “The Promissary Note,” “The Banquet”), and members of the clergy (“The Saint,” “Son of Sin”). He created a gallery of satirical types, whose names became household words.

Mukimi created a new genre in Uzbek literature—the travel sketch (“An Account of My Journeys”). His poetry influenced the development of Uzbek literature in its path toward realism. Mukimi died in poverty.