Nasreddin Afandi is the hero of many anecdotes, humorous miniatures, as well as satirical tales. Stories about 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. This character is known to the Russian-speaking circle of readers from the book of the Soviet writer Leonid Solovyov "The Tale of Khoja Nasreddin".
Where is the famous rogue from?
Despite the fact that Nasreddin Afandi is the most popular character in all oriental tales, there is no exact data on whether he actually 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 figure remains the subject of heated debate.
When a hero lived
Practically in every folklore tradition of different nations there is a character very similar to Afandi. So, for example, in Russia we have known Ivanushka the Fool since childhood,Arab countries have their own Jokha, Kazakhs know the character Omirbek, Armenians love their Pulu-Pugi. Nasreddin Afandi is common among the Turkic peoples, which is probably why the Uzbeks, as the largest ethnic group, consider this character to be their native.
Surprisingly, even in Google search "Nasreddin Afandi latifalari" (translated from Uzbek as "afandi jokes") is the most popular query. If we talk about the emergence of various anecdotes with his participation, then they appeared around the 13th century. It would be logical to assume that the historical figure, the prototype of Nasreddin, lived at the same time.
Literary image of the hero
The legendary character, which comes from Eastern oral folklore, is a hero with the wisdom of a philosopher, the wit and cunning of a rogue, the cheerful nature of an optimist and unquenchable love for his people. It is known that Nasreddin Afandi was a subtle connoisseur of the language, possessed incredible eloquence, and therefore could find a way out of any situation in his favor thanks to his "sharp tongue". His most faithful companion is the donkey, who is credited with a lively mind and great devotion to his master.
It is also worth noting that this hero was a big fan of mocking emirs, khans and other officials. He invariably defended the rights of the common people, preached to people the doctrine of "light": love your neighbor, do good, protect the weak, look at things optimistically and never lose heart.
It is enough to type in the search engine the following query "Nasreddin Afandi Uzbek tilida" (Uzbek language) to make sure that this hero was an adherent of Sufi philosophy. In this Turkic language, the word "afandi" means "comrade". It was not for nothing that he was called that, because he was a vivid example of a person who always stood up to protect the weak, never left him in trouble and shared the sorrows and joys of life with his people.
Afandi's Life Principles
Based on the content of witty notes and stories about this national hero, we can conclude that Nasreddin's main reference point was the "Sufi" philosophy. It is expressed in the ideas of love and compassion for one's neighbor. In the middle of the 8th 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 the Nakshbandi Alisher Navoi.
Nasreddin was also an adherent of Sufi philosophy, he preached love, kindness and mercy. Indeed, despite the fact that this character was a rogue and mischievous who often gambled, he deeply loved his people and helped the poor and destitute in every possible way.
There are legends where he sacrifices his life to save old people and children. Afandi is one of the most beloved folk heroes in Uzbekistan, and therefore it is not surprising that legends are made about him as a fighter for freedom and justice. He deserves to be honoredplace among the famous ancient heroes.
Nasreddin Afandi at the movies
One of the brightest creations of the Uzbek Soviet cinema is the film "Nasreddin in Bukhara", the plot of which is based on the novel by the writer Leonid Solovyov. It was filmed back in 1943. Many believe that this was done specifically to raise the spirits of the Uzbek soldiers.
In the film, the hero returns to his native Bukhara just at the time when the great emir is administering his "fair" trial on the poor dekhkanin (peasant) Niyaz. He owes 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 pieces in an hour. However, he does not have so much money, and he will have to give his beautiful daughter into the hands of the greedy Jafar. Only the valiant Nasreddin 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 wits and cunning.
Genius of his time
Afandi decides to try his luck and goes to his favorite vacation spot - a teahouse where men gather and play games. He decides to play and puts his coin on the line, luck accompanies him, and the dice thrown by him show the required number of points. A series of games brings him just the right amount to pay off the debt. Outraged, Jafar reports to the emir that some rogue has deprived the merchant of the young beauty Guljan.
Hearing this, the emir desired to see Niyaz's daughter, and when he saw it, he decided to make her his own. Now Nasreddin Afandi (inuzbek.kino) must do what is forbidden, namely, to enter the harem of the ruler and save the girl with whom he has already fallen in love.
He changes clothes and, posing as a famous astronomer-stargazer, enters the emir's palace. This is where all the fun happens.
