Words in motion,from Uzbekistan to Ludhiana

Born in a remote village,Shurqurghon of Namangan region,45-year-old Uktamoy graduated from Maangan State University’s Philological Faculty. Her collections of poems including Home Sick Birds,Relying On Patience,Tracks of a Swan,A Shedding Soul have been published and widely acclaimed.

Working as the deputy editor of an agriculture journal of Uzbekistan in Tashkent,she is also a member of the Uzbekistan Writers’ Association since 1991.

“Babur and I come from the same place and it is poetry that binds us. He was a great poet and I have read his works extensively,” says the woman with heavily kohled eyes.

“I try to depict every human emotion through the medium of poetry,the sweet sufferings of secret love,full of yearning and courage,” she gleams.

Talking about the similarities between her nation and India,she says,“The language and culture of the two countries is quite similar. It is nice to see that so many words that we Uzbegs speak are also spoken in Punjab. Words like salwar,topi,umar,sabar,besabar are also used by us. These are just a few and superficial examples. When I speak Uzbeg,one can pick up the conversation for it is very similar to Punjabi.”