Magtymguly Pyragy
Magtymguly Pyragy | |
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 A Soviet Union stamp with an artistic depiction of Magtymguly Pyragy, 1983 | |
| Native name | مخدومقلی فراغی |
| Born | Magtymguly c. 1724 Hajji Qushan, Khorasan, Safavid Iran |
| Died | c. 1782 Giňjaý, Akdepe (vicinity of the Etrek river), Khorasan, Qajar Iran |
| Resting place | Aq Taqeh-ye Qadim, Golestan Province, Iran |
| Pen name | Pyragy (Feraghi) |
| Occupation | Spiritual leader, philosophical poet, sufi, traveller |
| Language | Turkmen, Persian, Arabic |
| Nationality | Turkmen |
| Alma mater | Idris Baba Madrassah, Gögeldaş Madrassah, (Emirate of Bukhara), Şirgazy Madrassah, (Khanate of Khiva) |
| Period | Golden Age of Turkmen literature |
| Genre | Poetry, qoshuk form |
| Subject | Patriotism, social inequality, love |
| Literary movement | Realism |
| Notable works | Türkmeniň |
| Spouse | Akgyz (disputed) |
| Parents | Döwletmämmet Azady, Orazgül (disputed) |
Magtymguly Pyragy (Persian: مخدومقلی فراغی Makhdumqoli[a] Farāghi; Turkmen: Magtymguly Pyragy; Turkmen pronunciation: [mɑɣtɯmɢʊlɯ pɯɾɑːɣɯ]; Turkish: Mahtumkulu Firaki;[2] c. 1724 – 1782),[3] born Magtymguly, was a Turkmen spiritual leader, philosophical poet, Sufi and traveller who is considered to be the most famous figure in Turkmen literary history.[4]
Magtymguly is the greatest representative of Turkmen literature, credited with the creation of Turkmen written literature, and whose literary form became a powerful symbol of the historical and the incipient national consciousness of the Turkmen people.[5] He is part of a unique period in the cultural history of Central Asia, with his exceptional talent projecting his personal poetic synthesis onto the next generation of poets of the region.[6]
In a wider context, Magtymguly is often placed alongside major figures of the Turkic literary world such as Hoja Ahmad Yasawi, Yunus Emre, Ali-Shir Nava'i and Fizuli.[7]
Biography
Early life and education
Magtymguly was born in Haji Qushan, a village near the city of Gonbad-e Qabus in the modern-day province of Golestan, Iran, the northern steppes of which are known as Turkmen Sahra (Turkmen steppes). It was part of the extensive Safavid Empire in the first half of the 18th century.
Magtymguly's name means "slave of Magtym", where Magtym is one of the sacred lineages among the Turkmen people. However, the poet, along with his name, also used a distinct nom de plume or makhlas in his poems, which was "Feraghi". It comes from Arabic and means "the one separated from" happiness, or union with his beloved.[8]
Magtymguly's father was Döwletmämmet Azady, himself an educated poet.[9] His father was also a local teacher and mullah, and was highly regarded by his people.[10] Magtymguly's mother's name was probably Orazgül, though this claim is not universally accepted.[11][better source needed] Not much is known about Magtymguly's siblings, nor how many there were at all. Prominent Turkmen historian A.Aşyrow, who conducted substantial research on Magtymguly's biography, names Abdylla and Mämmetsapa as his brothers and Zübeýda as his sister.[12][better source needed]
Magtymguly received his early education in the Turkmen, Persian and Arabic languages from his father Azady.[13] He continued his studies in various madrassahs (religious school of higher learning), including Idris Baba madrassah in the village of Gyzyl Aýak, Gögeldaş madrassah in Bukhara and Şirgazy madrassah in Khiva.[14]
Magtymguly provided basic information about himself, his family and children in his poetry. In his poem "Äleme belgilidir (Known in the world), Magtymguly says: "Tell those who enquire about me that I am a Gerkez, I hail from Etrek and my name is Magtymguly", identifying his homeland as the banks of the Etrek River and expressing his identity through his tribe.[15]
Later life
In 1750s, while studying in Bukhara, Magtymguly became friends with a Turkmen from Syria, Nuri Kazim ibn Bahr. He was a highly educated person and bore the spiritual title of Mawlana. Together with Nuri Qasim, Magtymguly travelled through the territories of present-day Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and crossed Afghanistan reaching Northern India.[16]
After finishing his studies and returning home, Magtymguly worked as a silversmith; he also taught local children and was engaged in writing poetry.[17][better source needed] He developed a realistic style of writing about 18th-century Turkmens that became very popular and led to him becoming one of the most cherished Turkmen poets of all time. He was a devout naqshbandi Sufi, who was said to have travelled throughout all of the lands comprising modern Turkmenistan, teaching and praying for the salvation of his people.
