Magtymguly Pyragy (1724-1807) was an 18th-century Turkmen thinker and poet who holds a crucial place in the history of world poetry. He began his poetic career at a very young age.
Nuryadyyeva, G (2023) writes about Magtymguly Pyragy, stating that “he is a great thinker and poet whose name reigns in the world of poetry with the power and miracle of words.” Magtymguly’s poems have been translated into several languages (Gulgeldiyeva, 2023). Ataniyazova & Jeyhunov (2024) write that he is a key figure of national identity and education. Philosophers assess Magtymguly’s role as a “model school” for educating the young generation and a “spiritual doctor” who provides guidance on life’s important questions.
He was a poet who held a golden place in the history of Turkmen literature. On this subject, Orazdurdiyevna, Vepayevna & Maksadovna (2023) write that “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 incipient national consciousness of the Turkmen people.”
The main themes of this poet cover courage, patriotism, purity of spirit, love of nature, mercy, respect, kindness, wisdom, humanism, etc. (Nuryadyyeva, 2023). He recited his poems in public and urged people to be the best they can be, to be heroic and honorable. Given that he elevated the Turkmen language to the highest level, he was a very important symbol during Turkmenistan’s independence. Indeed, this poet called for the unity of the Turkmens. According to Müftiler (2023), the poet, who addressed the people in simple Turkmen language, reflected the life, lifestyle, traditions, and customs of the people like a mirror and guided them. He raised his voice against the existing rules and foreign domination and did not bow down to any oppression. In this way, he reached an exalted position in the eyes of his people. Love for the homeland, unity and solidarity, loyalty, hard work, love and respect, preservation of identity/self have been the main themes of the poet’s works.
Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov said: “Magtymguly Pyragy, the great thinker and sage of the East, has taken an eternal place in the hearts of people with his deep wise verses. Pyragy’s works, promoting humanism, honesty and unity, are invaluable values for all mankind. The creativity of Magtymguly Pyragy, the great master of words, is a valuable spiritual and moral school for all times.”
He is an important author for Turkmen patriotism as shown in his poems “Türkmeniň,” “Türkmen binasy,” “Depe nedir, düz nedir,” “Gerekdir,” “Ýigide,” “Ykrarsyz ärden”… His poems describe how courageous, fearless, brave, and loyal the Turkmen are. For example, in the poem “Türkmeniň”:
“Süleýman, Rüstem-u Zal, Jemşit oňa bolmuş geda,
Günde ýüz müň salsa leşger, degmez şanyň belasy.”
Here, he describes how invincible the Turkmen army is. In reality, Magtymguly loved his homeland and tried to elevate it to the highest levels. That is why the poet’s wish was always to encourage Turkmens to love their Motherland as much as possible and to protect it faithfully. In his poem “Aýrylma,” he urged Turkmens never to leave their homeland under any circumstances:
Mestana ýörinçäň gaýry ýurdunda,
Önüp-ösen öz ýurduňdan aýrylma.
Magrur käkilik deý nebsiň ugrunda
Dama düşüp, ganatyňdan aýrylma.
This poet has always called for the unity of the Turkmen homeland, as can be read in the following lines from the poem “Türkmeniň”:
Bir suprada taýýar kylynsa aşlar,
Göteriler ol ykbaly türkmeniň…
“If the dishes are ready on a single tray, it will elevate the destiny of the Turkmens.” The single tray here indicates the need for Turkmen unity through the metaphor of table preparation. He wants the Turkmen state to be eternal, as shown in the lines:
“Hor galmasyn puştdan-puştum
Berkarar döwlet istärin.”
This translates to “May my lineage not be humiliated, I wish for an eternal state.”
Outside of Turkmenistan, he is an important poet for the Turkic world and also Russia. Indeed, TURKSOY declared 2024 the year of commemoration of the thinker, philosopher, and poet Magtymguly Pyragy (Turksoy, 2024). In this context, various events will be organized in the name of Magtymguly Pyragy throughout the Turkic world, especially in Turkmenistan and Turkiye, as well as in cultural, artistic, and political centers around the world. After the 18th century, Turkmen became a written language thanks to the poems of Magtymguly. Although the Turkmen poets who lived before him wrote in Chagatai Turkic, and he himself knew Chagatai Turkic very well, Magtymguly was a poet who used the dialectal characteristics of his tribe and helped Turkmen rise to the status of a written language. This is why he occupies such an important place in the Turkic world. Müftiler (2023) writes that Magtymguly is an important poet who made great contributions to the Turkmen people, language and literature with his works and left deep traces both in his lifetime and in the period after him, and whose influence still continues today. He has been the pinnacle of Turkmen poetry and literature both with his ideas and emotions and his way of looking at life. His works have influenced not only Turkmen literature, but also the literature of all the peoples of the Turkic world.
