Biographical Note
Name: Azam Abidov (penname: A’zam Obid); other names: Aazam Abidov; A’zamjon Obidov
Uzbek poet, writer, translator, world traveler, singer, public relations specialist, cultural advisor
Email: azamjon1974@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/azam.obidov
Website: www.azamabidov.uz ; YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@user-
xg8ku4ou6u/videos
Mailing address: 43/3/1, Fayziobod Street, Mirabad District, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Education:
1996-1997 Tashkent State Economic University; studied business administration
1991-1996 Namangan State University; studied Uzbek language and literature, world literature, Arabic and Farsi
1981-1991 Secondary school #7 in Namangan City
Certified training programs attended:
PR communications (Moscow, Russia); Media and information programs (Washington, DC); Visual
diplomacy: Photo and Video (Vienna, Austria); Strategic planning workshop (New Delhi, India and
Johannesburg, South Africa); Engaging the media (London, UK)
Work Experience:
2008 – to present Public Diplomacy Section, U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan
Coordinates media exchange programs, trainings for journalists, book translation
project
1997-2008 Unitel LLC; administrative manager and public relations specialist
1997 Kamolot Youth Foundation; assistant in education and international department
1996-2005 Correspondent/contributor to Namangan Sadosi and Turkiston newspapers
1986-1989 Namangan Regional Radio Company; radio host for a monthly schoolchildren’s program called Bakhtiyorlar
Creative Writing Activities
Published Books:
My Name is Uzbekistan, a collection of poems in Uzbek and English, Mashrab publishing house,
Namangan, 2022
Greater Than Patience, online poetry collection, 2019 http://azamabidov.uz/?p=1138
The Island of Anxiety, a collection of poems in Uzbek, English (edited by James Day) and Spanish
(translated into Spanish by Andrea Cote), chapbook published in Tashkent, 2009
Sog’intirib Ketgum Qadamlarimni, a collection of poems and translations in Uzbek, Istiqlol publishing
house, Tashkent, 2006
Muhabbat Oqaver Tomirlarimda, a collection of poems by Azam Abidov and Nodira Abdullaeva,
Yangi Asr Avlodi publishing house, Tashkent, 2002
Yo’limni Poylaydi Mo’jiza, poetry collection in Uzbek, Yangi Asr Avlodi Publishing House, Tashkent,
Uzbekistan, 2000
Translated/Edited Works:
Without You, ghazals by Alisher Navoiy and Navoiy’s Blooming Garden by Tursunoy Sodiqova,
translated into English, published by Jasmaya Productions and Publications, Arizona, USA, 2020
Colorful Tears by Khosiyat Rustamova, (was one of the translators), Hertfordshire Press, London, UK,
2020
American Fables and Legends in Uzbek, initiated and compiled by Azam Abidov, published by Baktria
Press publishing house in Tashkent, 2019
Farhod and Shirin, epic poem by Alisher Navoiy translated into English, published by Mega Basim in
Turkey, edited by Mark Reese and Kate Davis, 2018
Scene of Morning, a collection of poems by Uzbek poet Erkin Vohidov, part of the texts translated into
English by Azam Abidov, Nihol publishing house, Tashkent, 2017
Heirs to the Great Sinner Sheikh San’on, a collection of novels and short stories by Uzbek writer Erkin
A’zam, translated into English by Azam Abidov, edited by Carol Ermakova, Rano Xavier and Alan
Cox, Hertfordshire Press, London, UK, 2016
