Uzbek poets Erkin Vahidov and Abdulla Aripov honoured in Ankara with a Turkish book, panel and photo exhibition

The 90th birth anniversary of Erkin Vahidov and the 85th of Abdulla Aripov, two major poets of Uzbek literature, were marked in Ankara on 6 November at the Presidential National Library. The event was organised by TURKSOY. Among those present were Secretary General Sultan Raev, Uzbekistan's ambassador to Ankara Ilhom Haydarov, First Deputy Chairman of the Writers' Union of Uzbekistan Minhojiddin Mirzo, People's Poet of Uzbekistan Usmon Azim, and Samsun MP Prof. Dr. Ilyas Topsakal, president of the Chingiz Aitmatov Institute.

After promotional videos and opening speeches, two books were presented: “Söz Letafeti”, a Turkish translation of Vahidov's work, and a volume of selected works dedicated to Aripov. A ribbon was cut and a panel on the poets' literary legacy followed. Aripov's wife Hanifa Mustafaeva and Vahidov's son Hurshid Vahidov shared memories, and a photo exhibition on the poets' lives was on display.