THE ROLE OF NATIONAL IDENTITY IN ALISHER NAVOIY'S LITERARY LEGACY

This paper explores the integral role of national identity in the literary legacy of Alisher Navoiy, a prominent figure of Turkic literature and culture. Writing in the Chagatai language, Navoiy elevated Turkic as a respected literary medium during a time when Persian and Arabic dominated intellectual life. Through his poetry, prose, and philosophical writings, Navoiy cultivated a sense of cultural pride, ethical value, and historical consciousness that contributed deeply to the development of a national identity. His work did not merely reflect the spirit of his time but shaped future understandings of cultural unity and moral responsibility in Central Asia. This article analyzes Navoiy’s linguistic choices, thematic contributions, and the influence of his legacy on the construction of Uzbek and broader Turkic identity—both in his era and in the modern national consciousness.