Nasruddin Afandi is the hero of many anecdotes, humorous miniatures, as well as satirical tales. Tales of this witty and cunning man are common not only in the Muslim countries of the East, but also among the population on the Balkan Peninsula. To the Russian-speaking circle of readers, this character is known from the book of the Soviet writer Leonid Solovyov "The Story of Khoja Nasreddin."
Where did the famous rogue come from?
Despite the fact that Nasruddin Afandi is the most popular character of all oriental fairy tales, there is no exact data on whether he really existed. There are several references to a man who lived in the city of Akshehir (the territory of modern Turkey), from whom the image of Nasreddin was allegedly written off. However, the question of the existence of a historical person remains the subject of heated debate.
When did the hero live
In almost every folklore tradition of different nations, there is a character very similar to Afandi. So, for example, in Russia we have known Ivan the Fool since childhood, in the Arab countries we have our own Joh, the Kazakhs have the character Omirbek, the Armenians love their Pula Pugi. Nasruddin Afandi is widespread among the Turkic peoples, which is probably why the Uzbeks, as the largest ethnic group, consider this character their native.
Surprisingly, even in the Google search engine "Nasruddin Afandi Latifalari" (from the Uzbek language translates as "jokes about Afandi") is the most popular query. If we talk about the emergence of various anecdotes with his participation, then they appeared around the XIII century. It would be logical to assume that the historical figure - the prototype of Nasreddin, lived at the same time.
Literary character of the hero
The legendary character, who came from Eastern oral folklore, is a hero with the wisdom of a philosopher, wit and cunning of a rogue, a cheerful optimist character and unquenchable love for his people. It is known that Nasruddin Afandi was a keen connoisseur of the language, had incredible eloquence, and therefore could find a way out of any situation in his favor thanks to the “sharp language”. His most faithful companion is a donkey, who is credited with a living mind and great devotion to his master.
It is also worth noting that this hero was a great lover of mockery at emirs, khans and other officials. He invariably defended the rights of the common people, preached to people the doctrine of "light": to love one's neighbor, to do good, to protect the weak, to be optimistic about things and never lose heart.
It is enough to type in the search engine the following query "Nasruddin Afandi Uzbek tilida" (Uzbek) to make sure that this hero was a supporter of Sufi philosophy. In this Turkic language, the word "afandi" means "comrade." It was not without reason that they called him that, because he was a vivid example of a man who always stood up for the weak, never abandoned in trouble and shared the sorrows and joys of life with his people.
Afandi Life Principles
From the content of witty notes and stories about this national hero, we can conclude that the philosophy of "Sufi" was the main guideline of Nasruddin. It is expressed in the ideas of love and compassion for one's neighbor. In the middle of the VIII century, a new trend arose in Islam, which gained immense popularity among the nobility and ordinary people. Sufism is reflected in many works of literature. The most famous follower of this philosophy was Naqshbandi Alisher Navoi.
Nasruddin was also a supporter of Sufi philosophy, he preached love, kindness and mercy. Indeed, despite the fact that this character was a rogue and mischievous person who often gambled, he deeply loved his people and helped the poor and destitute in every way.
Legends are known where he sacrifices his life to save the elderly and children. Afandi is one of the most beloved folk heroes in Uzbekistan, and therefore it is not surprising that legends are written about him as a fighter for freedom and justice. He deservedly stands in a place of honor among the famous ancient heroes.
Nasruddin Afandi in the cinema
One of the most striking creations of Uzbek Soviet cinema is the film "Nasruddin in Bukhara", the plot of which is based on the novel by writer Leonid Solovyov. It was shot back in 1943. Many believe that this was done specifically to raise the spirit of Uzbek soldiers.
In the film, the hero returns to his native Bukhara just at the time when the great emir was making his “fair” trial over the poor peasant (peasant) Niyaz. He owed a large sum to the greedy merchant Jafar, according to the verdict of the emir, the poor old man is obliged to return hundreds of gold in an hour. However, he does not have that much money, and he will have to give his beautiful daughter into the hands of the greedy Jafar. Only the valiant Nasruddin is able to save them from slavery, but the trouble is, Afandi has only one tanga in his pocket. He will have to use his ingenuity and cunning.
