A report from the house where Islam Karimov was born, the school he attended, and his grave

It has been ten years since the death of the first president of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov. On this occasion, the newspaper visited Samarkand and prepared a report from his birthplace, the school where he studied and the mausoleum where he was buried. It also asked residents about their memories of the first president.

**Islam Karimov's birthplace**

Islam Karimov was born and spent his childhood and adolescence in house 124 on Bibikhanim Street, 1-2 kilometers from Registan Square. His parents lived in this house with one daughter and seven sons. Until 2009, Islam Karimov's brother Khurshid Karimov lived here, and after his death, the children and grandchildren of his brother Amonullo Karimov lived here until 2017.

Azizkhon Mahmudov, who has lived in the neighborhood for 70 years, says that he has known the Karimov family well since childhood. He remembers knowing Islam Karimov personally and last meeting him in 2016 when he arrived.

After Karimov's death, the house was turned into a house-museum and opened to visitors in March 2017. Even today, there is great interest in the house where Islam Karimov was born and raised and the places where he studied. Every day, an average of about 200-300 guests come from different regions of Uzbekistan, as well as from other countries of Central Asia. In the spring and summer months, their number increases even more. Visitors recite the Quran, say prayers, and write down their impressions in a special notebook. This notebook has been collecting the thoughts of the guests since October 2022.

Azizkhon Mahmudov's memory has preserved details related to the daily life of the Karimov family. He says that Islam Karimov's mother, Sanobar Aya, raised her children in this courtyard. "When you exit the gate of the house, there was a pond in front of it, and their mothers would come out and sit in front of it. All the children in the family were educated, with higher education. It was a very peaceful, respected family," he says.

The last visit and funeral of the first president also holds a special place in his memory. According to him, after Islam Karimov's death in 2016, his body was brought to this apartment. All the procedures related to the funeral were carried out here. Azizkhon Mahmudov remembers that day with mourners and streets filled with flowers. He says that in addition to the flowers brought from Tashkent, even more flowers were collected in Samarkand, and people watched the first president with tears.

Karim Rakhimberdiev, who lives next door, says that Islam Karimov's relatives, nephews, grandchildren and wife Tatyana Karimova often visit the apartment. Rakhimberdiev himself was born and raised in the same neighborhood. He said that he was always proud that his neighbor was the president of Uzbekistan. He saw Islam Karimov once - in early September 2010, when he and his wife came to the apartment where he was born and raised. "Then he and his wife walked from the Registan to the house. They ate soup and had lunch in the house where he was born and raised," he says.

Six months after Islam Karimov's death, the foundation named after him entrusted the task of preserving and looking after the apartment to Rakhimberdiev's father, Komil Rakhimberdiev. His father previously worked as a neighborhood chairman, and on the day of the first president's death, he participated in washing his body, as well as in condolences and other ceremonies. "They entrusted me with looking after this house for six months. After my father died, I mainly looked after it. Imams and deputy imams from mosques in the region also come here," said Karim Rahimberdiev. He noted that every year on the dates of Islam Karimov's birth and death, as well as during the Eid holidays, a sheep is slaughtered and donated in the house under the leadership of Tatyana Karimova.

**The school where Islam Karimov studied**

Between Registan Square and the Bibikhanim complex, there is Secondary School No. 21, where Islam Karimov studied. The first president studied at this institution in 1950-1955. A museum dedicated to the history of the school and the achievements of its students was established under the institution in 1992. Along with exhibits related to the school's history, it also houses photographs, documents and other items reflecting Islam Karimov's school years.

School counselor Dildora Bahronova said that the museum has original copies of Islam Karimov's class journals from his years in grades 8-9. They show that Karimov's grades were all 5. "If you look at the journals, you can see that our first president studied for 5. He was interested in specific subjects," she said. Islam Karimov is listed as 14th in this journal.

The museum also houses photographs of Islam Karimov from his childhood and adolescence, photos with classmates and teachers, copies of his graduation documents, vignettes, the desk he sat on during his school years, and medals. The museum also houses some photographs and documents from his later life, including copies of documents from his time at the institute. "He participated in the aircraft model circle and was one of the most active students in it. He was interested in reading many books and literature, especially historical works," says the school counselor.

Islam Karimov graduated from school in 1955 with a gold medal. According to the school administration, that year the Samarkand region was awarded one gold medal, and it went to Islam Karimov. He also won the regional Olympiad among students that year. "There is also a desk where he sat. From time to time, tourists come to see it and express interest," says Dildora Bahronova.

The museum covers not only Islam Karimov's school years, but also the general history of the school. It also displays photographs, medals, cups and other awards of students who studied at this school in different years and achieved success in sports and science. Along with local residents, school No. 21 is visited by tourists from different regions of Uzbekistan and abroad. The classes in which Islam Karimov studied, photographs in the museum, magazines and the desk where he sat are of particular interest to visitors.

**The grave of Islam Karimov**

According to Mahmudkhon Mukhtorov, the head of the "Hazrati Khizr" complex in Samarkand, this mosque is one of the oldest in Central Asia. According to legend, this place was the resting place of Khizr. The mosque was built in 712 by Qutayba ibn Muslim. He noted that during the Soviet era, the mosque fell into a rather dilapidated state. During the years of independence, it was renovated twice on the initiative of the late President Islam Karimov.

"Islam Karimov's respect for this mosque was different. Every time he visited Samarkand, he would come here whenever he could and pray for our people and our country. His respect for the greatness of the place was very great," says Mahmudkhon Mukhtorov. According to him, Islam Karimov bequeathed to be buried on the territory of the Hazrati Khizr complex. He was buried in the specified place in September 2016, in accordance with the will.

In 2017, at the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, a mausoleum was erected over Islam Karimov's grave, and the porches of the mosque were also rebuilt. In this process, the ancient mosque was also overhauled. According to the head of the complex, the flow of pilgrims has not stopped for ten years. Hundreds of local residents and foreign tourists visit here every day. Mahmudkhon Mukhtorov notes that in addition to the elderly who saw Islam Karimov in person, worked with him at the same time, or heard his conversations, students and schoolchildren also often visit the complex in groups.