Magtymguly traveled extensively during his lifetime, mostly to widen his erudition, with the territories of present-day Azerbaijan, India, Iran and Uzbekistan among the countries known to have been visited by him.[18]
Not much is known about Magtymguly's family life. He was unable to marry a woman he loved from his own village, Meňli, whom he dedicated a great deal of his love poems.[18] It may be implied though, through some of his poems and several other sources, that he was married to the wife of his deceased brother, Akgyz, after he was asked to do so by the local council of aksakgals (esteemed elders).[19][better source needed]
The following is the excerpt from Magtymguly's Aýryldym (Separated) poem dedicated to Meňli (in original Turkmen and its English translation):[20][better source needed]
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Aýryldym gunça gülümden.
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I am separated from my flower.
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Magtymguly's brothers Abdylla and Mämmetsapa disappeared, presumably while on a mission on behalf of their people in Iran, and his two children[21][better source needed] died young. Magtymguly was also pained by the death of his father, with whom he had maintained close relations throughout his life.[17][better source needed] Some of Magtymguly's poetry, along with stories collected from Turkmen oral traditions, suggest he was taken prisoner, likely in Mashhad, Iran. It is unknown who took him captive, but such events were common in 18th-century Iran and Turkmenistan. A servant of the ruler, who was also a Turkmen, allegedly aided Magtymguly's escape.[17][better source needed]
Magtymguly died in 1807 in the place known as Giňjaý, situated on the bank of Etrek River,[22][better source needed] while his resting place is in the village of Aq Taqeh-ye Qadim, in Golestan Province, Iran. Nowadays, his tomb is the site of pilgrimages at which prayers and Sufi "dhikrs" are performed by members of different ethnic groups.[23][18]
Sufism and mysticism
| Part of a series on Islam Sufism |
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A number of Magtymguly's poems display Sufistic philosophical attitudes that stress certain teachings and practices of the Quran and the sunnah, describing ethical and spiritual goals.[24] Just as a number classical poets of the time, he often stated and described his pristine love to God and the prophet in his poems, as in his Söýmüşem seni poem: [25]
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Ýa habyp, Hak resuly sen,
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Note: The first four lines is the original (Turkmen) language of the poem written using Arabic alphabet as in one of the earliest manuscripts, while next are in modern Turkmen alphabet; English translation is provided further down.
- 1
- عاشق فراق دير عرضين
- روزه نماز ديان فرضين
- Aşyk Pyrak diýer arzyn,
- Roza, namaz diýen parzyn,
- Feraghi-in-love will state his will,
- Our sacred duty is to pray and fast,
- 2
- بوينومزدا اوش بو قرضين
- جان چقمان بريب كچلی
- Boýnumyzda uşbu karzyn,
- Jan çykman berip geçeli!
- We have this debt on our shoulders,
- Let's return it before we leave!
Sufism is also present in Magtymguly's Bady-sabany görsem (If I could feel the Eastern breeze) poem, where he wishes to see all the renowned Sufis of the East:
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Dehistanyň baýrynda,
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All three people Magtymguly wishes to have seen (known) are considered prominent figures in Sufism, with Bahauddin being the founder of one of the largest Sufi Sunni orders, the Naqshbandi.[26]
It is also believed that Magtymguly's father, Azady, was also a Sufi.[27][better source needed]
Political ideals
Magtymguly promoted the idea of keeping the "Turkmen way" sacred and of maintaining the unity and integrity of the Turkmen people. During his lifetime, his efforts had minimal success overcoming the existing tribal loyalties and rivalries.[28] His poem Bäşimiz is an exemplary illustration of the call for unity.
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Türkmenler baglasa bir ýere bili,
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If all Turkmens joined forces at one place,
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The Turkmen tribes of the 18th century were torn by internal violence and the aggression of powerful neighbors. Much of Magtymguly's poetry depicts the suffering of the common people caused by the selfishness of those in power.[29][better source needed] Magtymguly criticized rulers and religious figures for their exploitation of the poor and their mockery of justice in such stanzas as:[30][better source needed]
Khans of Gökleň have been spoiled,
They think we do not deserve any comfort.
