Muhammad Rizo Ogahiy

Life and work of Ogahi

One of the a century is Ogahi, the son of Muhammad Reza Erniyezbek.

He was born in 1809 in the village of Kiyat near the city of Khiva in the Mirab family.

After the death of Mirab Erniezbek in 1812, the Khan of Khiva  Olloqulikhan Shermuhammad Avazbey appointed his son Munis as the chief mirab of the country. Munis was Ogahi’s uncle and took care of Ogahi in his father’s stead until 1829. He spent his childhood and youth in the village of Kiyat, and when he grew up, he studied in one of the madrassas of Khiva. He diligently studied the literature of the Arabic, Persian, and Turkish peoples, as well as classical music and history. In the world of poetry, his nickname is Ogakhiy, the dictionary meaning of which is “informed”, “vigilant”.

In 1829, his uncle Munis died. The Khan of Khiva appointed Ogahi to the position of Munis.

Ogahi translated more than 20 works into Uzbek, considered rare masterpieces of world literature and culture, and created a school of translations.

Ogahi’s book “Taviz ul-oshiqin” (“Amulets of Lovers”), written in Uzbek, contains 18 thousand poetic lines and 83 poems. According to the data given in the introduction, Ogakhi was the author of the following historical books:

“Riyoz ud-davla” (“Affairs of State”, 1825–1842), “Zubdat ut-tavorih” (“The cream of stories”, 1846–1855), “Jomye ul-vaqueoti Sultani” (“Collection of events of the sultans”,  1856-1865), “Gulshani Davlat” (“Gulshan of the State”, 1865-1872), “Shahidi Iqbal” (1872).

As an experienced translator, he skillfully translated from Persian into Uzbek the books of which is Munis wrote 2-3 volumes of “Ravzat us-Safo” by Mirkhand, which he could not finish, “Nodirnoma” by Muhammad Mahdihan (5 volumes), “Zafarnoma” by Sharafiddin Ali Yazdi, “Tazkirai Mukimkhani” by Muhammad Yusuf Munshi, “Taboqati Akbarshohi”  by Nizamiddin Ahmad Haravi, “Ravzat us-safoi Nasiri” by Rizakulihan Hidayat, “Haft Paykar” by Nizami Ganjavi, “Guliston” by Saadi Shirozi, “Haft Bihisht” by Khusraw Dehlavi, “Zubdat ul-Hikayat” by Muhammad Waris, “Yusuf va Zulaikha” by Abdurahman Jami, “Salomon va Ibsol”, “Bakhoristan” , the works of “Haft Awrang”, “Shoh-u Gado” by Badriddin Hilali, “Badoe” by Wasifi, the work of Kaykovus “Qobusnoma”, dedicated to philosophy and ethics, “Ahloqi Muhsini” by Hussein Vaiz Koshifi, “Mifot ut Talibin” by Imamuddin Fijduvani.

Ogahiy further developed in this field by creating historical works of Munis’ traditions. The work “Firdavs-ul Iqbol”, written jointly by Munis and Ogahiy, and his five works on the history of Khorezm, are not only significant in studying the history of the Uzbek people, but also serve as a rich source for studying the history, culture, art, traditions of Tajik, Kazakh, Turkmen, Karakalpak, Russian, Iranian, and Afghan peoples, the origin and source of their livelihood, and the history of their tribes.

In 1845, Ogahi fell from his horse and broke his leg while traveling with mirob duties. Later, he was completely unable to walk. After a long illness, Ogahi died in 1874 at the age of 65.

The writer’s grave is now located in the cemetery of Sheikh Mavlono Bobo, along with the grave of his uncle Shermukhammad Munis, this place is located in the village of old Kiyat near Khiva.