Farewell to Fairy Tales, a collection of novels and short stories by Uzbek writer Erkin A’zam,
translated into English by Azam Abidov, edited by Carol Ermakova, publishing house of Alisher Navoiy National Library, 2015
Dancing Bear by Laura Whitton in Uzbek, English and Russian, printed in Turkey by Mega Basim,
2014
Two Legends of Uzbekistan by Paul Benjamim, in Uzbek, Russian and English, Noshir publishing
house, Tashkent, 2013
Amerika Hikoyalari, a collection of short stories by American writers in Uzbek, initiated and compiled
by Azam Abidov, printed in Turkey, 2011
White Shadow; Davsaman; A Miracle is on the Way, a collection of poems by Uzbek poets Bahrom
Ruzimuhammad, Uroz Haydar and Azam Abidov in English, Tashkent, 2010
A Nameless Ship, a collection of short stories by Uzbek writer Salomat Vafo, translated into English by
Azam Abidov, Musika publishing house, Tashkent, 2009
Beyond Eyesight, a collection of poems by Khosiyat Rustamova (English text translated by Azam
Abidov), El-Press print house, Tashkent, 2008
9/1, collection of short stories by Salomat Vafo in English, Musika publishing house, 2007
Tunes of Asia, a collection of Uzbek poetry, translated into English by Azam Abidov, Yangi Asr Avlodi publishing house, Tashkent, 2004
Muslim Life in America in Uzbek translation (co-edited by Azam Abidov), printed in Vienna, Austria,
2003
For Peace and Security in Afghanistan, a book about President Karimov’s efforts to bring peace in
Afghanistan, translated into English, published by Toshkent Islom Universiteti publishing house, 2002
Bog’larga Bahor Keldi (Spring Came to the Gardens), a book by Lutfullo Mahmud, translated into
English, published by Toshkent Islom Universiteti publishing house, 2001
A Miracle is on the Way, a poetry collection by Azam Abidov translated into English by the author,
Yangi Asr Avlodi publishing house, Tashkent, 2000
Dream of Lightsome Dawns, a collection of poems by famous Uzbek poets Chulpon and Usmon Nosir,
translated into English, Yangi Asr Avlodi publishing house, 2000
International poetry anthologies compiled by Azam Abidov
Almanac of October Writer and Artist Residency Program participants in Uzbekistan, 2020
The Language of the Birds, published in Tafakkur publishing house, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, 2011
Fish and Snake poetry anthology, published in Muharrir publishing house, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, 2009
Azam Abidov’s books published abroad:
The Island of Anxiety, a collection of poems in Armenian, published in Yerevan, Armenia, translated by
Hacob Simonyan, 2013
Tunes of Asia in Assamese, translated by Prayag Saikia, published in Nagaon, India, 2008 (Tunes of
Asia is a collection of Uzbek poetry compiled and translated into English by Azam Abidov)
Poems, short stories, articles, interviews and translations published in magazines, newspapers
and anthologies in Uzbekistan:
O’zbekiston Adabiyoti va San’ati; Lenin Uchquni; Gulkhan; Yosh Kuch; Jahon Adabiyoti; Turkiston;
Guliston; 7 Kun; Namangan Sadosi; Darakchi; Suhbatdosh; Oltin Qalam; Namangan Haqiqati; Yetti
Iqlim; Vatanparvar; Talabalar Sozida Vatan (national anthology in Uzbek); Mashrab Belanchagi
(collection of poems and short stories in Uzbek); Bir Qatim Nur (anthology of Uzbek translations of
works by William Shakespeare)
Poems and translations by Azam Abidov published in magazines and newspapers abroad:
Foreign Service Journal, USA
