Volume 04 Issue 12-2024
80
International Journal Of History And Political Sciences
(ISSN
–
2771-2222)
VOLUME
04
ISSUE
12
P
AGES
:
80-84
OCLC
–
1121105677
Publisher:
Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
ABSTRACT
The article provides information about the emergence of book production in Central Asia, its developmental stages,
and unique features, as well as the history of the creation of lithographic books.
KEYWORDS
Lithography, manuscript, "rag paper," calligraphy, ink, papermaking.
INTRODUCTION
Historically, it is known that Khorezm has always
shown a great interest in science and education. In
particular, during the early 11th century, the Khorezm
Mamun Academy emerged, where numerous scholars
worked in various fields of science. During this period,
Khorezm flourished both economically and culturally.
Even after the unstable political, socio-economic, and
cultural conditions of the 18th century, the interest in
science and education in Khorezm persisted, with
special emphasis on the reign of Muhammad Rahim
Khan II (1865
–
1910), the ruler of Khiva.
Muhammad Rahim Khan II gathered enlightened
scholars and intellectuals around him, enriching the
palace library with rare books brought from various
parts of the world. He established a unique school of
translation, where books in Arabic, Persian-Tajik, and
Azerbaijani languages were translated into Uzbek.
With his efforts, Muhammad Rahim Khan II continued
the legacy of the scholars of the Mamun Academy. In
1874, he became the first in Central Asia to introduce
book printing using lithographic methods. Alongside
establishing a printing house, he actively participated
in the printing process and published numerous books
himself. Prominent scholars such as E.K. Betger, G.N.
Chabrov, A.A. Semyonov, V.V. Bartold, R.Kh.
Makhmudova, A.G. Karimullin, and M. Rustamov have
Research Article
ON THE HISTORY OF THE EMERGENCE OF LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING
HOUSES IN KHOREZM
Submission Date:
December 20, 2024,
Accepted Date:
December 25, 2024,
Published Date:
December 30, 2024
Crossref doi:
https://doi.org/10.37547/ijhps/Volume04Issue12-14
A. Mirzoraximov
Rector of the Kamoliddin Behzod National Institute of Arts and Design, Uzbekistan
Journal
Website:
https://theusajournals.
com/index.php/ijhps
Copyright:
Original
content from this work
may be used under the
terms of the creative
commons
attributes
4.0 licence.
Volume 04 Issue 12-2024
81
International Journal Of History And Political Sciences
(ISSN
–
2771-2222)
VOLUME
04
ISSUE
12
P
AGES
:
80-84
OCLC
–
1121105677
Publisher:
Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
written about this printing house. T. Ernazarov, A.
Bobokhonov, and other scholars have provided a
number of insights. One significant contribution by
Muhammad Rahim Khan II was his initiative to bring
lithographic equipment from Iran to Khiva with the
purpose of publishing rare manuscript works
preserved in the palace library in book form. This
endeavor was of great importance. A specialized
Iranian lithographer, Ibrahim Sultan, carried out the
initial printing operations, and he was assisted by
Otajon Abdalov, who thoroughly mastered the craft
under his mentorship. Otajon Abdalov later became
popularly known among the people as "Otajon
Bosma."
According to T. Ernazarov, the Khiva lithographic
printing house was established in 1893 by Otajon
Abdalov. However, an article in the 16th issue of the
newspaper Inqilob Quyoshi (The Sun of the
Revolution), published in 1924, states that O. Abdalov
was not the founder of the Khiva printing house but
rather a typesetter and craftsman. It was Ibrahim
Sultan, an Iranian native residing in Khiva, who taught
O. Abdalov the art of lithographic printing. O. Abdalov
worked at the Khiva lithographic printing house from
1874 to 1878. Bekjon Rahmon o‘g‘li and Muhammad
Yusuf, in their work A Brief History of Khorezm Music*,
provide the following information: they state that
Muhammad Rahim Khan II brought a lithographic
printing press from Iran between 1874 and 1880 and
printed books under the name of I. Sultan.
Additionally, an article titled The Khiva Khan, published
in the Tarjimon newspaper, contains the following
information: “His Excellency Sayyid Muhammad Rahim
Bahodirkhan, during his visit to and inspection of the
Nizhny Novgorod fair (region
–
M.A.), attentively
observed printing presses and ordered one with a
suffic
ient set of type to be transported to Khiva,” as
reported in the Pochtovaya Gazeta newspaper. This
press was endowed to one of the Khiva madrasas,
where it was intended to be used for teaching printing
and publishing to students. "If this comes to fruition,
then His Majesty the Khan will have rendered his
beloved homeland its greatest service and fulfilled one
of its most vital needs."
