Biography
Makhtumkuli was born in the village of Khadzhi-Govshan in the valley of the Atrek River with the Sumbar and Chendyr tributaries in Turkmenistan, in the foothills of the Kopetdag, where the Göklen Turkmens lived. The Magtymguly family belonged to the Kyshyk tribe of the Gerkez clan, an offshoot of the Goklen tribe, a settled agricultural tribe that was in vassal submission to the Persian rulers.
In adulthood, the poet chose the pseudonym Fragi (separated). At the end of each poem, he placed this pseudonym, sometimes the real name, as if referring to himself. This was in the tradition of the poetry of his time.
In 1754 Magtymguly went to Bukhara, where he entered the famous Kokeltash madrasah, where he also studied for one year. There he befriended a Turkmen from Syria named Nuri-Kazym ibn Bahar, a highly educated man who held the spiritual title of mawlana.
Together with Nuri-Kazym, Makhtumkuli set off to travel through the territories of present-day Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, they crossed Afghanistan and reached northern India.
Magtymguly changed the Turkmen poetic language to a large extent, bringing it closer to folk speech. He also abandoned the Arabic-Persian metric, traditional for Turkmen literature, and replaced it with a syllabic system.
Memory
monuments
Monuments to Magtymguly have been erected in different cities of the world. The largest number of sculptures is located in the cities of Turkmenistan and the countries of the former USSR (Kyiv, Astrakhan, Khiva), as well as in Iran and Turkey.
Toponymy
- Magtymguly etrap is an etrap in the Balkan velayat of Turkmenistan.
- Makhtumkuli - zones of the gas-oil field of Turkmenistan.
- The streets of Ashgabat, Astana, Karshi, Tashkent, Turkmenbashi, Urgench and a number of smaller cities in Turkmenistan and other countries of the former USSR are named after Makhtumkuli.
Institutions and organizations
Named after the Turkmen poet Magtymguly:
- Magtymguly Institute of Language and Literature (Turkm. Magtymguly adyndaky Dil we Edebiýat Instituty).
- National Music and Drama Theatre. Makhtumkuli in Ashgabat.
- Turkmen Opera and Ballet Theater named after Makhtumkuli in Ashgabat.
- Library named after Makhtumkuli in Kyiv.
Other
In numismatics
- Makhtumkuli in numismatics
- Turkmen manat
Translations into Russian
- “Makhtumkuli. Favorites". Moscow. Publishing house "Fiction". 1983 414 p. Translations by Georgy Shengeli, Arseny Tarkovsky, Naum Grebnev, Yulia Neiman, Alexander Revich, Anatoly Starostin, Y. Valich, T. Streshneva.
- Magtymguly. Publishing house "Soviet writer", B.P., Leningrad branch. 1984 384 p. Translations by G. Shengeli, A. Tarkovsky, N. Grebnev, Y. Neiman, A. Revich, A. Starostin, Y. Valich.
- “I hear the voice of a friend. Pages of Turkmen poetry. Ashgabat. Publishing house "Turkmenistan". 1985 Translation by N. Grebnev.
- Translations into English by Prof. Yusup Azmun (UK)
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Literature
- Brief literary encyclopedia, M., 1972.
- Foreword by A. Zyrin and M. Ovezgeldiyev to the publication of Makhtumkuli, Poems, Soviet writer, Leningrad branch, 1984
- Nury Bayramov "Long Road", Ashgabat, "Magaryf", 1986. As part of the collection, the story "Long Road" (translated by Mikhail Grebnev) about Makhtumkuli.
- [Simashko, Maurice Davydovich] "Tales of the Red Sands", Alma-Ata, "Zhazushy", 1966. The collection contains the story "The Temptation of Fraga" about Makhtumkuli.
Notes
Links
An excerpt characterizing Magtymguly
I always believed that love can only be pure, and I never understood and did not agree with betrayal. But the courtesans of Venice were not just women from whom love was bought. Apart from the fact that they were always extraordinarily beautiful, they were all also superbly educated, incomparably better than any bride from a rich and noble Venetian family ... Unlike the very educated noble Florentines, the women of Venice in my time were not even allowed to enter to public libraries and to be “well-read”, since the wives of noble Venetians were considered just a beautiful thing, a loving husband closed at home “for the good” of his family ... And the higher the status of the lady, the less she was allowed to know. Courtesans, on the contrary, usually knew several languages, played musical instruments, read (and sometimes wrote!) poetry, knew philosophers very well, understood politics, sang and danced superbly ... In short, they knew everything that any noble woman (according to my concept) was obliged to know. And I always honestly believed that if the wives of the nobles knew at least the slightest bit of what the courtesans knew, loyalty and love would forever reign in our wonderful city ...I did not approve of treason, but also, I could not respect women who did not know (and did not want to know!) Further than what was beyond the walls of their native Venice. Surely my Florentine blood spoke in me, but I absolutely could not stand ignorance! And people who had unlimited opportunities to KNOW, but did not want to, caused only hostility in me.
