Introduction. In 1994, during the First Gathering of Semnan Musicians, the author accompanied his father, Maestro Nasrollah Nasehpour. In a private conversation, Haj Ghorban Soleimani - who had been invited to perform at the event - praised Khalifa Nazarli Mahjubi's vocal abilities and dotar playing, expressing deep admiration for his techniques and offering many kind words about his artistry. Khalifa's charismatic presence in Turkmen music, along with Haj Ghorban's insightful remarks, were among the key inspirations that motivated the author to compile the following biography.

A Short Biography of Khalifa Nazarli Mahjubi

The revered master of Turkmen music, vocalist and dotar player, "Khalifa" Nazarli Mahjubi was born in 1929 in Gareh Makher, a village near Gonbad-e Kavus in Iran's Golestan Province. He began learning the dotar at the age of 11 under the guidance of his father, Urkut.

In an interview, Mahjubi recounted that he deepened his knowledge of Turkmen vocal and instrumental traditions under the tutelage of several renowned masters, including Ghareh Bakhshi, Ghelich-jan Bakhshi, Asher Bakhshi, Goja Bakhshi (real name Aman Taghan Kuchaknejad), Valim Kartakeh, and finally Ghol Haji, who resided in Bandar-e Torkaman in Iran's Golestan province.

After the establishment of Radio Gorgan, Khalifa Nazarli Mahjubi worked there while also teaching Turkmen vocal music and dotar at the Department of Culture in Gonbad-e Kavus. In addition to his musical contributions, he was actively involved in farming and animal husbandry.

Khalifa Mahjubi achieved complete mastery over all four "maqams" and the four principal styles of Turkmen music. Over a career spanning more than 55 years, he devoted himself to Turkmen dotar and vocal music, earning acclaim in both national festivals and on international stages, including in Avignon, France. He was widely recognized as the last "Khalifa" of Turkmen music in Iran, a title signifying the highest rank among "Bakhshi" minstrels.

Although he spent most of his life in the village of Chay Qushan, Mahjubi passed away in 2003 in Kollijeh, located in the Dashli Borun region.

Throughout his life, he trained many prominent students, including Dini Garkazi, Ashur Galdi Garkazi, Araz Mohammad Bakhushi, Ghelich Anvari, Dordi Tarik (real name Mohammad Esmailzadeh), Mennad Ahangary, and Mansour Sabouhi.

One of Mahjubi's closest collaborators and companions was "Aneh Ghorban Ghelich Taghani", a dedicated scholar of Turkmen culture and literature, poet, and host at the Turkmen-language radio. He was born in 1946 on "West Shariati" Street in Gonbad-e Kavus. A respected cultural figure in his own right, he passed away in 1998 at the age of 52.

In 1995, with the collaboration of Aneh Ghorban Ghelich Taghani, a 42-minute documentary titled "Khalifa Nazarli Mahjubi" was produced and broadcast. Directed by Mohammadreza Moghaddasian and researched by Mohammadreza Darvishi, the film serves as a valuable tribute to Mahjubi's life and legacy.

References.

• The biography of Khalifa Nazarli Mahjubi published by Hamshahri Online on April 19, 2020.

• Interview with Nazarli Mahjubi titled "Panjeh-ye Eshgh-e Nazarli Mahjubi".

• A short article titled "Do Chehreh-ye Mandegar-e Torkaman Sahra", published by Turkmen Sesi News Website on October 8, 2021.