The house in Qibray district, Tashkent region, where Hero of Uzbekistan, national poet Abdulla Oripov lived, has been converted into a house-museum to mark his 85th birthday. The poet resided and worked in this home from 1996 to 2016, a period of 20 years. The museum opened in March of this year, featuring numerous exhibits related to his life and creative work.
Abdulla Oripov's wife, Hanifa Mustafayeva, detailed the history of their move to this house. According to her, the family initially lived in various rented apartments, later moved to multi-story buildings provided by the Writers' Union, and then to half of a house in the courtyard of Kibriyo-opa. In 1996, when Abdulla Oripov was appointed chairman of the Writers' Union, they relocated to the service house that has now become the museum, and it was later transferred to his name.
Hanifa apa spent years collecting and preserving her husband's personal items, believing it was her duty to present them to the public. Through her efforts, a presidential decree in 2022 designated the house for museum conversion, and after a two-month renovation in early 2026, the museum was officially inaugurated. Exhibits include the poet's manuscripts, books, awards, clothing, and historical photographs.
Additionally, a house-museum is being established in Houston, Texas, USA, where Abdulla Oripov spent his final days. Hanifa apa noted that this initiative gained momentum after remarks by Shavkat Mirziyoyev in 2021 and is being implemented with support from the Uzbek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the embassy in the US. The mayor of Houston has signed off on converting the house into a museum and granted tax exemptions, with an official opening planned for May 2026.
The museum also features photographs of the poet with Uzbekistan's first president, Islam Karimov, along with his honors and other significant documents. Hanifa apa expressed that she feels she has fulfilled her debt to the people and mentioned that time is needed to fully arrange all exhibits.
Source: www.gazeta.uz