The opening ceremony brought together representatives from the Uzbek Embassy in the United States, members of the local Uzbek diaspora, and the poet's family.
Speaking at the event, the poet’s widow, Hanifa Mustafoyeva, highlighted that the house-museum is a natural continuation of efforts to preserve the legacy of the Hero of Uzbekistan. Prior to this, a school was established in his native Qashqadaryo region and a house-museum was opened in Tashkent, where he spent most of his career. Now, Houston—the city where Oripov spent his final days—has become a dedicated hub for his poetry and memory.
Abdulla Oripov passed away on November 5, 2016, in a Houston hospital at the age of 75, after falling into a coma on the evening of November 3.
Born on March 21, 1941, in the Koson district of the Qashqadaryo province, Oripov graduated from university with honors in 1963. He began his career as an editor at the Yosh Gvardiya (Young Guard) publishing house, later working as an editor and editor-in-chief at the Gafur Gulom publishing house, and as a department head at the Sharq Yulduzi (The Star of the East) magazine.
From 1976 to 1982, he served as a literary advisor to the Writers' Union of Uzbekistan. He subsequently became the secretary of its Tashkent regional branch (1982–1983), editor-in-chief of Gulkhan magazine (1983–1985), secretary of the Writers' Union (from 1985), and eventually served as its chairman from 1996 to 2009. In 1988, he was also appointed chairman of the Copyright Protection Committee of Uzbekistan.
In 1998, Abdulla Oripov was awarded the highest national title, Hero of Uzbekistan. His literary journey took root during his university years, culminating in his first collection of poems, The Tiny Star, published in 1965. This was followed by numerous celebrated poetry collections, including I Await Your Path (1967), Mother (1969), My Soul (1971), Uzbekistan, Ode (1972), Memories (1974), The Wind of My Homeland (1974), Admiration (1979), The Fortress of Salvation (1981), and Longing of the Years (1983). He also authored major works such as The Road to Heaven (1978), The Healer and Death (1980), and Sohibqiron.
A four-volume edition of his Selected Works was published between 2000 and 2001. Notably, Abdulla Oripov is the author of the National Anthem of the Republic of Uzbekistan, adopted during the 11th session of the Supreme Council on December 10, 1992. As a master translator, he also brought world literature to Uzbek readers, translating Dante’s Divine Comedy alongside classic works by Nekrasov, Shevchenko, Kuliev, and many others.
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