Description of Manuscript Copy No. 596 of "Shahnomayi Andalib"

Abstract

The Kokand Khanate holds an important place in the cultural and political history of Central Asia, with its events documented through both prose and poetic forms that reflect the intellectual and artistic spirit of the period. Among the surviving sources, the manuscript Shahnomayi Andalib is particularly valuable, as it narrates the turbulent events of 1842–1843 in verse and prose, while also embodying the literary creativity of its authors. Two main manuscript copies of this work exist, preserved under inventory numbers 596 and 696 at the Abu Rayhon Beruni Institute of Oriental Studies. Although earlier scholars such as Aziz Kayyumov and Shodmon Vohidov provided preliminary observations, and translations into the Uzbek Cyrillic alphabet were later published, a complete scholarly description of manuscript No. 596 had not been undertaken. This study provides a scientific description of manuscript No. 596, examining its physical features, script, seals, colophons, and textual content. The manuscript contains four historical works—Muntakhabut Tavorikh, Hadiqatul Anvar, Shahnomayi Andalib, and Shahnomayi Devona Mutrib—each covering aspects of the Kokand Khanate’s history and enriching one another in content. Comparative analysis shows that manuscript No. 596 preserves a more complete and accurate version of Shahnomayi Andalib than copy No. 696. By offering a detailed codicological and textual description, the study establishes manuscript No. 596 as a reliable source for future research on Kokand historiography and literary tradition. The findings underscore the necessity of cataloging, preserving, and studying such manuscripts as integral parts of Uzbekistan’s cultural and intellectual heritage.