But back to my beloved Venice, which, as I knew, was to prepare for its usual annual celebration that evening...
Very easily, without any special effort, I appeared on the main square of the city.
Everything seemed to be as before, but this time, although decorated in the old way, Venice was almost empty. I walked along the lonely canals, unable to believe my eyes! It was not too late, and usually at such a time the city was still noisy, like an alarmed beehive, anticipating a favorite holiday. But that evening the beautiful Venice was empty... I could not understand where all the happy faces had gone?.. What happened to my beautiful city in those short few years???
Walking slowly along the deserted embankment, I breathed in such a familiar, warm and soft, salty air, unable to hold back the tears flowing down my cheeks at the same time, happy and sad tears... It was my home!.. My truly native and beloved city. Venice has forever remained MY city!.. I loved its rich beauty, its high culture... Its bridges and gondolas... And even just its unusualness, making it the only city of its kind ever built on Earth.
The evening was very pleasant and quiet. Gentle waves, softly whispering something, lazily splashed against the stone portals... And gently rocking the elegant gondolas, they ran back into the sea, taking with them the crumbling rose petals, which, floating further, became like scarlet drops of blood, somehow generously sprinkled on the mirror water.
Suddenly, a very familiar voice pulled me out of my sad-happy dreams:
- It can not be!!! Isidora?! Is this really you?!
Our good old friend, Francesco Rinaldi, stood looking at me dumbfounded, as if a familiar ghost suddenly appeared right in front of him ... Apparently not daring to believe that it was really me.
- My God, where are you from? We thought you were dead a long time ago! How did you manage to escape? Did they let you go?!
“No, they didn’t let me go, my dear Francesco,” I answered sadly, shaking my head. – And, unfortunately, I didn’t manage to escape... I just came to say goodbye...
– But, how is it? Are you here? And completely free? Where is my friend?! Where is Girolamo? I haven't seen him in such a long time and I miss him so much!
– Girolamo is no more, dear Francesco... Just as there is no more father...
Was it the reason that Francesco was a friend from our happy "past", or I was just wildly tired of endless loneliness, but, telling him about the horror that the Pope had done to us, I suddenly felt inhuman pain ... And then I finally broke through!.. Tears gushed like a waterfall of bitterness, sweeping away embarrassment and pride, and leaving only a thirst for protection and the pain of loss... Hiding on his warm chest, I sobbed like a lost child looking for friendly support...
- Calm down, my dear friend ... Well, what are you doing! Please calm down...
Francesco stroked my tired head, as my father did long ago, wanting to calm me down. The pain burned, again mercilessly throwing into the past, which could not be returned, and which no longer existed, since there were no more people on Earth who created this wonderful past ....
– My house has always been your house, Isidora. You need somewhere to hide! Let's go to us! We'll do our best. Please, come to us!.. You will be safe with us!
They were wonderful people - his family ... And I knew that if I agreed, they would do everything to hide me. Even if for this they themselves will be in danger. And for a brief moment, I suddenly wanted so wildly to stay! .. But I knew perfectly well that this would not happen, that I would leave right now ... And in order not to give myself vain hopes, I immediately said sadly:
- Anna remained in the clutches of the “most holy” Pope ... I think you understand what this means. And now she's left with me alone... Forgive me, Francesco.
And remembering something else, she asked:
“Will you tell me, my friend, what is happening in the city?” What happened to the holiday? Or has our Venice, like everything else, also become different? ..
– The Inquisition, Isidora... Damn her! It's all inquisition...
– ?!..