They took away all our belongings,
We could not do anything but watch them.
Poetry
Magtymguly was one of the first Turkmen poets to introduce the use of classical Chagatai, the court language of the Khans of Central Asia, as a literary language, incorporating many Turkmen linguistic features.[31] His poetry exemplifies a trend towards increased use of Turkic languages rather than Persian; he is revered as the founder of Turkmen poetry, literature and language.[32] His poetry gave start to an era litterateurs depict as the "Golden age" in Turkmen literature.[33][better source needed] Magtymguly is widely considered holy among Turkmen communities and his poems are often quoted as proverbs in Turkmen society.[34][better source needed] Magtymguly's literary genre mostly adhered to realism.[35][better source needed]
Unlike his father or another prominent Turkmen poet of the era, Andalib, Magtymguly employed strophic form, usually quatrains (qoshuk) for his poems making them syllabic. Vast majority of his poems are in the form of folk Turkmen songs, qoshuk and aydish, with the latter being a form of musical contest usually involving two poets.[8]
Magtymguly's first poem "By night when I was asleep ... Revelation" is thought to have been composed following an incident that occurred when Magtymguly was a child. His family were invited to a wedding, but Magtymguly fell asleep, so his parents left him behind. As he slept, he began to foam at the mouth and his parents were called back to the house. When his father awoke him, Magtymguly recited his first poem.[30][better source needed] Another of Magtymguly's poems recounts a dream in which Omar Khayyam bestowed upon him the gift of poetic invention.[36][better source needed]
Magtymguly's poetry is often personal and takes up universal themes. His work includes elegies on the deaths of his father and children, the disappearance of his brothers, incitements to Turkmen unity, tirades against unjust mullahs and khans, praises of religious figures (such as the Twelve Imams), and laments at losing his lover to another man.[37][better source needed]
On one occasion, Magtymguly's village was raided and his possessions, including poetry manuscripts, were carried away on a camel. The camel slipped, spilling the manuscript into the Etrek River. Upon seeing this, Magtymguly composed the following lines: "Flood took my manuscript, thus leaving me behind with tears in my eyes".[30] The poem also contains the lines:
"Making my dear life lost to all that's good,
An evil fate wrought awesome sacrilege,
Hurling the books I'd written to the flood,
To leave me bookless with my grief and rage."[30]
Although Magtymguly apparently recorded much of his poetry, none of the original texts are currently known. The existence of a few manuscripts is chronicled by scholars working under the Russian Empire. Following the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, however, Soviet policy regarded texts written in the Arabic script as religious, leading to the destruction of many of his manuscripts. Many Turkmen who possessed manuscripts buried them while fleeing the Soviet Union to Iran.[38][better source needed]
The following is Magtymguly's impressive work[39] - Türkmeniň (of the Turkmen), with the text transliterated into Turkmen (Latin) letters, whereas the original language is preserved. Second column is the poem's Turkish translation, third one is the Azerbaijani translation, while the last one is the English translation.
| Turkmen[40] | Turkish[41] | English[40] |
|---|---|---|
Jeýhun bilen bahry-Hazar arasy, |
Ceyhun ile Bahr-ı Hazar arası, |
Between the Jeyhun and the Khazar sea, |
Hak sylamyş bardyr onuň saýasy, |
Hak sıylamış vardır onun sayesi, |
The Lord has exalted him and placed him under His protection. |
Al-ýaşyl bürenip çykar perisi, |
Al yeşil bürünüp çıkar perisi |
His fairy-maids go forth clad in red and green, |
Ol merdiň ogludyr, mertdir pederi, |
O merdin oğludur, merttir pederi, |
He is the son of a hero - a hero his father, |
Köňüller, ýürekler bir bolup başlar, |
Gönüller, yürekler bir olup başlar, |
Hearts, breasts and heads are at one, |
