SADRIDDIN AYNI AS A FIGURE OF UZBEK-TAJIK LITERARY DIALOGUE IN XX AND EARLY XXI CENTURY RESEARCH

The article examines scientific approaches to studying the life and creative heritage of Sadriddin Ayni within the context of Uzbek-Tajik literary ties. Research focuses on studies where the writer's personality is examined not only within the framework of Tajik literary history but also as a part of the common cultural space of Central Asia. A special place is occupied by the analysis of works dedicated to Ayni's biography, his enlightenment activities, his role in the development of the literary language, his ties with the Uzbek cultural environment, and the perception of his heritage during the years of independence. The material of the article is built upon the understanding of Ayni as a transitional era writer who combined classical Eastern tradition, enlightenment ideas, and new forms of realistic prose. Particular attention is paid to how modern researchers reinterpret its significance for Uzbek-Tajik literary interaction. The article emphasizes that Ayni's legacy maintains its scientific value as a source for studying intercultural dialogue, linguistic reform, and the region's literary memory.