Khosiat Islamalievna Rustam, PhD (b. 1971, Olmos village, Chust district, Namangan Province, Uzbekistan) is one of the most celebrated literary figures of contemporary Central Asia—an internationally recognized poet, writer, playwright, and translator whose creative work has resonated across continents.
Rustam graduated in 1993 from the Faculty of Journalism of Tashkent State University (now the National University of Uzbekistan), launching a literary life guided by intellectual rigor and artistic boldness. Her pursuit of craft continued at the university’s Higher Literature Course (2001–2004), where she trained among the leading scholars and poets of Uzbekistan.
Her literary excellence and cultural contributions have garnered high recognition within Uzbekistan. In 2004, she received the Medal of Glory, one of the nation’s distinguished state awards, followed in 2016 by the commemorative “25 Years of Independence of Uzbekistan” Medal, honoring her contribution to modern Uzbek literature during a transformative period in national history.
Rustam’s international acclaim is equally significant. She has represented Uzbekistan at numerous global poetry festivals and cultural forums, consistently earning top honors. Among her most notable achievements are: Bursa Cultural Festival, Turkey (2012); Mikayıl Müşfiq International Prize — Azerbaijan (2015); Grand Prize in Poetry — Open Eurasian Literature Festival, Thailand (2018); Resident, University of Iowa International Writers Program (2021); Rasul Rza Prize — Azerbaijan (2021); International Naji Naaman Prize of Poets of the World (2021); “Golden Knight” International Award (2021).
Rustam is also a distinguished prose writer and playwright. Her play Bird That Does Not Fit in the Sky was staged in 2015 by People’s Artist of Uzbekistan Mirza Azizov at the Muqimi Musical Drama Theater, one of the nation’s premier stages. In 2016, she adapted her story Carpet into the screenplay Death Magic, later filmed by director Hilol Nasimov.
As a translator, Rustam has made extraordinary contributions to world literature in Uzbek. Her translations include works by Marina Tsvetaeva, Anna Akhmatova, Boris Pasternak, Yevgeny Yevtushenko, and other major poets from Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and beyond. Her translations have opened doors for Uzbek readers to engage deeply with global poetic traditions.
In recognition of her visionary influence, intercultural contribution, and artistic brilliance across multiple genres, Khosiat Islamalievna Rustam has been selected as the Mundus Artium Prize Laureate for 2025
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