World Poetry magazine
IWP website (USA)
Platform magazine (India)
Asia magazine (South Korea)
Prometeo magazine (Colombia)
Rhethorica online literature magazine (India)
Gujarati newspaper (India)
Assamese newspaper (India)
Vietnamese magazine (Vietnam)
Diplomat magazine, India
Kametsa magazine, Peru
Libero America magazine
Adamar magazine, http://adamar.org/ivepoca/node/1517
Ariel-Art magazine, Germany
Isla Negra magazine, South America http://revistaislanegra.fullblog.com.ar/aazam-abidov.html
VENT, UK
Poetas del Mundo, France
Tamil magazine, India
El Fuego de Heliconia, Argentina
Caratula, Nicaragua
Ghazalpage.net, USA
Satsori magazine, India
The Alma Review
Literaturport, Germany
Berlin Berega, Germany
Hindi newspaper, India
Benovse, Azerbaijan
Amarujala, India
Poems and stories by Azam Abidov published in international anthologies abroad:
World Poetry Tree, anthology for Hope, Love and Peace, created by Adel Khozam, Dubai, UAE, 2022
I Cannot Breathe, compiled by Christopher Okemwa (Kenya, Africa), 2022
The Literary Parrot, edited by Mutiu Olawuyi and Dustin Pickering, USA, 2021
An international anthology, compiled by Taner Murat, Romania, 2021
Rebati, Mohan Senapati’s story in various languages, India, 2021
Asia Sings, the Silk Road Literature Series, edited by Ashraf Aboul-Yazid, Egypt, 2021
Svetya ot Angeli, compiled by Rozalia Alexandrova (Plovdiv, Bulgaria), 2020
Is it the Sea You Hear in Me? – a poetry collection edited by Manu Dash and Sarita Jenamani,
published by Dhauli Books, Bhubaneswar, India, 2018
Gluckliche Wirkungen, anthology of Uzbek, Kazakh and Georgian authors compiled by Alida Brumer
and Michael Kruger, published in Berlin, Germany, 2017 (Azam’s poems translated by Karl Heinz
Siber)
We Contain Multitudes: Twelve years of SOFTBLOW, edited by Cyril Wong and Jason Wee,
Singapore, 2016
Poetry anthology in Malayalam, published by State Institute of Languages, Kerala, India, 2007
Kritya, compiled by Rati Saxena (India), 2006
Space Poem Chain, compiled by Japan Space Association (Japan)
Translated authors:
More than 100 Uzbek authors, translated into English, including Alisher Navoiy, Pahlavon Mahmud,
Usmon Nosir, Chulpon, Abdurauf Fitrat, Jamol Kamol, Abdulla Qodiriy, Hamza, Ishoqjon Ibrat, Erkin
A’zam, Evril Turon, Sharof Rashidov, Tursunoy Sodiqova, Halima Khudoyberdieva, Usmon Azim,
Khurshid Davron, Rauf Parfi, Erkin Vohidov, Abdulla Aripov, Muhammad Yusuf, Toghay Murod,
Salomat Vafo, Karim Bahriev, Matnazar Abdulhakim, Halima Ahmedova, Bahrom Ruzimuhammad,
etc.
More than 100 foreign authors, translated into Uzbek, including: Shakespeare, Maya Angelou, Alda
Merini, Langston Hughes, Theodore Fontane, Kurt Tukholski, Henrich Heine, Bertolt Brecht, Jack
Harte, Jack Hirshman, Patricia Bernard, Franz Hohler, Andrew Staniland, Phan Que Mai, Manu Dash,
T.P. Rajeevan, Nina Murray, Colin Carberry, Faqir Mohan Senapati, Rati Saxena, Claus Ankersen,
Norman Christopholi, Indran Amirthanayagam, Taner Murat, Yusuke Miyake, Mariya Filipova, Morii
Kae, Ranu Uniyal, Abhay Kumar, Biplab Majee, Rashidah Ismaili, Goenawan Muhammad, Yuri
Zambrano, Muesser Yeniay, German Droogenbroodt, Pornpen Hantrakool, Athanace Vanchev de
Tracy, Prayag Saikia, Metin Cengiz, Usha Akella, Bulat Okudjava, Hussein Habash, Shimada
Masahiko, Fernando Rendon, Vivienne Plumb, Pascale Petit, Christopher Merrill, Yvonne Renee
Davis, Ilya Kaminski, Gloria Gabuardi, Fransisco de Asis Fernandez, etc.
