08/07/2025
Obituary: Jo’ra Qori aka Bo’tako’z (1928–2025)
Beloved Elder of the Uzbek Diaspora
Jo’ra Qori aka Bo’tako’z, one of the oldest and most respected members of the Uzbek diaspora in the United States, passed away last night in Uzbekistan at the age of 97. Fulfilling his final wish, he returned to his homeland for his final days and passed peacefully among the land and people he loved.
Born in 1928, Jo’ra Qori aka’s life was shaped by the tumult of the 20th century. At the age of six, following the arrest and disappearance of his father and uncles during Stalin’s purges, he fled with his mother, grandmother, and two sisters—first to Afghanistan, then onward to Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and eventually the United States. His journey across continents mirrored the displacement of a generation, and his life came to symbolize resilience, dignity, and a deep-rooted commitment to preserving Uzbek identity.
Among his most lasting contributions was the publication of O‘tgan Kunlar (Bygone Days), the first Uzbek novel by Abdulla Qodiriy, in its original Arabic-based script. He published it in Pakistan between 1958 and 1961, preserving not only the language but the literary and cultural memory of a nation that had been forcibly silenced.
Even in his mid-90s, Jo’ra Qori aka remained impressively sharp, his memory vivid and clear. He was a source of knowledge, inspiration, and quiet strength to generations of Uzbeks in the diaspora and beyond.
He is survived by his devoted wife and children in the United States, and by the many in our community who were touched by his warmth, wisdom, and unwavering love for his homeland.
Jo’ra Qori aka Bo’tako’z was not only a witness to history—he was its bearer.
We mourn his passing and celebrate a life profoundly lived.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
