Magtymguly Pyragy

Magtymguly Pyragy ( Makhdumqoli Farāghi; , ; , born Magtymguly, was an Iranian-Turkmen spiritual leader, philosophical poet, Sufi and traveller, who is considered the most famous figure in Turkmen literary history.

Magtymguly is considered the greatest representative of Turkmen literature, credited with the creation of Turkmen written literature itself, and whose literary form became a powerful symbol of the historical and the incipient national consciousness of the Turkmen people. 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. The poems of the Turkmen poet have been translated into many languages of the world, including English, Russian, Romanian.

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.

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, signifying "slave of Magtym," derives from one of the revered lineages within the Turkmen community. In addition to his given name, the poet adopted a distinctive pen name or makhlas, "Feraghi," in his literary works. It comes from Arabic and means "the one separated from" happiness, or union with his beloved.

Magtymguly's father was , himself an educated poet. His father was also a local teacher and mullah, and was highly regarded by his people.

thumb|right|250px|[[Atrek River, Golestan, the region where Magtymguly was born and lived most of his life]]

Magtymguly received his early education in the Turkmen, Persian and Arabic languages from his father. He also learned ancestral trades such as felt-making and, according to some sources, jewellery.

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<poem>

I'd like to feel the wind of dawn,

On the hills of Dehestan,

I'd like to see Zengi Baba,

Bahauddin, Mirkulal.

</poem>

Political ideals

Magtymguly lived at a time when Turkmen tribes were displaced from their homeland, and plundered as a result of constant clashes with Iran and Khiva. He deeply resented it and expressed his feelings of repentance in his poems. Indeed, Magtymguly express strong social protest in his poems, but his political thought is mostly directed towards the unification of the Turkmen tribes and the establishment of an independent polity for Turkmens.

Poetry

thumb|right|300px|10 manat banknote of Turkmenistan with the image of Magtymguly (2009)

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. 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. Magtymguly's poetry also gave start to an era litterateurs depict as the "Golden age" in Turkmen literature. His literary form became a powerful symbol of the historical and the incipient national consciousness of the Turkmen people.

Unlike his father and 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.

Legacy

Magtymguly is part of a unique period in the cultural history of Central Asia; his exceptional talent projected his personal poetic synthesis onto the next generation of poets of the region.

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.

27 June is celebrated in Turkmenistan as "the Day of Workers of Culture and Arts and the poetry of Magtymguly Fragi".

The International Organization of Turkic Culture declared 2024 the "Year of the Great Poet and Thinker of the Turkic World Magtymguly Pyragy", the anniversary of Magtymguly Pyragy is also included in the list of significant dates celebrated jointly with UNESCO in 2024-2025. In connection with the anniversary, a large-scale plan of festive events was approved in Turkmenistan and other countries, including Uzbekistan.

Monuments

In May 2024, a monument dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the birth of Turkmen poet and philosopher Magtymguly Pyragy was unveiled in Ashgabat at the foot of the Kopetdag mountain range. The 60-meter sculpture of the poet stands on a 20-meter pedestal, to which a majestic staircase with massive granite bowls leads.

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. He is also one of several statues that surround the Independence Monument in Ashgabat. The statues depict people praised in the Ruhnama, a spiritual guide written by Turkmenistan president Saparmurat Niyazov.

Monuments to Magtymguly Pyragy are installed in cities across the former USSR. These include including monument in Astana, Kyiv, Astrakhan (Russia), bas-relief in Tashkent, and Khiva, as well as in Iran and Ankara(Turkey).

A bust of Magtymguly Pyragy was unveiled at Margarita Rudomino All-Russia State Library for Foreign Literature in Moscow, Russia in 2024.

Toponyms

Magtymguly is a city in far south-western Turkmenistan in Balkan Province, the administrative center of Magtymguly District.
Magtymguly is a zone in a gas and oil field in Turkmenistan.

Institutions and organizations

thumb|right|175px|Turkmen commemorative coin depicting Magtymguly

The following are named after Magtymguly:

Turkmen State University
Magtymguly National Institute of Language, Literature and Manuscripts
Magtymguly Musical and Drama Theater in Ashgabat.
Youth Organization of Turkmenistan
A library in Kyiv, Ukraine
Municipal state general education institution School named after Magtymguly Pyragy in the village of Funtovo-1 (Astrakhan Oblast of Russia).
Secondary school named after Magtymguly Pyragy in the daikhan association "Ergesh Sultanov" of the Dusti district (Khatlon region of Tajikistan).

Cinema

Makhtumkuli (1968, producer Alti Karliyev) — the role was played by Hommat Mulluk.
Fragi – Razluchyonnyy so schastyem (1984, producer Khodzhakuli Narliev) — the role was played by Annaseid Annamuhammedov.

Postage

thumb|upright=0.7|1959 postage stamp of the USSR

In 1959, the USSR issued a postage stamp to mark the 225th anniversary of the birth of Magtymguly. In 1983, the USSR issued another stamp to mark the 250th anniversary of his birth.

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".
In 1992, the Magtymguly International Prize was established.
In 2013, the composer Mamed Huseynov wrote an opera called "Monologues of Magtymguly Pyragy".
From 2002 to 2008, the month of May in Turkmenistan bore the name "Magtymguly".
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.
A Turkmen dry cargo ship is named "Magtymguly".

Notes

References

External links

Essay on Magtymguly's Philosophy of Upbringing
Essay on the life and works of the poet
English translations of his poems