Contributions to foreign publications
Ghazals by Alisher Navoiy translated into Polish by Januszh Krzyzowski, published in Warsaw, Poland
Prince Claus Awards book, printed in Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2020
Residency programs participated
Literature Colloquium Berlin (LCB), Germany, May 15- June 15, 2007
International Creative Writing Program at the University of Iowa, USA; Honorary Fellow in Writing
August through November 2004
International literature festivals, congresses and forums participated
Silk Road Literature Festival, online and offline events, London, UK, 2022 (online)
VENT international festival, UK, 2022 (online)
Rucksack Global Poetry, Italy, 2022
Mahatma Ghandhi Poetry Festival, India, 2022 (online)
San Salvador Poetry Festival, 2021 (online)
Kritya International Poetry Festival, India, 2021
Pen and Brush Virtual Literature Festival, USA, 2021
Poetry Festival in Venezuela, 2021 (online)
Habana Poetry Festival, Cuba, 2021 (online)
Rucksack Poetry Festival, Italy, 2021 (online)
First International Forum of Writers and Poets, Astana, Kazakhstan, 2019
International Literature Festival, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India, 2018
First Asia Pacific International Poetry festival, Hanoi, Vietnam, 2015
International Festival of Turkic poetry, Kazan, Tatarstan, 2015
International Forum of Writers and Translators, Yerevan, Armenia, 2012
International Poetry Festival, Medellin, Colombia, 2009
WALTIC – Writers and Literary Translators International Congress, Stockholm, Sweden, 2008
International Literature Festival, Kerala, India, 2007
Leipzig International Literature Conference and Book Fair, Leipzig, Germany, 2007
Katha Asia International Utsav, 6-11 January, New Delhi, India, 2006
Participation in international children’s camp
1988 International pioneer’s camp ARTEK, one-month stay, Crimea, Ukraine
Writer and Artist Residency Programs Azam Abidov organized in Uzbekistan
In 2018-2019, with the help of his family and volunteer friends, Azam organized five residency
programs in Uzbekistan for about 50 poets, writers and artists from Central and South Asia, Europe,
Australia and USA.
Grants
2018 Travel grant from Kazakhstan Writers’ Association
2015 Travel grant from Vietnam Writers Association to participate in the First Asia Pacific Poetry Festival
2015 Travel grant from Turkey for participation in a poetry festival
2012 Travel grant from the Ministry of Culture of Armenia
2011 Prince Claus Fund Creative Projects Grant to publish the international poetry anthology
The Language of the Birds
2009 Prince Claus Fund Travel Grant to participate in Medellin International Poetry Festival;
travel grants from the Fund to participate in Annual Award Ceremonies in Amsterdam,
the Netherlands
2008 Travel grant from the Swedish Writers Union to participate in the First WALTIC Congress
2007 Travel grant by Leipzig Book Fair to participate in literature conference
Major Awards and Recognitions
From the U.S. Department of State for public diplomacy work: Franklin Award; 2 Eagle Awards; several
Honor awards in 2008-2023
2021 – Poetry Excellence Award, China
2019 – Award from Kazakhstan Writers’ Association for promotion of CA literature abroad
2015 – Award from Turkish Writers’ Association
2002 – Runner-up prize of Iste’dod Foundation for poetry, Uzbekistan
1991 – Golden medal for exceptional completion of secondary school, Uzbekistan
1990 – Award winner of the republican creative writing contest “My first book” organized by the
Uzbekistan Writers Association
1988 – Award winner of the Namangan regional song contest, San’at Ghunchalari
Badges:
“For active participation in public life”
“For excellent academic achievements”
Certificates of honor:
1991 – For active participation in Namangan municipal public life
1988 – 1 st place in the Namangan regional contest among schoolboys
1988 – For being an excellent organizer and participant of the ARTEK international pioneer’s camp
activities, Crimea, Ukraine
1987 – For excellent study at secondary school and active participation in public events
1986 – For active participation in the Elektron pioneer’s camp activities
1984 – For excellent study and exemplary behavior in the elementary school
Foreign travel:
Traveled to more than 40 countries, including more than 20 states in the USA; most of the countries in
Europe; UK; Central Asia; India; Vietnam; Thailand; South Africa; Colombia in South America.
Others:
Honorary citizen of the City of Pensacola, Florida, USA