Köňül howalanar ata çykanda, |
Gönül havalanır ata çıkanda, |
His heart rejoices as he mounts his horse, |
Gapyl galmaz, döwüş güni har olmaz, |
Gafil kalmaz dövüş günü har olmaz, |
On the day of battle he is not caught unaware, |
Tireler gardaşdyr, urug ýarydyr, |
Tireler kardeştir, uruk yaridir, |
The tribes are brothers, clans are good friends, |
Serhoş bolup çykar, jiger daglanmaz, |
Sarhoş olup çıkar ciğer dağlanmaz, |
He sets out in high spirits, sorrow feels not, |
Legacy
27 June is celebrated in Turkmenistan as "the Day of Workers of Culture and Arts and the poetry of Magtymguly Fragi".[42]
Monuments
Monuments to Magtymguly Pyragy are installed in cities across the former USSR, including Kyiv (Kiev), Astrakhan, Tashkent,[43] and Khiva, as well as in Iran and Turkey. A monument to Magtymguly made of concrete and natural stone was erected in Magtymguly Square on Magtymguly Avenue in the center of Ashgabat in 1971.[44]
Toponyms
- Magtymguly is a city in far south-western Turkmenistan in Balkan Province, the administrative center of Magtymguly District.[45]
- Magtymguly is a zone in a gas and oil field in Turkmenistan.[46]
Institutions and organizations
The following are named after Magtymguly:
- Academy of Sciences
- Turkmen State University[47]
- Magtymguly National Institute of Language, Literature and Manuscripts[48]
- Magtymguly Musical and Drama Theater in Ashgabat.[49]
- Youth Organization of Turkmenistan[50]
- A library in Kyiv.[51]
Cinema
- Makhtumkuli (1968, producer Alti Karliyev) — the role was played by Hommat Mulluk.[52]
- Fragi – Razluchyonnyy so schastyem (1984, producer Khodzhakuli Narliev) — the role was played by Annaseid Annamuhammedov.[53]
Postage
In 1959, the USSR issued a postage stamp to mark the 225th anniversary of the birth of Magtymguly.[54] In 1983, the USSR issued another stamp to mark the 250th anniversary of his birth.[55] Turkmenistan issued a 10 manat banknote bearing his likeness in 2009.
Other
- In 1974, an orchestral composition by Veli Mukhatov was created "In memory of Magtymguly".[56]
- In 1992, the Magtymguly International Prize in the field of Turkmen language and literature was established.[57]
- In 2013, the composer Mamed Huseynov wrote an opera called "Monologues of Magtymguly Pyragy".[58]
- From 2002 to 2008, the month of May in Turkmenistan bore the name "Magtymguly".[59]
- In 2014, the Magtymguly Pyragy Medal was established as a reward for great achievements in the study, dissemination and promotion of the creative heritage of Magtymguly.[60]
- A Turkmen dry cargo ship is named "Magtymguly".[61]
See also
- History of Turkmenistan
- Turkmen literature
- Turkmen music
- Bagşy
- Sufism
- Döwletmämmet Azady
- Magtymguly International Prize
Notes
References
- ^ The Cambridge History of Islam. Vol. 2. p. 478.
- ^ Gudar, Nurcan Oznal (2016). Mahtumkulu Guldeste. Istanbul: Salon Yayinlari. p. 13. ISBN 978-605-9831-48-2.
- ^ Clark, Larry (1998). Turcologica 34, Turkmen Reference Grammar. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 16. ISBN 3-447-04019-X.
- ^ Levin, Theodore; Daukeyeva, Saida; Kochumkulova, Elmira (2016). Music of Central Asia. Indiana University press. p. 128. ISBN 978-0-253-01751-2.
- ^ Gross, Jo-Ann (1992). Muslims in Central Asia: Expressions of Identity and Change. Duke University Press. p. 167.
- ^ Gross 1992, p. 187.
- ^ Gudar 2016, p. 11.
- ^ a b Gross 1992, p. 175.
- ^ Gross 1992, pp. 169–170.
- ^ Ekber, Kadir (1999). "Mahtumkulu". Turkic World Studies (in Turkish). 3 (2). Wisconsin University: Aegean University: 278.
- ^ Magtymguly, Selected Poems. Vol. 1 (in Turkmen). Ashgabat. 1983. p. 26.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Ashyrov 2014, pp. 242–265.
- ^ Gudar 2016, pp. 12–13.
- ^ Brummel, Paul (2005). Turkmenistan. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 195. ISBN 1-841-62144-7.
- ^ Gudar 2016, p. 12.
- ^ Biray, Hummet (1992). The Diwan of Makhtumkulu (in Turkish). Michigan University: Ministry of Culture of the Turkish Republic. pp. 11–15.
- ^ a b c Azemoun, Youssef. "The Significant History"
- ^ a b c Gudar 2016, p. 13.
- ^ Ashyrov 2014, p. 332.
