Alisher Navoi played a pivotal role in elevating the Chagatai language (the precursor to modern Uzbek) to a refined literary language. Before his time, Persian dominated the literary and intellectual landscape of Central Asia, and Turkic languages were often considered unsuitable for high literature. However, Navoi challenged this perception by demonstrating that Chagatai was just as expressive, sophisticated, and capable of conveying deep poetic and philosophical ideas as Persian.
His most famous work on this subject, Muhakamat al-Lughatayn ("The Judgment of Two Languages"), written in 1499, is an in-depth comparison of Persian and Chagatai. In this work, Navoi highlights the linguistic richness of Chagatai, arguing that it has a broader vocabulary and a more natural ability to express emotions, stories, and philosophical thoughts. He provides numerous poetic examples to prove that Turkic poetry can be just as elegant and meaningful as Persian.
Navoi’s decision to write in Chagatai instead of Persian was not just a linguistic choice—it was a cultural statement. He wanted to strengthen Turkic identity and encourage writers to embrace their native language. His influence led to a golden age of Chagatai literature, inspiring later poets such as Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire. Even today, Navoi is celebrated as the father of Uzbek literature, and his works remain essential reading for scholars and poets studying Turkic literary traditions.