- Yes, dear friend, she even got here ... And the worst thing is that many people fell for it. Apparently, for the evil and worthless, the same “evil and worthless” is needed in order for everything that they have been hiding for many years to be revealed. The Inquisition has become a terrible tool of human revenge, envy, lies, greed and malice!.. You can’t even imagine, my friend, how low the most normal people can fall! wishing to get rid of them as soon as possible ... envious neighbors against neighbors ... This is terrible! No one is protected today from the coming of the "holy fathers"... It's so scary, Isidora! One has only to tell someone that he is a heretic, and you will never see that person again. True madness... which reveals the lowest and worst in people... How can one live with this, Isidora?
Francesco stood stooped, as if the heaviest burden pressed down on him like a mountain, not allowing him to straighten up. I knew him for a very long time, and I knew how difficult it was to break this honest, brave man. But then life hunched him, turning him into a confused, who did not understand such human meanness and baseness of a person, into a disappointed, aging Francesco ... And now, looking at my good old friend, I realized that I was right, deciding to forget my personal life , giving it for the death of the "holy" monster, trampling on the lives of others, good and pure people. It was only unspeakably bitter that there were low and vile "people" who rejoiced (!!!) at the arrival of the Inquisition. And someone else's pain did not hurt their callous hearts, rather the opposite - they themselves, without a twinge of conscience, used the paws of the Inquisition to destroy innocent, kind people! How far was our Earth from that happy day when a Man will be pure and proud!.. When his heart will not succumb to meanness and evil... When Light, Sincerity and Love will live on Earth. Yes, the North was right - the Earth was still too evil, stupid and imperfect. But I believed with all my heart that someday she would become wise and very kind ... only many more years would pass for this. In the meantime, those who loved her had to fight for her. Forgetting yourself, your relatives... And not sparing your only and very dear earthly Life. As I forgot, I didn't even notice that Francesco was watching me very carefully, as if he wanted to see if he could persuade me to stay. But deep sadness in his sad gray eyes told me - he understood ... And hugging him tightly for the last time, I began to say goodbye ...
We will always remember you, dear. And we will always miss you. And Girolamo... And your good father. They were wonderful, pure people. And I hope another life will be safer and kinder for them. Take care of yourself, Isidora... No matter how ridiculous it may sound. Try to get away from him if you can. Together with Anna...
The great poet and thinker of the Turkmen people Magtymguly Fragi has been glorifying the Turkmens with his immortal work and name itself for about three hundred years. Enduring authority of the poet, his place in the historical, socio-political and cultural life of the nation. Magtymguly established himself in the soul of the people with the highest confession of eternal spiritual and moral values, firmly entered their consciousness as a guide that unmistakably determines what is good and evil in life, and became an unquenchable light in the eyes of Turkmens.
The poetic-philosophical heritage of Magtymguly forever entered the depths of the hearts of the people as a song about high love for the Almighty, the Motherland, man, nature and life itself. And therefore it is not enough to study and consider the work of Fraga only from the point of view of literature and the artistic word. He is a poet-thinker who developed philosophical thought in his literary works, illuminated the artistic consciousness, eloquently described the secular life of not only the Turkmen people, but also the peoples of the world. Subtly uniting the philosophical views peculiar to man about the world, humanity, Motherland and love, relying on the most perfect ways of thinking, Magtymguly penetrated deeply into the soul of a person and forever remained in people's memory.
Being a world-class master of words, Magtymguly is, first of all, the national poet of the Turkmen people. Nothing compares to the love and warmth that he felt for his native people. But it was the selfless love for the Motherland and his people, deep reflections related to his fate that brought Makhtumkuli beyond the national framework, turning him into a poet of all mankind. For a person who loves his people is able to love other peoples, a person who does not drop his dignity is able to raise the authority of another person highly. The philosophical views of the poet about the world, man, life, revealed at one time to his compatriots, his instructions on the spiritual improvement of society and people are the result of this immense love for his people. Magtymguly called on his contemporaries and the people to comprehend what is the key to a just society and a happy life, to look into the root of everything that is happening. He directed people to spiritual perfection, self-knowledge and self-awareness as a nation.
The great poet, who dreamed of his people living a peaceful and peaceful life, was educated, developed his culture, left his compatriots a wonderful poetic legacy filled with wisdom and the warmest feelings. Polished, deep thoughts in these wonderful verses, directed to the future, meet the spiritual needs of not only the Turkmen people, but of all mankind. That is why the significance of Magtymguly's poetic heritage, having gone beyond the national framework, has become an integral part of world literature, a worthy contribution to the intellectual treasury of mankind.
