- Nado Makhmudov
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Nado Makhmudov (1907–1990) was a famous Armenian-born Kurdish writer and public figure.
Contents
Biography
Childhood
Nado Makhmudov was born on January 1, 1907, in the village of Daranlukh, now Martuni, in Armenia. Nado's mother, Tare, was of noble birth. She came from the family of a wealthy Kurdish landowner ( bek ), but was forced due to her illness that disfigured her face to marry a shepherd named Khdo, considered to be from a lower class. After losing his father at the young age of 10, Nado became a Duazho (a shepherd’s aid) in order to feed his mother and his little sister, resulting in a difficult and divested childhood.
While Nado's dream was to become an educated person, he was instead forced to tend the cattle from morning to night and work in the house of a wealthy landlord. In exchange for his excellent work and obedience, Nado was permitted to sit in the corner of the room during the private lessons of the landlord’s son, and follow along. This way the little duazho learned to read and write, and came closer to realizing his dream of being an educated individual.
Education
The Revolution of the 1920s in the Transcaucasus made it possible for young, talented and active men of the people, be it a Kurd or an Armenian, to receive a free education. Nado Makhmudov being an active member of the working youth organization received the opportunity to study in Aleksandropol ( now Gyumri, Armenia ) in the High (Communist) Party School. He graduated from the Transcaucasian Party University and from the High Party School in Moscow. In addition to Party education, Nado also received a university education and graduated from the History department of the Armenian Yerevan State University.[1]
Political and social life
Through the 1920s and until the very end of his life Nado Makhmudov lead an active political, and social life, holding numerous high governmental positions: he was the head of several regions of Armenia during different periods of time, he was the minister of the municipal economy, head of the cotton trust of Armenia, as well as the deputy minister of transport of Armenia.[2] He was elected several times as deputy of parliaments of USSR and Armenia. For his great achievements and contributions, he received high national awards. Throughout his life Nado Makhmudov acted for the good of his Kurdish people as well. He played a leading role in the establishment of Kurdish schools, the Kurdish newspaper ( Ria Taza ), Kurdish broadcasting on Armenian radio, and in the development of Kurdish culture and literature. In addition, he was focused on the strengthening of Armenian-Kurdish literary and social ties.[3] Delving deeply into questions of the past and present of Kurdish people, he published articles in various newspapers and magazines about issues that concerned his compatriots. Nado Makhmudov was one of the most prominent Kurdish figures of the USSR. He was well known and respected by Kurds not only in his country, but internationally. While in the USSR, Mustafa Barzani expressed a wish to meet one of the leading Kurds of the country.[4] And so in Armenia at Makhmudov's home, their historical meeting took place.[5]
Literary Life
Nado Makhmudov was not only a statesman and a public figure but a writer as well. In 1959 Makhmudov published his monograph " Kurdish people" about the history of the Kurdish people beginning with their ancient history and leading up to the present. This monograph remains as one of the sources which interest the orientalists. Nado Makhmudov is also an author of numerous stories, tales, essays and memoirs, which were published in Kurdish, Armenian and Russian. They were warmly received by readers from Armenia, as well as those outside of the country. For his literary achievements, Makhmudov became the member of the Union of Writers of the USSR.
Personal life
Playing a great role in all of Makhmudov's achievements and successes was his wife, an Armenian named Emma Makhmudova ( born Nalbandian), with whom he lived 60 years in a happy marriage. Emma sacrificed her own career and became Nado's loyal friend and supporter through all of his projects. The doors of their warm and friendly home were always open all, primarily for those who needed their help and assistance. Emma was affectionately named “our Mama” by the Kurds. Nado and Emma raised three children. Their eldest daughter, Donara Makhmudova, became the first Kurdish woman in the USSR to receive an academic degree in medical sciences. Their second daughter, Dolores Makhmudova, taught at the University of Foreign Languages, and is one of the best specialists in German linguistics. The youngest of the children, Saladin Makhmudov, worked for many years in the Design Bureau of Automobile Transportation.
Books
- The History of Kurdish People (Kurd Zhogovurde), Yerevan 1959.(in Armenian)[6]
- Stories, Yerevan 1964. (in Kurdish)
- The little Duazho (Pokrik Duazhon), Yerevan 1965. (in Armenian)[7]
- Partridge Heart, Yerevan 1968. (in Armenian)
- The argument of rivers. Patridge Heart, Yerevan 1970. (in Kurdish)
- Extinguished houses lit (Marats ojakhnere tskhatsin), Yerevan 1971. (in Armenian)[8]
- The little Duazho, Moscow 1974. (in Russian)
- In native places (Harazat vayrerum), Yerevan 1978. (in Armenian)[9]
- Unforgettable meetings, Yerevan 1987. (in Armenian)
- Bahar, Temure Khalil with Nado Makhmudov, Yerevan 1989[10]
References
- ^ Hayastani krdakan azgain khorhrdi pashtonatere,02.02.2009
- ^ http://www.ezdixane.ru/content/view/19/27/
- ^ http://kurdistan.ru/2010/04/22/news-4683_Mohtullabek_Moksi_k.html
- ^ http://www.ezdixane.ru/content/view/1318/28/
- ^ http://generalbarzani.narod.ru/07.html
- ^ http://www.saradistribution.com/kurdisharmenianworks.htm
- ^ http://discovery.lib.harvard.edu/?q=nado%20makhmudov
- ^ http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2924944
- ^ http://cliobeta.cul.columbia.edu:7018/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=194694
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C3%AAm%C3%BBr%C3%AA_Xel%C3%AEl
Categories:- 1907 births
- 1990 deaths
- Armenian writers
- Kurdish-language writers
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