KABUL - Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on Monday ordered the creation of a new official medal to be named after Mir Ali-Shir Nava'i (1441 –1501), a Central Asian poet, writer, politician, linguist, mystic and painter.
“It is our duty to benefit from the books and articles of our former academic and culturist figures and to pay respects to them,” the president told an international symposium held to remember the services of Nava’i on the occasion of his 575th birthday anniversary.
Also known as Nizām-al-Din, Nava'i wrote poems in Dari, Turkic and Uzbek language. He was born in western Heart province, when the province was ruled by Timurid Empire and got his primary education in Khorasan and Samarqand cities.
He was a schoolmate of Husayn Mirza Bayqara who later became the ruler of Herat and later served as a public administrator and advisor to the sultan.
Nava'i is considered to be the founder of early Turkic literature. Many places and institutions in Central Asia are named after him.
Among Ali-Shir's most famous constructions were the mausoleum of the 13th-century mystical poet, Farid al-Din Attar, in Nishapur (north-eastern Iran) and the Khalasiya madrasa in Herat.
He was one of the instrumental contributors to the architecture of Heart and under the pen name Nava'i, Ali-Shir was among the key writers who revolutionized the literary use of the Turkic languages.
During Nava’i commemoration ceremony, President Ghani said he was a leading culturist and political figure of the 15th century, who always raised his voice for justice, brotherhood and unity of the nation.
A culturist from Turkey, Dr. Abdul Rahman Kundal said Nav’i was a huge academic asset and he did unforgettable services for Turkic language in addition to other services and he had been trying to awaken the entire Islamic Ummah.
Professor at Punjab University of Pakistan, Dr. Ali Kamil Qazalbash, praised the cultural and political endeavors of Nava’i and of Mohammad Iqbal, saying both the poets were political and cultural actors of their periods.
“Nava’i and Iqbal had a common way of thinking, bravery, affection and political efforts,” he said.
Professor at the Persian department of Delhi University (DU), Dr. Sharif Husain Qasimi, said “we proudly teach Diwan (collection of poems) of Maulana Jalaluddin Mohammad Balkhi and the books of Nava’i. To be honest, Nava’i delivered unforgettable services.”
A guest from Uzbekistan, Dr. Abdullah Azam, said “Amir Ali Shir Nava’i was the governor of Khorasan at once. He was close to Allah and was a humble person.”
The books and articles of Nava’i have been kept in the museum of Uzbekistan, he said.
Likewise, a guest from Tajikistan, Dr. Anwar Mohammad Adeeb Hamnawai said that Nava’I was a complete pir (spiritual leader) of Naqshbandi school of thought.
He said ‘Nava’i was not only a cultural figure, but was also a strong politician and religious scholar who always struggled for the unity of Islamic Ummah.’
Meanwhile, first Vice-President Abdul Rashid Dostam thanked President Ghani for ordering to the creation of a new government medal to be named after Amir Ali Shir Nava’i.  (Pajhwok)