Background
GAFURI, Mazhit was born on July 20, 1880 in village Yelcm-Karanovo, now Gafur Rayon, Bash Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. Son of a teacher.
GAFURI, Mazhit was born on July 20, 1880 in village Yelcm-Karanovo, now Gafur Rayon, Bash Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. Son of a teacher.
Studied at medressah. Partly self-taught; mastered Arabic. Persian and Russian, history, geography and Tat, classical Oriental and Russian lit.
1902 began lit work; 1905 participated in student demonstrations in Kazan’. From 1911 confined to Ufa under police surveillance. 1915 for the poem "lieutenant’s Clear You Don't Exist, Allah” cursed by Moslem clergy.
Opposed YVW 1; after 1917 October Revol worked in Bash, founding schools. Member, Sciences-Academy Center, Bash People’s Commissariat of Education. Member, Waifs Commission.
Main themes of his work were hatred of Tsarism and the bourgeoisie, the struggle for the liberation of his people, dissemination of educational, propaganda of socialist- realism, Soviet patriotism, friendship of peoples, internationalism, diligence. Wrote in Bash and Tat languages. His works are included in textbooks for Bash and Tat general educational schools, teacher’s training inst and university.