Today, Fraga's work gives spiritual pleasure not only to the Turkmen people, but also to other peoples of the world. At the same time, the poet's work reflects universal human life problems. It is for this reason that his beautiful poems, sounding like a song on the lips and absorbed by the memory like wisdom, have been translated and are being translated into dozens of languages of the world.
Makhtumkuli is a spiritual healer of the human soul. Poems of the poet, having not lost their significance through many centuries and generations, are popular due to the instructions contained in them, which act on the heart like a balm, inspire souls and have the most favorable effect on people. His poems are medicine for desperate hearts, strength for tired bodies, spiritual wing for the discouraged. That is why our people have always treated Magtymguly as a healer, able to cure the ailments that appear in the days of resentment, worries and sadness. Like a balm, like a drug, the words of a poet in any era purify the soul of everyone - young and old, awaken love for this beautiful world, humanity and life, raising the spirit of the people high, ensuring the spiritual health of the entire Turkmen society. Indeed, Magtymguly's poems heal a person like the life-giving water of a mountain spring. These poems are pure as the morning air. They, like the fragrance of a flowering garden, delight the human soul. Excite, acting on every cell of the body, like a gentle, melodic, soothing heart music dutar. In a word, Magtymguly's poems are a spiritual drug that contains all the good things that are necessary for human health.
The era in which Magtymguly lived was very difficult and tense. Fragi is a great personality, formed in the abyss of strong shocks and various kinds of circumstances. He is an outstanding person, a connoisseur of the universe, who understands the positive and negative aspects of society, life and people, who has fully mastered the secular and religious scientific achievements of mankind, and has passed the steps of spiritual perfection. The thinker Makhtumkuli called on the Turkmens scattered at that time in different parts of the globe, who did not have a single state, to well-being, harmony and national unity. The greatness of Magtymguly lies in the fact that he was one of the first to consider all the scattered Turkmens to be a single nation and promoted this.
The youth of the poet coincided with the reign of the Afshar Turkmen, and the time when he proved himself to be an outstanding poet-thinker coincided with the reign of the Qajar Turkmen. Of course, the Afshar and Qajar rulers were Turkmens. But both the Turkmen people and Magtymguly were dissatisfied with them, as they did not care enough about the national interests of the Turkmens. Therefore, it was difficult to call these states the national Turkmen powers that Makhtumkuli and the people dreamed about. Therefore, Fragi, saying: “I have many ailments because of the country and years,” openly expressed his attitude to the era. In such a difficult and difficult time, Magtymguly was looking for a way for the "happy fate" of the people and "achievement of endless spring." Even when he traveled in Bukhara or Khiva, in Afghanistan or in India, in Romania or in some other country, “went from end to end”, all his thoughts and worries were about the Turkmen land, his people and his fate.
In the 18th century, there was a big contradiction for the implementation of the main social thought of Magtymguly - "unification of the Turkmen tribes." In this century, each Turkmen tribe was looking for its own way, there was a strong discord between the tribes. The absence of a national Turkmen state, the search for protection by these tribes in different places aggravated the disagreement, further separated them from each other. There were quite a few deliberately acting forces who wanted to sow confusion among the Turkmens. And at that time, the thinker Makhtumkuli repeatedly repeated that the biggest enemy of the people is disunity, a common understanding is needed, the unification of all tribes, serving one goal and a single state. He tried to bring to mind his “beautiful people” that it is necessary to fight for the formation of a single Turkmen nation, a strong and indestructible Turkmen state, only then “there will be a happy fate for the Turkmens”, only then no force will resist the people and the state:
Tribes live as one family,
One tablecloth is spread out for toy,
A high share is given to the Fatherland,
And the granite melts before the troops of Turkmenistan.
This idea of Magtymguly is clear and close to everyone. In the XVIII-XIX centuries, this poem served as a national anthem for the Turkmen people. But how to bring this bright dream to life in order to unite the divided people behind one dastarkhan? To do this, the poet-thinker put forward the idea - everyone should “look into the mouth” and unite around one leader. No matter how difficult and hopeless situations the poet was in, he never lost faith in the happy future of his people.
The greatest merit of Magtymguly Fragi before the Turkmen people is his struggle for unity and condemnation of discord. For a long time, many generations of the Turkmen people have been brought up and are being brought up on its lesson of unity. Life proved the veracity of the bright ideas of Makhtumkuli, who dreamed of a powerful state.