Moreover, on March 25, 2024, a commemorative event for Magtymguly Pyragy was organized at the United Nations headquarters in New York, USA. The event was organized by TURKSOY and the Permanent Mission of Turkmenistan to the United Nations in cooperation with UNESCO. The event was called “Magtumguly Pyragy’s Path of Peace on the 300th anniversary of his birth.”
Magtymguly holds a crucial place in philosophy. Indeed, he is a wise poet who developed the philosophical ideas not only of the Turkmen people but also of the world, enlightened the artistic mind, and artistically reflected secular life.
He also placed importance on women, especially mothers. For him, in the family, the role of the mother in the education of the daughter is important. He wanted to encourage people to empower women so they can set a good example for children and maintain family unity.
He considered the child to be the crowning glory of the head of the family and the joy of their eyes. He aimed to instill noble qualities in children, such as respect for elders, respect for the younger, and the establishment of friendship and brotherhood.
Magtymguly Pyragy’s poems are also given great attention in Western Europe. The oldest translation of Magtymguly’s poems into a Western language was made by the orientalist H. Wamberi (1832-1913) in 1879, and the first English translation by Yusuf Azemu was published in 1995. A German translation of 41 poems by the Hungarian orientalist H. Wamberi (1832-1913) was published in 1879 in the “Journal of the German Oriental Society” in Leipzig. Some of his poems were also translated first into Spanish, then into German (Gulgeldiyeva, 2023).
This thinker created a model school for the education of the younger generation with his inspiring poems. He is a classic poet of the Turkmen people. The role of the wise poet in the history of world culture was described by the famous orientalist academician V.W. Bartold, saying that “Among the Turkic peoples, only Turkmens have national poets like Magtymguly,” as quoted by (Ataniyazova & Jeyhunov, 2024).
Magtymguly Pyragy is a popular poet. His poems were passed down to his people. This poet is particularly important in the cultural history of Central Asia. In fact, Magtymguly can be considered a Turkmen spiritual leader, philosophical poet, and a leader in Turkish-language literature. Indeed, Magtymguly was one of the first Turkmen poets to introduce the use of classical Chagatai, the court language of the Central Asian Khans, as a literary language, incorporating numerous Turkmen linguistic features. His poetry illustrates a trend towards increased use of Turkish languages rather than Persian. This is why he is an important figure in the history of Turkic literature from Central Asia to Turkey. Certainly, the concepts of good and evil, which the poet meticulously focuses on, have made him an exemplary figure for the world.
In summary, Magtymguly’s poems are distinguished by their versatility, variety, richness of meaning, and artistic talent. In his poems, the poet dealt with all kinds of issues related to human beings. For this reason, Magtymguly’s poems are a guide especially for the Turkmen people. In general, the universal nature of the messages he gives in his poems has made him a poet recognized worldwide. In the poet’s work, education and women are also important. Ataniyazova & Jeyhunov (2024) write that “an illiterate man without science lives one year, but a literate man lives one thousand years.” This is why Magtymguly Pyragy holds a crucial place in world history, whether in literature, philosophy, or humanity. The poet’s attitude in this regard: “Bir ýaman söz ýürek bular, Ýagşyny älem arzuwlar.” The poet’s attitude in this regard: “A bad word troubles the heart, everyone aspires to goodness.” When he says, “Magtymguly, özüň düzetgil, Özüňi sen özgelere göz etgil,” translated: “First of all, Magtymguly, correct yourself, make yourself an example for others,” he urges people to be the best they can be. The message in this verse is an invitation to self-criticism and the improvement of each person’s soul. Thus, according to the author, personal responsibility and correction are the foundations for improving society and the nation.
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Derya Soysal
Derya Soysal is a Central Asia Expert and from the Université libre de Bruxelles.
