English translation

Nimshehit is a well-known Uyghur poet of the 20th century. Nimshehit is the penname of Ermiye Eli Sayrami. It means “Half martyr”. He was born in Tezekqayghu village of Sayram Town of Bay County in 1904. In 1928, he went to Kashgar to study in the “Khanliq Medrese” (Royal Madrassah). He worked as a secretary when the East Turkistan Islamic Republic was established in Kashgar in 1933. When the Chinese Dungan army led by Ma Zhongyin attacked Kashgar, he fought in the front line as a soldier. He was injured by a bullet in his neck and nearly died, and so he was given the nickname of “Nimshehit”.

After recovering from his injury, he returned to Bay county in 1934. From the end of 1936 to January 1945, he worked as an editor for Aksu Newspaper along with the famous poet Lutpulla Mutellip. He wrote his famous poem “Bilim ishqida” (Love for knowledge) in 1936. When the East Turkistan Republic Army liberated Bay County in October 1945, he worked for the army’s “History writing” office as a writer. Beginning in 1948, he worked as an editor for “Ittipaq” (United) magazine, and he wrote this poem “Aldida” (Before) in that year. In 1956, as part of the all-China pilgrimage group, he visited ten countries in the Middle East.

During the Cultural Revolution he was sent by the regime to 13th Village of Ombash Town, Bay County, and on 24th August 1971, he was brutally killed there by the Red Guards. He was the author of many poems. His collected poems were published in Urumchi 2008 under the title “Aldida”. He is always remembered by Uyghurs reciting and singing his poems.
(From translator)