Today, the happy future that the poet-thinker wished for his people has become a reality. Now independent neutral Turkmenistan is known on the map of the globe as a country of peace and harmony.
The Turkmen people, who believe that unity is a great miracle, will always be grateful to Magtymguly. The bright ideas of the great poet, his wise instructions and lessons will always be important for the further strengthening of the power and prosperity of our Fatherland. In a new historical era - the era of power and happiness of the Turkmen state - the authority of Makhtumkuli is increasing, the demand for his far-sighted thoughts and philosophical views, which, having turned into a universal value, are the spiritual foundation of our modern society.
President of Turkmenistan
Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOV
Literary name of Fragi (circa 1730-1780s), Turkmen Sufi poet (see Sufism). Son of the poet Azadi. He brought the language of poetry closer to the folk language. Poems about the suffering of a people devastated by a foreign invasion, with a call to unite the warring ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary
MAKHTUMCULI- (pseudo. Fragi) (c. 1730-80s), Turkmen poet and thinker. Son of D. Azadi. More than 10 thousand lines of his poems have been preserved. poems, vols. 1-2, Ashkh., 1983 (in Turkmen language); Izbr., M., 1983; Poems, L., 1984. Makhtumkuli. ... ... Literary Encyclopedic Dictionary
MAKHTUMCULI- (nickname - Φragi) (born around 1730 - died in the 80s of the 18th century) - Turkmen. poet and thinker. Philos. M.'s views were formed under the influence of Nizami, Saadi, Navoi, Rudaki and Nesimi. Adherence to Islam was combined with M. with sharp criticism of obscurantism and ... ... Philosophical Encyclopedia
MAKHTUMCULI Modern Encyclopedia
MAKHTUMCULI- (literary name of Fragi) (c. 1730-80s) Turkmen Sufi poet (see Sufism). Son of the poet Azadi. He brought the language of poetry closer to the folk language. Lyrical poems about the suffering of the people devastated by foreign invasion; opposed the reactionary ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
Makhtumkuli- (literary name of Fragi) (circa 1730-1780s), Turkmen poet and thinker. Lyrical poems of various genres, among which stands out the tragic cycle about being in Iranian captivity and about the suffering of the people devastated by foreign invasion. ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary
Makhtumkuli- MAKHTUMKULI (lit. name of Fragi) (c. 1730–80s), Turkm. poet and thinker. Son of the poet Azadi. Lyric. poems of different genres; tragic stands out. cycle about staying in iran. captivity and the suffering of a people devastated by a foreign invasion; pl. poems… … Biographical Dictionary
Makhtumkuli- (real name; pseudonym Fragi) (years of birth and death unknown), Turkmen poet of the 18th century. Son of the poet Azadi. He studied at the Shirgazi Madrasah in the city of Khiva. He knew well the literature and folklore of Central Asia, Azerbaijan, Iran; lot… … Great Soviet Encyclopedia
MAKHTUMCULI- (Fraghi) (born around 1730, died in the 80s of the 18th century) Turkm. poet and thinker. M.'s worldview was formed under the influence of Rudaki, Nizami, Firdowsi, Saadi, Navoi, and others. M.'s adherence to Islam was combined with sharp criticism of obscurantism and greed ... ... Soviet historical encyclopedia
MAKHTUMCULI- (c. 1733, the village of Haji Govshan, now the stop of Mazandaran, Iran, c. 1783, the village of Ak Tokay, in the same place), Turkm. poet and thinker, founder of the Turkmen. lit. language and written literature. Information about life is scarce. He studied at the Hala Cha Madrassah, Bukhara, Khiva. Lived ... ... Russian Pedagogical Encyclopedia
Books
- Makhtumkuli. Poems, Makhtumkuli. This edition of the works of the classic of Turkmen poetry of the XVIII century. Magtymguly aims to give as complete an idea as possible about the best examples of his work in different ... Buy for 560 rubles
- Makhtumkuli. Poems, Makhtumkuli. The book of the classic of Turkmen poetry of the 18th century, Makhtumkuli, includes the best examples of Makhtumkuli’s work, including civil and philosophical poems, satire, love…
Turkmen lyric poetry reached its highest level in the work of the great Magtymguly Fragi (Prague) (1733-1783). The love for Makhtumkuli is passed down from generation to generation by the Turkmen people.