From the information provided, it is evident that the
founder of the Khiva lithographic printing house was
Muhammad Rahim Khan II. During his reign, printing
equipment was brought to Khiva not only from Iran but
also from Russia. As a result of the Khan's negotiations
with the Iranian government, a lithographic printing
house was established in Khiva. Muhammad Rahim
Khan II successfully brought both the lithographic
equipment and the printer Ibrahim Sultan from Iran.
The printing house was allocated space in the ancient
Ark fortress. Muhammad Rahim Khan II also employed
O. Abdalov, a talented young man who graduated from
the Russo-Indigenous School in Petro-Aleksandrovsk
(Turtkul), to work alongside Ibrahim Sultan.
After Ibrahim Sultan taught O. Abdalov the art of
lithographic printing, he returned to Iran, leaving the
responsibilities of the printing house to O. Abdalov. By
the early 20th century, the printing house was moved
to Qiblatuzabag, a location associated with
Muhammad Rahim Khan II.
In 1908, the renowned Russian scholar A.N.
Samoylovich, during his scientific visit to Khiva, noted
that the lithographic printing house consisted of three
rooms. In the first room, a secretary copied
manuscripts using lithographic ink; in the second, the
manuscript was placed on a printing stone, printed,
and dried; and in the third room, which served as a
storage area, the printed sheets were kept. Initially,
the lithographic press could print only on a single
sheet. However, by the early 1900s, the printing
Volume 04 Issue 12-2024
82
International Journal Of History And Political Sciences
(ISSN
–
2771-2222)
VOLUME
04
ISSUE
12
P
AGES
:
80-84
OCLC
–
1121105677
Publisher:
Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
stone's size had been increased to accommodate four
sheets. The press was manually operated, and the
work was carried out by a team of three people. One
person rotated the press wheel, another replaced the
paper, and the third applied ink to the roller.
There were differing opinions regarding the first book
published by the Khiva lithographic press. Scholars
interested in lithographic works, such as E.K. Betger
and G.N. Chabrov, wrote in their articles that the first
book printed at the Khiva press was Alisher Navoi's
Khamsa in 1880. However, R. Makhmudova and A.
Bobokhonov, in their studies, identified the first book
as Nisab us-Sibyan by Abu Nasr Farrohi, published in
1876. Nevertheless, these claims have not been
substantiated. The fund of the Academy of Sciences of
Uzbekistan contains numerous books published in
Khiva, among which the earliest is Devoni Munis,
printed in 1874. This book, written in Uzbek, comprises
668 pages. No earlier printed books from Khiva have
been found in libraries. Therefore, it is evident that the
first work published by the Khiva printing house was
Devoni Munis in 1874. This book is considered not only
the first lithographic publication in Khiva but also the
first in Central Asia. Devoni Munis is notable for having
been reprinted several times at the Khiva printing
houseOne of the earliest books published in Khiva was
Nisab us-Sibyan, written by Abu Nasr Farrohi and
printed in 1876. This book served as an educational
manual for teaching Arabic and Persian to children.
Abu Nasr Farrohi, originally from the city of Farrah in
Afghanistan, was a renowned poet and educator in
Central Asia. His work was widely used as a reliable
manual in schools and madrasas.
The book primarily takes the form of a vocabulary
guide. It begins with a foreword by the author,
providing brief information about the book and its size.
The book's dimensions are 20x14.5 cm, printed on light
yellow paper in large black script. The textbook
consists of 53 pages. The manuscript was copied by
Ibrahim Sultan in the Nasta'liq script.
Additionally, several significant works were published
by the Khiva lithographic press, including the
following:
- In 1878: Alisher Navoi's Hayrat ul-Abror, published
under the editorship of Pahlavon Devonbegi Komil,
and Munis's Devon Savodi Ta'lim and Devoni Munis.
- In 1879: Alisher Navoi's Khamsa and Muhammad
Yusuf Mahdum's Devoni Roji.
- In 1880: Devoni Kholis, Chor Kitob, Chahor Devon,
Devoni Komil, and Devon, a work attributed to
Muhammad Rahim Khan II.
- In 1881: Badoye' ul-Valat, G'aroyib us-Sigor, Navodir
ush-Shabob, and Chahor Devon.
- In 1882: Badoye' ul-Valat and Devoni Fuzuliy.
