Born: 1913 (Margilan, Uzbekistan)
Died: 1929 (Margilan, Uzbekistan)
Biography:
Nurkhon Yuldashkhojayeva (Uzbek: Nurxon Yoldoshxojayeva, often anglicized as Nurkhon Yuldasheva) was one of the first Uzbek women actresses and one of the first Uzbek women to dance onstage without a paranja. Born in 1913, Nurkhon was raised in Margilan, a city in the Ferghana Valley region of Uzbekistan. In a society characterized by repression and religious conservatism, she grew up adhering to strict social norms like many other Uzbek girls of her time.
However, Nurkhon’s passion for theater eventually led her to defy societal expectations and seek a career in acting. In 1928, at the age of 15, she ran away from home to join the theater troupe of Muhitdin Qoriyoqubov in Samarkand. It was in this troupe that Nurkhon found mentors in Usta Olim Komilov, an esteemed theater artist. She also worked alongside future renowned artists such as Tamara Khanum, who would become a People’s Artist of the USSR, and Gavhar Rahimova, who would be named a People’s Artist of Uzbekistan.
On March 8, 1928, Nurkhon, along with another dancer, took to the stage and publicly removed their face-veils during a performance, marking International Women’s Day. This act of defiance against social norms garnered significant attention and made Nurkhon a symbol of women’s liberation and resistance to feudalism. Throughout her career, she faced numerous threats from religious fanatics who vehemently opposed her refusal to conform to traditional gender roles by removing her veil and pursuing an acting career.
Tragically, Nurkhon’s promising career was cut short in 1929 when she fell victim to an honor killing orchestrated by her own family. During a visit to her hometown of Margilan, she showed her aunt the dances and songs she had learned. Her aunt then informed her that her brother Salixo’ja was searching for her. As soon as she appeared, Salixo’ja attacked and fatally stabbed her with a knife. Salixo’ja later confessed to the premeditated act, stating that he was compelled by their father Yo’ldoshxo’ja Salimxo’jaev, a local administrator known as ming-boshi, and mullah Kamal G’iasov, who convinced him to swear on the Quran to carry out the murder.
Nurkhon’s tragic death shook the community, sparking a profound public response. Thousands of people attended her memorial, during which women courageously discarded their face-veils in front of her coffin. Her father and brother were ultimately tried and executed for their roles in the murder, while the ming-boshi and mullah were exiled.
Despite her untimely death, Nurkhon’s legacy lives on as a symbol of women’s liberation and resistance against oppressive societal norms. Her courageous acts and dedication to pursuing her passion in the face of adversity continue to inspire generations of women in Uzbekistan and beyond.