In the 19th century The well-known Hungarian traveler and scientist A. Vambery, having visited Turkmenistan, wrote: “The minutes when I happened to hear a bakhshi singing one of Magtymguly’s songs during a celebration or a simple party made an extremely interesting and indelible impression on me.. As the sung battle became fiercer, the singer and the young listeners became more and more inspired.
It was a truly romantic sight: the young nomads, breathing heavily, hit their hats on the ground and madly clutched at their curls, as if engaging in a battle with themselves.
Turkmens have long loved and appreciated the songs of bakhshi, but passionate attention and love for Magtymguly is special. For the first time in his poems, the tragedy of the life of the Turkmen people, their aspirations and thoughts, sorrows and dreams were reflected with such vivacity, fullness and complicity.
The nightingale is a beloved flower,
To me, Fragi, are my dear people.
My modest verse, persecuted verse,
My great-grandson will say.
(“The Singer”. Translation by A. Tarkovsky)
The literary heritage of the poet consists mainly of songs and gazelles. The songs are created in an ancient folk form - each represents an arbitrary number of quatrains, united by a rhyme according to the scheme: abab - vvvb - gggb, etc.
In the last quatrain, as a rule, there is the name of the poet or - sometimes - his literary pseudonym - Fragi, which means Separated. The total volume of his poetry has not been established, approximately 16-18 thousand lines have been preserved, part of the heritage has perished forever.
Magtymguly wrote not only about the people and for the people, but also in the language of the people. In his poetry, the process of assimilation of Arab-Persian poetics by Turkmen literature was completed. The poet proved, contrary to the prevailing opinion in the East at that time, that not only Persian and Arabic, but also the Turkmen language is suitable for high poetry.
Makhtumkuli's attitude towards Iran was ambivalent: he hated the Iranian conquerors, in whose captivity he experienced many difficult days, but honored the rulers of thoughts - the great Iranian poets, from whom he learned his craft. The poet introduced elements of Chagataisms into his poems so skillfully and tactfully that they did not obscure the peculiarities of the Turkmen language; this was one of the reasons why the almost non-literate people brought Magtymguly's work to the present day.
Makhtumkuli realized himself as a poet, marked by God and sent into the world to serve people. This idea is expressed figuratively in the poem "Revelation":
They appeared to me when I lay down at midnight,
Four horsemen: “Get up,” they said. —
We will give a sign when the time comes.
Pay attention, look, remember,” they said.
From the hands of Muhammad himself, the poet accepts a cup that bestows enlightenment:
And condemned my flesh to torment,
I drank everything they brought in the cup;
Burned my mind, I lay in the dust...
“The world is before you. Go look!" - they said...
Distant lands opened up to me
And the secret movements of being.
So I lay, holding my breath.
And, spitting in my face: “Get up!” they said.
Magtymguly opened his eyes and got up.
What thoughts followed!
Streams of foam flowed from my lips.
"Now wander from end to end!" they said.
(Translated by A. Tarkovsky)
The motive of revelation, recognition of creativity as something close to a ritual act, sustained by Makhtumkuli in the laws of the Muslim tradition, was extremely common in oriental poetry of those years and in the eyes of the people gave the poet a special spiritual strength.
Almost all the great epic narrators, as it were, were ordained poets by divine providence, regardless of their desire and will. The dream of the poet's life was to see his people united, forgetting enmity, free from the foreign yoke:
Like the flesh of the return of being,
Having tasted the dream of death, he wishes
Bloody mine
The soul desires other times.
Fragi is exhausted by the disease:
Uniter of Tribes
Blessed is he,
In love with Turkmenistan, wishes.
(“Desire”. Translation by A. Tarkovsky)
Magtymguly's work is imbued with a well-known tragedy. Part of the criticism tends to see in this the echoes of the main doctrine of Sufism (and Makhtumkuli, like many poets of his time, was a Sufi) - the eternal opposition of the real world, as the kingdom of evil, illusory and imperfection, and the other world - the embodiment of true reality, justice and happiness.
Makhtumkuli really has the lines: “Death sews shrouds for us, without missing a moment, we are all slaves, it cannot be overthrown by the yoke”, “Wormy nut completely - this is our insignificant world!”, “Paradise on earth is a barren tree”, etc. But to see in them only a reflection of Sufi philosophy means to simplify Magtymguly's poetry in many ways.