- In 1883: Devoni Bedil (including Umar Khayyam's
rubaiyat).
- In 1890 (1308 AH): Rashahot Ayn ul-Hayat by Ali Safiy
(15th century).
- In 1891: Sharh va Tarjimai Fiqhi Qaydoni Musammi ba
Targir ul-Musammin by Litfullo Nasafiy and the Arabic
text of Fiqhi Qaydon translated by Muhammad Rasul
Akhund and Mufti ibn Shermuhammad.
- In 1895: The second, expanded edition of Devoni
Komil.
- In 1902: A compilation Majmuat ush-Shuaro by Poet
Ahmad Tabibiy, published under the decree of
Muhammad Rahim Khan II.
- In 1905: Devoni Ogahiy.
Volume 04 Issue 12-2024
83
International Journal Of History And Political Sciences
(ISSN
–
2771-2222)
VOLUME
04
ISSUE
12
P
AGES
:
80-84
OCLC
–
1121105677
Publisher:
Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
- In 1906: Devoni Bayoniy and *Majmaut Ash-Shuaro-i
Feruzshohiy* (a collection featuring works of 30
poets).
- In 1909: Devoni Komil va Tavorikh Shokhon Khorezm
by Kamolkhon ibn Maqsudkhoja.
This extensive publishing activity highlights the cultural
and intellectual vibrancy of Khiva during this period,
showcasing the dedication of Muhammad Rahim Khan
II and the Khiva printing house to preserving and
disseminating literary and scholarly works.
In 1909, works such as Devoni Tabibiy Forsiya and
Ahmad Tabibiy's Devoni Tabibiy Hayrat ul-Oshiqqin
were published. In 1910, Devoni Tabibiy (Munis ul-
Ushshoq), Devoni Tabibiy Hayrat ul-Oshiqqin, and
Muntahab ul-Lughat Rizoiy (56 pages in Uzbek,
publication year unknown) were also printed.
From the information provided, it is evident that the
Khiva printing house predominantly focused on
publishing devons (collections of poetry). Notably, the
Devonlar Majmuasi (Collection of Devons) was
published four times. All editions were in Uzbek and
differed in volume and, to some extent, in the selection
of poets. The first edition was published in 1906, the
second in 1907, the third in 1908, and the fourth in 1909.
All these editions are preserved in the Academy of
Sciences of Uzbekistan (UzR FA SHI).
The Devonlar Majmuasi stands out for being published
annually from 1906 to 1909. According to G.N. Chabrov,
the Khiva lithographic press was unique compared to
other presses in Central Asia, as it was established
within the palace premises, not for commercial
purposes but to reproduce the rare manuscripts of a
nation with a millennia-long history.
The printing house, organized by Muhammad Rahim
Khan II, facilitated the widespread dissemination of
works on various topics among the population.
Muhammad Rahim Khan II himself took an active role
in publishing works, prioritizing not only his own
writings but also the works of numerous intellectuals
in Uzbek, Persian, Arabic, and Azerbaijani languages.
Among these were contemporary authors such as
Ahmad Tabibiy, Munis, Ogahiy, Bayoniy, Yusuf
Mahdum, and others, whose works were printed in
lithographic form.
From this information, it becomes clear that
Muhammad Rahim Khan II was not only a statesman
and poet but also an enlightened patron who
supported the publication of numerous books, leaving
a significant legacy in the field of education and
culture. One of Muhammad Rahim II's greatest
achievements was gathering a community of
enlightened intellectuals around him, while the
establishment of the Khiva lithographic press was
another of his notable contributions. These two factors
played a key role in creating an important cultural and
educational environment in Khiva during his time, for
which his efforts were unparalleled.
The books published by the Khiva lithographic press
were widely disseminated among various segments of
the population, contributing to the cultural and
educational development of society and fostering the
emergence of many scholars and intellectuals.
While the Mamun Academy primarily focused on the
natural sciences, during the era of Muhammad Rahim
Khan II, the prominence of social and humanitarian
scholars became evident, a fact that is reflected in the
content of the books published in Khiva.
In general, regardless of the field to which the works
published in Khiva belong, they hold significant
importance for the life, culture, and history of the
people. Studying and analyzing these works reveals
Volume 04 Issue 12-2024
84
International Journal Of History And Political Sciences
(ISSN
–
2771-2222)
VOLUME
04
ISSUE
12
P
AGES
:
80-84
OCLC
–
1121105677
Publisher:
Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
new aspects of history, enriching our understanding of
the past.
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