The light never goes out in this house

In fact, I came here with a completely different intention. My goal was to write a two-page message about the opening of the house museum and its interesting monuments… However, when I stepped into the yard where the great figure Sharof Rashidov spent his childhood, inexplicable but pleasant feelings began to stir in my heart. This house had a special charm. This house was an angelic house. Dear reader, you will understand at the end of our review what caused such excitement and longing…

 My old house had the smell of my father and the love of my mother

“Sharof Rashidov loved this house where his parents lived and where he spent his childhood. All relatives and brothers of Sharof aka lived on this street. Every time he visited Jizzakh, he visited their old houses, he did not allow anything to be changed inside the house, his father’s cloak and mother’s scarf hung in the room. He insisted that everything from the dishes on the shelves be kept as they were when they were alive. As soon as he entered, he would take a deep breath and then exhale. We relatives did not understand these habits. We couldn’t even ask. One day we dared to ask that man’s wife, Xursanoy aya. Then she replied, “Sharof aka says that if I take such a deep breath, I can smell my parents and feel their love.” Honestly, I was very impressed. It still brings tears to my eyes when I think about it. Two years before his death, the elders of our region, without asking Mr. Sharof, demolished the house and made it look like what you see here. There was a huge construction here. A tall and beautiful house was built. Knowing that Sharof Rashidov was coming, young and old would be on the street, from relatives to neighborhood residents. Sharof aka, who arrived in a service car, got out of the car, looked around and said, “I think I’ve come to another place.” They immediately understood what was going on – he turned to the then first secretary of the local government and said, “You wouldn’t have done this work, I would be grateful if you would build a good kindergarten with the money that went here” and went back without even entering the house. We found out that he was upset. According to his wife Xursanoy, Sharof aka was depressed for almost two months, “I have lost my parents, I have lost their smell and love. In my old house, there were traces of them, their love, and their smells. He did not return to this house until the end of his life,” recalls Odil Hamrokulov, Sharof Rashidov’s nephew.

Every item, various photos and equipment in the house-museum of the non-profit scientific and educational monument tells the story of Sharof Rashidov’s difficult and difficult life, from being a simple reporter to becoming the head of the state. In his studio, you will feel the quiet and peaceful atmosphere that those creative people are looking for, you will notice the intensive work process of the leader who does not stop for a moment in the beautifully written manuscripts…

I could not find a “unique” item

I couldn’t find a “unique” item in the memorial house-museum of Sharof Rashidov, who lived with a great pain in his heart – the pain of the nation. Wouldn’t these things befit the leader of the country? What I saw was a world of books… In fact, is there anything more precious and unique for an artist than a book? Sharof Rashidov accumulated knowledge during his life.

“There are 7,200 books here that Sharof Rashidov personally collected. Each of the works on different topics has the author’s signature. I would like to thank their children for keeping these books even in such difficult times. This is a great wealth for our people. You know, we were waiting for brother Sharof’s visit. Every time they came, they would find time for all of us. Their first questions are “what book did you read?” Tell me about its content? Who are the negative and positive characters in the play?” Narrating the works we read in turn gave us both pleasure and enthusiasm. Sharof Rashidov was such a book-loving, benevolent, intelligent person. They were our first teachers who could awaken the love for books in each of us,” says Odil Hamrokulov.

In the house-museum of the diplomat, creator, patriot who fought for his identity, Sharof Rashidov, every item donated by his foreign friends, associates and great personalities seems to serve for friendship and peace between nations. The organizers of the museum say that all conditions have been created here for scientists to conduct research on this topic.

Hard days…

“It’s hard for me to remember the days after the death of Sharaf Rashidov. After those terrible events, our relatives were imprisoned. We stayed in the basement of the prison for seventeen days for no reason. We overcame those days, but it was very difficult for Sharaf Rashidov’s family. His children were not employed anywhere. Xursanoy Aya was kicked out of their house where their only sons and wives lived. Eventually, they lived in a rented two-room house. One day I went to get a message from them. Aya Khursanoy, who welcomed me, said now, and went out. I slowly went to the kitchen and opened the fridge. I opened it and was shocked. There was nothing in the refrigerator except a bottle of yogurt, a bottle of milk, and half a stick of butter. Tears came to my eyes. I went to the market and bought food with all the money I had. At that time, seeing the tears in her eyes, I thought that the value of a person could be reduced so much. Imagine that they won’t hire their sons anywhere, they cut off their mother’s allowance… Is there anything more humiliating for a person than this? They say to me, “Don’t come Odiljon, you will get into trouble because of us”, Odil Hamrokulov recalls.

A child does not choose his parents

Before preparing this article, I had a phone conversation with Sayyora Sharofovna. After about five minutes of conversation, that charming voice instilled in me a deep sense of respect. It is not for everyone to be a child worthy of a father. Their services are incomparable in the establishment of the Memorial House-Museum and in the preservation of Sharof Rashidov’s personal belongings. I would like to conclude my experiences and emotions with the following words of Sayyora opa:

“In my opinion, my father inherited a big house. The original Uzbek qualities – selflessness, humility, honesty, purity, sweetness – are perfected in him. As long as our people are alive, the light of this house will never go out. After all, our country will always raise its children, who have sacrificed their lives and all their existence for the people.”

Gulchehra Sharipova.