- ^ "Aýryldym". Türkmen kultur ojagynyň internet sahypasy (Website of the Turkmen Culture). 2 May 2018.
- ^ "Magtymguly Pyragy". Gollanma, Information center. 15 November 2011.
- ^ Magtymguly, Selected Poems (in Turkmen). Ashgabat. 1941. p. 14.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Gross 1992, p. 169.
- ^ Gross 1992, pp. 175–179.
- ^ Gudar 2016, pp. 13–14.
- ^ Mullerson, Rein (2014). Central Asia. Taylor and Francis. ISBN 9781317792529.
- ^ Ashyrov 2014, p. 282.
- ^ Brummel, Paul (2005). Turkmenistan. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 15. ISBN 1-841-62144-7.
- ^ "Turkmenistan in the 16th and 17th centuries". New Ashgabat. New City, Old Traditions: 4.
- ^ a b c d Azemoun, Youssef. "Gara Ishan."
- ^ Clark, Larry, Michael Thurman, and David Tyson. "Turkmenistan." Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan: Country Studies. Comp. Glenn E. Curtis. Washington, D.C.: Division, 1997. 318.
- ^ Abazov, Rafis. Culture and Customs of the Central Asian Republics (Westport, Connecticut 2007) 89.
- ^ Geldiyew, G (2016). Edebiýat (Literature). Ashgabat: Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan.
- ^ Bakulin, F. "The Turkmen's Songs and Their Poet, Makhtumkuli." Journal of Makhtumkuli Studies 1(1997).
- ^ Magtymguly, Source of Inspiration (in Turkmen). Ashgabat: Turkmen State Printing Service. 2014. p. 14.
- ^ Bakulin, F. "Makhtumkuli."
- ^ Azemoun, Youssef. "The Significant History."
- ^ Azemoun, Youssef, "The Significant History."
- ^ Gross 1992, p. 180.
- ^ a b Gross 1992, pp. 180–182.
- ^ Gudar 2016, pp. 24–25.
- ^ "Culture is the spiritual light of the people (in Turkmen)". Zaman Turkmenistan. "The proclamation of June 27 of each year as "the Day of the Workers of Culture and Arts and the poetry of Magtymguly Fragi" makes the workers of culture and art even more proud.
- ^ На ул. Махтумкули в Ташкенте открыт барельеф поэта
- ^ Big Soviet Encyclopedia (TU). Moscow. 1978. p. 28.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "Turkmenistan Presidential Decree No. 4066 of 4 June 2004" (PDF) (in Turkmen). 4 June 2004.
- ^ "На месторождении Махтумкули туркменского сектора Каспия получен новый приток нефти" (in Russian). 25 January 2015.
- ^ "Turkmen State University named after Magtymguly (TSU)". University Directory Worldwide.
- ^ "Magtymguly National Institute of Language, Literature and Manuscripts". Science of Turkmenistan.
- ^ http://www.turkmenistan.ru/ru/node/12907 Magtymguly Musical and Drama Theater opens in Ashgabat.
- ^ "PRESIDENT GURBANGULY BERDIMUHAMEDOV ATTENDED THE VI CONGRESS OF THE YOUTH ORGANIZATION OF TURKMENISTAN NAMED AFTER MAKHTUMKULI". 11 September 2019.
- ^ "Library named after Makhtumkuli in Kyiv hosts creative anniversary evening of the poet". 26 May 2019.
- ^ "Alty Karliev (in Russian)". Kino-teatr.
- ^ "Fragi – Separated by happiness (in Russian)". Kino-teatr.
- ^ Half a century of Soviet Turkmenistan (in Russian); Philatelist's calendar for 1974. М: Svyaz; 21–27 October 1973.
- ^ "Postage stamp dedicated to Makhtumkuli (250 years)". Postage stamps of Russia, USSR and the World (in Russian).
- ^ "Music born with poetry". Turkmenistan (in Russian).
- ^ "В Туркмении планируют поднять авторитет международной премии им. Махтумкули" (in Russian). 3 February 2008.
- ^ "Zum 290. Jahrestag von Mahtumkuli Fragi (in German)". Turkmenistan-Kultur.
- ^ "Turkmen Go Back to Old Calendar". BBC News. 24 April 2008. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
- ^ "Turkmenistan Altyn Asyr".
- ^ "The tender is for another docking and major repair of the Magtymguly dry-cargo ship of the Department of Trade Fleet of Turkmenistan". 27 September 2013.
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