Turkmenistan Hopes Malaysians Show Interest to Explore Literary Works of Magtymguly Fraught
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- Turkmenistan Ambassador to Malaysia M. Mashalov expressed his hope that Malaysians would show interest in exploring the literary works of Magtymguly Fraghi, in conjunction with Turkmenistan’s Declaration of 2024 as the “Year of the great poet and thinker of the Turkic world Magtymguly Fraghi”.
The Turkmenistan Ambassador noted that the events dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the birth of Magtymguly are being organised in several countries this year to spread the good works and messages of the poet, and the embassy here also hopes to organise such programmes to create awareness among Malaysians about the great poet.
He believes that Magtymguly's literary works which has been recognised at the world level, can be a bridge to strengthen the cultural links between the Turkmen people and Malaysians.
The Turkmenistan Ambassador further said that Magtymguly who is known as the "Father of Turkmen poetry", has a very significant place in Turkmen’s history and the Turkic speaking world as the poetic tradition started by Magtymguly is still very much alive today.
“Generation after generation including the younger generation of today have been influenced by his works which are so important to the national history of our people,” he said in an interview.
Describing Magtymguly as a “people’s poet” and a poet full of wisdom, he said Magtymguly (1724-1798) is not only a great classical poet but also a great philosopher of his time and the father of Turkmen literature and classical language.
Mashalov said that Magtymguly, who has a sacred status among the Turkmen people is such a fabled personality in the new history of Turkmen as his words are prophetic and he was a philosopher whose reflections on truth and falsehood are well established.
Magtymguly could be regarded as the builder of a new literary language that spans across all Turkic speaking world, he said.
The collection of manuscripts by Magtymguly has been included in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.
According to information posted on Turkmenistan’s Foreign Ministry’s website, the collection of poems by Magtymguly includes preserved manuscripts of his works, which spread throughout Turkmenistan in the 18th-19th centuries.
This is a rare example of the oral and written heritage of the Turkmen people and the peoples of the entire Turkic-speaking world, the literature of Central Asia and Europe.
The information stated that Magtymguly's poems sound like a hymn to humanism, patriotism, unity and cohesion; they have become a guide for scientists and poets in many countries.
The collection consists of more than 80 divans, copied from the original manuscripts of Magtymguly by his close relatives, fellow villagers, poets, scientists, as well as folk singers - bahshi. There are also copies of the poet's handwritten works, which are now kept in the funds of Tashkent, St. Petersburg, London, Budapest, Istanbul; some of them date back to the 18th century.
The meaning of Magtymguly’s poems, having gone beyond the national framework of time and culture, has become an integral part of world literature, it said.
The Ambassador of Turkmenistan also noted that on Feb 12, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov signed a Law "On the Establishment of the Jubilee Medal of Turkmenistan on the 300th Anniversary of Magtymguly to honour those who made significant contributions in various fields such as culture.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of Turkmenistan’s Parliament D. Gulmanova, in a statement said that in accordance with the Resolution adopted by Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the activities carried out in Turkmenistan to celebrate the 300th Anniversary of Magtymguly, together with the international community, are important in studying the rich and priceless literary heritage of the poet-thinker, who is included in the golden fund of world literature.
She pointed out that the majestic sculpture of Magtymguly, built at the foot of the Kopetdag in a new historical era, is clear evidence of the current generation’s great respect for the life and creative heritage of the great poet.
“With the Independence of our state, the dreams of the great thinker about building a powerful independent state and a friendly, peaceful and prosperous life for our people came true,” the Speaker said.
-- BERNAMA