The tragedy of his poems is not only in the doctrine of Sufism, it is to a large extent complicated by the dramatic events of his personal life (the loss of his beloved, the death of his son) and aggravated by the fate of the Turkmen people in the 18th century. (tribal feuds, destructive and brutal raids from Iran and Afghanistan).
Fraga's heart, you're on fire today:
Those who fell in battle appeared to me.
A bitter feast in a sad country
The song of hopes is not worth reciting.
(“It didn’t fit.” Translation by Y. Valich)
The decline in morality, the mental confusion that gripped people who had forgotten their heroic past, caused Fragi almost more pain than the Sufi inevitable lack of happiness on earth:
The husband turned into a coward, the slaves turned into husbands,
The lion turned into a fly and the flies into lions
The dungeon became a home, the clock became centuries...
Before the hordes of fate, what should I do?
(“Invasion”. Translation by A. Tarkovsky)
Unlike the Sufi, the poet accepts life with all its tragedy and transience. Phrase: "O healer, gentle Lukman, give me healing!" is just a rhetorical figure, not a mystic's prayer for salvation. The transience of life and its imperfection push the poet not to a cup of wine - the eternal oblivion of a dervish, but to tireless work on an imperfect earth:
Good is not a frequent visitor in this world:
Love him and do not yield to evil.
Magtymguly, you have not found a cure
From the malice of the world and its deceit.
The time will come - you will descend into a silent kingdom -
Don't waste a day or an hour!
(“Instruction”. Translation by A. Tarkovsky)
And although a person on earth is “not eternal,” he must be “just and merciful,” the poet claims:
The world is a fortress on earth, erasing the time of writing.
In the eternal human commotion, everything has lost its price.
Where, triumphant, life bloomed - the dead desert is visible,
You will not find traces of nomads - you are not eternal, you are not eternal!
Separation is an evil disease, trouble for those who are separated.
Be fair and merciful while you are young and strong.
And your life will light up, as if you were on fire.
Like a torch, you will come out with light - you are not eternal, you are not eternal!
(“You are not eternal.” Translation by A. Tarkovsky)
Magtymguly's work is rich and multifaceted. It covers various aspects of the life of the Turkmen society. His songs are like an encyclopedia of the life of the people. They reflect historical events, life, customs, laws, cultural traditions of the Turkmen.
The role of Magtymguly in Turkmen literature is important. Writers of subsequent generations mastered, continued and developed its traditions. The poetry of the great Turkmen had a certain impact on the work of the best Karakalpak poets of the 19th century. and Uzbek folk shairs.
History of world literature: in 9 volumes / Edited by I.S. Braginsky and others - M., 1983-1984
In Turkmen literary criticism, there are different views regarding the work and biography of Magtymguly. This is due to historical information about the poet's creative path that has not come down to us or has come down to us in a small amount, with a part of his literary heritage that has not been preserved. Which, in particular, led to the formation of different opinions about the marital status, date of birth and death of the poet. Here are some views regarding the date of the poet's birth.
In the first years of studying the biography of the poet, the years of his life were considered 1733-1782. These dates are connected with the book of the Hungarian scientist A. Vamberi "Travels in Central Asia". A. Vamberi wrote in his book: "He (Makhtumkuli - A.A.) from the Turkmen tribe Goklen, lived 80 years ago." As you know, A. Vamberi came to Central Asia in 1863. In the same year, he received some information about the poet from Gyzyl Akhun, on the basis of which it was concluded that Magtymguly died in 1783, but nothing was reported about his age by that time. Based on the information received by A. Vamberi from Gyzyl Akhun and folk legends, 1733 was accepted as the date of birth of Magtymguly. One of the first researchers of Turkmen literature, Akhmet Akhundov-Gurgenli, wrote the following about this in 1939: “According to the European scholar of the 19th century Vamberi, Magtymguly died in 1783, but according to more reliable data collected among the poet’s descendants, Magtymguly died in 1195 Hijri, i.e. in 1780 at the age of 49." A. Akhundov-Gurgenli in 1940, having published Makhtumkuli's poems, repeats this information in the preface to them: "Makhtumkuli was born in 1731 and died in 1780."
