GULNAZAR'S REFLECTIONS ON THE THEORY OF POETRY

The article dwells on the people's poet of Tajikistan Gulnazar Keldi`s activities as a literary critic. It is underscored that the poet’s literary activity as a critic extends to several streamlines. These are reviews of books and collections of works by writers and translated literature, articles and essays concerned with literary figures, literary trends of the modern era, poetry, the theory of verse and literary innovation of writers of the Persian-speaking area referring to the late 19<sup>th</sup>, 20<sup>th</sup> and early 21<sup>st</sup>  centuries as well as critical notes and opinions in memoirs, in prefaces to collections of poetry by young poets and in interviews, separate books devoted to the personality and work of word masters Qutbi Kirom and Loiq Sherali. Gulnazar` critical views set out by himself in the book entitled as “Rastokhezi Sukhan” (“Resurrection of the Word”), where he sets out his vision of the literary productions belonging to the pen of the following men-of-letters, they are: Mumin Qanoat, Aminjon Shukuhi, Gaffor Mirzo, Qutbi Kirom, Loiq Sherali, Bozor Sobir, Habibullo Fayzullo, Gulrukhsor, as well as Iranian ones Nimo Yushij, Nodir Nodirpur, Hushang Soy, Akhavon Solis, Ahmad Shomlu, Furugh Farrukhzod, Suhrob Sipehri and others. It is concluded that Gulnazar appears as an excellent expert on literary tenets and movements, and his critical heritage occupies a special place in the literary productions related to literary criticism appertaining to the history of the last 60-ies of the development of modern Tajik literature.