It is the duty of us, your students, to remember you always and to pray for you. Yet when a special day is…

Assalamu alaykum, my esteemed teachers!

It is the duty of us, your students, to remember you always and to pray for you. Yet when a special day is set aside for teachers, it turns out to be a good thing after all — one can break free for a while from the claws of this faithless world, visit you, and once again enjoy the blessing of seeing you.

Without a teacher nothing can be done. Without a teacher no door will open. Without a teacher the world is darkness.

Today, on the Day of Teachers and Mentors, I wanted to leaf through the book of my memory, recall each of my teachers, and mention what they taught me.

First of all, my teacher at school who taught me the letters and, holding my hands, taught me to write — Salimakhon opa Norkhonova.

Discipline, order and devotion had permeated Salimakhon opa’s whole being. For me she will always remain a classic teacher in the full sense of the word.

The school principal Dadakhon aka Otakhonov, and his daughter E’tiborkhon opa;

our language and literature teacher Muqaddas opa Dadaboyeva, who always supported me;

Dilnavoz opa Shokarimova, who wanted more than anyone for me to become a writer;

Muyassar opa Ergasheva, who awakened in me a love of history;

my wise and sagacious teacher Matluba opa Mirsoatova;

my Russian language teachers, who were extraordinarily devoted to me:

Dilfuza opa Tursunova;

Dilfuza opa Qudratova;

Shahlo opa;

my chemistry teachers Dilnoza opa;

Dilfuza opa Jumaboyeva;

our language and literature teacher Dilafruz opa Jumaboyeva, a deeply cultured woman of profound knowledge;

my teachers Umrzoq Norboyevich and Bakhtiyor Isroilovich, who helped my worldview truly come to terms with life;

my teachers Anvarkhon aka Ahmedov and Sobirjon aka Inomov, who taught me the craft of writing and editing;

Tokhtamurod aka Hasanboyev, who taught me newspaper work —

all these esteemed teachers of mine guided me and gave me knowledge until I became a university student.

At the National University of Uzbekistan named after Mirzo Ulugbek: academician Shuhrat Sirojiddinov;

Dilnavoz opa Yusupova in classical literature;

Nurboy Jabborov in the literature of the Enlightenment movement;

Uzoq Joraqulov in world literature;

the humble, late Dilmurod Kholdorov;

Bahodir Karim in literary theory;

Abdughafur Rasulov in literary criticism;

Nasimkhon Rahmon in ancient literature;

Omonulla Madayev in folklore;

Hamidulla Boltaboyev in the history of Sufism;

Abdumurod Tilavov in manners and ethics;

Rashid Zohid in understanding a text and analyzing it closely and soundly;

my late teacher Abdurauf Roziqov and Bakhtiyor Mengliyev in linguistics;

and my teacher, the Navoi scholar Olimjon Davlatov, who has guided me at every step of my life and been an example in every way — I am happy that such giants taught me and that I was their student.

Praise be to my Allah, who granted me to learn from such great people!

As time passed, I came to realize that I had been a very ill-mannered student.

I feel sorrow and regret for all my disobedience. I have repented.

Today I feel I have come to understand a little of the worth and rank of teachers.

Today it is as clear as day to me that for a person to be truly a student and a seeker of knowledge is the greatest of ranks.

I regarded these dear people as my teachers; should they call me their student, it would be a kindness to this humble servant.

In these moments I ask them to forgive the impertinence I showed them out of youth and willfulness.

I would say to all students: do not hurt any of your teachers. Even if your abilities overflow, even if your knowledge fills your head to bursting, restrain yourself.

Do not say, “This teacher is strong, that one is weak.”

Take the knowledge you need, and take from your teachers both their knowledge and their prayers! Then you will never regret it!

My dear teachers!

I am in your debt. No service or gratitude will ever be enough to repay this debt.

I congratulate you on your holiday!

May your lives be long, and may your honor always shine on high!

Never stop raising and educating the children of our great Homeland and our great people through your sincere and devoted service!

May my Lord accept all your good deeds!

May your faces be bright in both worlds!

Your student, Akrom Malik.