Rasul Gamzatovich Gamzatov (Avar: ХӀамзатил Расул, IPA: [ħamzatil rasul]; Russian: Расу́л Гамза́тович Гамза́тов, IPA: [rɐˈsul ɡɐmˈzatəvʲɪt͡ɕ ɡɐmˈzatəf] ; 8 September 1923 – 3 November 2003) was probably the most famous poet writing in the Avar language. Among his poems was Zhuravli, which became a well-known Soviet song. He was born on September 8, 1923, in the Avar village of Tsada in the north-east Caucasus. His father, Gamzat Tsadasa, was a well-known bard, heir to the ancient tradition of minstrelsy still thriving in the mountains.

Gamzatov was awarded the prestigious State Stalin Prize in 1952, The Lenin Prize in 1963, and Laureate Of The International Botev Prize in 1981.

Honours and awards

• Hero of Socialist Labour (27 September 1974)
• Order of St. Andrew (8 September 2003) - for outstanding contribution to the development of national literature and public activities
• Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 3rd class (18 April 1999) - for outstanding contribution to the multinational culture of Russia
• Order of the Friendship of Peoples (6 September 1993) - for outstanding contribution to the development of the multinational Soviet literature and productive social activities
• Four Orders of Lenin
• Order of the October Revolution
• Order of the Red Banner of Labour, four times
• Order of Peter the Great
• Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius (Bulgaria)
• Lenin Prize (1963) - for the book "High Star"
• Stalin Prize, third class (1952) - a collection of poems and the poems "The year of my birth"
• State Prize of the RSFSR, Gorky (1980) - for the poem "Take care of mothers'
• People's Poet of Daghestan
• International Award for "Best Poet of the 20th century"
• Writers Award in Asia and Africa "Lotus"
• Jawaharlal Nehru Award
• Ferdowsi Award
• Award of Hristo Botev
• International Prize Sholokhov in art and literature
• Award Lermontov
• Award Fadeeva
• Award Batyr
• Award Mahmoud
• C. Award Stalskiy
• G. Award Tsadasy
• Order of the Golden Fleece (Georgia)