On April 18th, the headquarters of the Uzbek Embassy located at Via Giovanni Bessarione 8 in Rome, hosted an event dedicated to an anniversary of Amir Temur. Six hundred and ninety years since the birth of the great commander and extremely important figure in Uzbek history and culture were celebrated in a way that marks the development of cultural relations between Italy and Uzbekistan: a meeting with the writers who have dedicated their literary works to Uzbekistan, its history, culture, and rich international artistic heritage.
The event was anchored by Gulnara Khamidova. After the initial greetings of the Uzbek Ambassador to Italy Abat Fayzullaev and a speech by Tolib Olimjonov, who reiterated the importance of the iconic figure of Amir Temur in the history and culture of Uzbekistan, the authors of books dedicated to the Uzbek land and people took the floor.
The authors who took part in the discussion and presented their literary works were Michele Bernardini, Vittorio Russo, Paolo De Angelis, Stefano Russo, Giulio Ravizza. Michele Bernardini’s work is titled “Amir Temur” and narrates the events of the great Mongol commander known in the West as Tamerlane, first ruler of the Timurid empire. Paolo De Angelis presented his book “The Uzbekistan System. Italy and Uzbekistan: the legacy of a centuries-old bond”. Stefano Russo spoke about his work with the inviting title “Welcome to Uzbekistan”. Giulio Ravizza presented his book “Even if forbidden, the mad enterprise of Igor Savitsky”.
Vittorio Russo’s contribution on “Alexander the Great’s Uzbekistan” was preceded by the precise analysis of professor and historian Jolanda Capriglione and focused on the rigorous reconstruction of the arduous conquest of Central Asia by the Macedonian ruler. From this contribution emerged the inexhaustible charm of the Uzbek land that offers itself to the traveler through the courtesy of hospitality and the authentic simplicity of its bread. The author recalled some crucial passages of Alexander’s story, which drove him to return to Uzbekistan several times, dwelling in particular on the conquest of ancient Sogdiana — today divided between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
In this context Vittorio Russo evoked the dramatic episode of the killing of Clitus the Black. In a fit of rage, Alexander, being drunk, struck dead with his lance his most trusted comrade-in-arms and brother of his nurse. It happened in Samarkand, the ancient Maracanda. After having killed the man, Alexander repented. Having trod those stones was for the author one of the most intense moments: there history seemed to him to stop and to turn into a perceptible presence.
Publisher Sandro Teti spoke next. He underlined the breadth of the horizons explored by the book, enriched by the authoritative preface by Franco Cardini.
The contribution of the founder of the publishing house of the same name, Sandro Teti, was aimed at making known his constant commitment to spreading Uzbek history and culture in Italy. It is thanks to “Sandro Teti Editore” that a series of books dedicated to this Eastern country has been published, including, besides “Alexander the Great’s Uzbekistan” by Vittorio Russo, “The Language of the Birds” by Ali-Shir Nava’i, the national epic “Baburnama” and a book that narrates the contribution of the Uzbek people in the victory over Nazism during the World War 2. Sandro Teti pointed out an asymmetry in the reciprocal knowledge that exists between the Uzbek people and the Italian people. While Uzbeks are familiar with the history and culture of Italy, only Italian intellectuals and orientalists know, for now, Uzbek history and culture. There is, therefore, still much to be done in Italy to spread the cultural heritage of Uzbekistan.
Lorenzo Pubblici, Roberto Boltri and Rolando Montecalvo attended the event online and intervened revealing some secrets contained in their works. Lorenzo Pubblici presented “The History of the Mongols” and “Kievan Rus: crossroads of Europe and Asia in the Middle Ages”. Rolando Boltri spoke about his two books “Surplus in Turkestan” and “A Forgotten Tragedy”. Rolando Montecalvo focused on his own “Uzbek Miniature”.
Anotger participant of the event was the President of the “Vatandoshlar” Foundation Odiljon Sattorov who launched the presentation of the books “One Hundred Facts about Great Scholars” and “Tashkent with Ali and Lali”, the very first Uzbek book published for children translated and printed in collaboration with the “Mirzo Ulugbek” Association.
Italian film director Stella Marotta showed her documentary “Uzbekistan” screening its trailer.
The event ended with interviews with the authors for TV and web as well as with a reception based on “plov”, a traditional national dish loved in Uzbekistan and abroad.
We can only hope that, as suggested in his speech by the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Italy Abat Fayzullaev, meetings with authors will from now on become an event scheduled by the Embassy on a regular basis.
Olga Matsyna
