The Portrayal of Religious and Sufi Scholars in Post-Independence Uzbek Dramaturgy

Abstract

This article analyzes the artistic portrayal of religious and Sufi scholars in Uzbek drama during the post-independence era. Specifically, it examines the revival of figures such as Ahmad Yasawi, Baha-ud-Din Naqshband, Imam al-Bukhari, and Mashrab—historical and Sufi personalities—within the context of shifting attitudes toward national and religious values following independence. The study analyzes themes of spirituality, the concept of the "perfect human" (*komil inson*), Sufi philosophy, and national self-awareness as presented in stage works that blend historical truth with artistic fiction.