DUSHANBE, December 12, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- Professor Lola Ismailova, daughter of a prominent Tajik politician of the twentieth century who has made a major contribution to the early history of the Soviet Tajikistan Ibragim Ismailov, died in Dushanbe yesterday, aged 82 after a short illness.

Lola Ismailova was the first Tajik woman to receive the scientific degree of Doctor of Sciences in Biology.  She had worked with Tajik Medical University for more than 40 years.

She became suddenly famous nearly sixty years ago after the magazine Ogonyok printed her photo on its cover.

Known Tajik poet Mumin Qanoat named her “the symbol of Tajik identity.”