In 1941, Rukhi Aliyev and Akhundov-Gurgenli published the third edition of the poet's poems. R. Aliyev, who wrote the preface to this edition, states: “Makhtumkuli Fragi was born in 1733 in Etrek, in the village of Ginjay near the famous hill called Akdepe”, unlike A. Akhundov-Gurgenli, bringing the date of birth of the poet to 1733. R. Aliyev and about the date of the death of the poet gives an opinion different from A. Akhundov-Gurgenli. More precisely, he says about it like this: "Makhtumkuli, having lived for about 50 years, died in 1782."
Researcher Makhtumkuli B.A. Garryev in the article “Turkmen literature is our pride”, saying that “Makhtumkuli was born in 1733 near the banks of the Etrek River and died there in 1782”, supports R. Aliyev’s opinion related to the date of birth of the poet while agreeing with Vambery on the year of his death. Thus, in the works written in the 1940s and in subsequent years, especially in textbooks, these dates were recorded. However, over time, some of the researchers began to doubt their legitimacy. A closer acquaintance with the poet's work, a deep study of various testimonies collected among the people, give rise to the hypothesis that Magtymguly may have been born earlier than 1733 and left this world later than 1782.
One of the first who expressed doubts on the issue of the previous dates of Magtymguly's life was Academician B.A. Garryev. In the article “On the Biography of Magtymguly,” he writes: “It is not known exactly when Magtymguly was born and when Magtymguly died, because there are no historical documents left concerning this issue.”
Following this, the well-known scientist R. Rejepov in the article “On the Way of Clarifying the Date of Magtymguly’s Birth” and Professor M. Kosaev in the book “Conversation about Literature”, having deeply considered this issue, put forward the idea that the poet was born earlier than 1733, which was solid bases. Let's just give one reason. Magtymguly in the poem "For the sake of Chovdur Khan" writes that Chovdur Khan went "to see Akhmet Shah." And Ahmed Shah was in Mashhad for the last time in 1769-1770, and in 1772 he died. If we proceed from the fact that Magtymguly was born in 1733, then in 1770, when fate turned away from Chovdur Khan, the poet should have been 36-37 years old. Makhtumkuli concludes the poem dedicated to the death of Chovdur Khan in this way:
Makhtumkuli, did my peregrine falcon fly away?
My support, dear slander and brother,
There are no thoughts in a gray head,
She is shrouded in mist, Choudor Khan!
If the poet created the poem in adulthood, when his head turned gray, then this speaks in favor of the fact that he was a man older than middle age, about 45 years old, which is confirmed by the words "There are no thoughts in a gray head." This fact, as well as other arguments, give reason to conclude that the poet was probably born in 1724.
Makhtumkuli speaks about his age in a number of his poems. The poet's poem "So it will be" ("Ussada belli") says that he lived to be 80 years old:
You were fifty - you fornicated, shed a lot of blood.
What did you achieve at the top ten?
Information about the life of the poet after the age of 80 is not found in the poems.
The poetic contest between the poet and his contemporary poet Zunuba ends with the following lines:
Messenger of God - the Sun, now let's count
One thousand two hundred and eleven years have passed since its sunset,
Death is a bridge, come on, let's reach the Motherland,
Zunuby says, this is our answer.
As can be seen from these lines, to the question of Makhtumkuli: “How many years have passed since the death of the Prophet Muhammad?”, Zunuby answers: “1211 years have passed since the death of the Prophet Muhammad.” And the Prophet Muhammad died in the year 632 of the Christian chronology. If 1211 years are added to the year 632, then this coincides with the year 1806 of the Christian chronology. This fact indicates that in 1806 Magtymguly was alive.
But we should also pay attention to another issue. Poetry competitions appear in two cases. First: some poet, in order to check the level of knowledge of another poet, sends him his poem containing various questions. The poet who received the poem writes his answers to the questions. An example of this is Magtymguly's poems "What age", "What a fire", intended for Durdy Shakhir, and "What's the difference", sent to Orazmengli Shakhir. Secondly, some poet writes a poem consisting of various questions of a general nature, without addressing a particular poet. As an example, Magtymguly's poems “Won”, “From the shameful world”, “Went from height to height”, “Three saints”, “Gave alms to forgive sin” and “I saw the amulet” can be cited. In this case, any poet can write his answer. Even the answers to the questions of the poem can be written by poets who lived after the poet. In general, comparing different information, it can be assumed that Makhtumkuli died around 1807.
Thus, on the basis of new research, it can be concluded that the dates of life of Magtymguly Fragi are 1724-1807.
Annagurban Ashirov,
National Institute of Manuscripts of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan
