DUSHANBE, October 14, 2011, Asia-Plus -- Events to mark the 100th birthday anniversary of known Tajik poet and public figure Mirzo Tursunzoda are taking place in Tajikistan today. 

The deputy head of Tajik Writers’ Union, Abdulhomid Samadov, says a poetry party devoted to Mirzo Tursunzoda took place in Dushanbe on October 11 and a ceremonial meeting dedicated to the jubilee of the poet is being held at the Opera and Ballet Theater in Dushanbe today.  President Emomali Rahmon is expected to attend the ceremonial meeting at the Opera and Ballet Theater.

Besides, the Tursunzoda Museum is opening at the poet’s home town.  6.3 million somoni have reportedly been allocated from the national budget for construction of a three-story building of the museum in Tursunzoda.

Mirzo Tursunzoda (1911—1977) was an important poet and a prominent politic figure.  Today Tursunzoda has been elevated to the level of a national hero of Tajikistan.  By resident’s decree the title Hero of Tajikistan was given to Mirzo Tursunzoda in 2001 posthumously.  Tursunzoda''s face appears on the front of the one somoni note.  The town of Tursunzoda is named in his honor.