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Magtymguly completed primary
school in his home village and then
attended Shirgazi-Khan madrasah
in Khiva. He devoted a lot of time to
self-education, studies of history and
the Oriental arts. There is known
evidence that in Halach, Khiva and
Bukhara the poet studied not only
theology but also the fundamental
works of Avicenna (also known as
Ibn Sind), Al-Biruni, A1-Khorezmi,
Plato and Aristotle. Having finished
the madrasah, Magtymguly came
back to his home village to work as
a teacher.
Once he became a renowned poet,
he travelled a great deal through
Iran, Afghanistan and other Middle-
Eastern countries. Familiar with a
number of languages, he was able
to communicate successfully with Manuscript of
of a song poem by Magtymguly, later given the title "Köñül atmaz hiç
many different peoples, conside- ("The Soul Never Dies"), copied in 1872-1873. Ink on paper, 20X 16 cm.; Turkmen.
rably enriching his education and written in nestaglvk font - National Institute of Manuscripts, Package 66, pp. 119-12
horizons, discovering the ways of
life, customs and culture of societies patriotism, honesty, justice and love He also observed that the Turk-
in other countries. All the knowledge of freedom. The Turkmen people men people perceive Magtymguly
accumulated during his travels later managed to preserve and retain "as a miracle-worker who has com-
found reflection in his inimitable through centuries the best human prehended all the books, all the
poems. merits praised by Pyragy -- honour, sciences of the world [ ... ] His book
generosity, patriotism, respect for will for a long time occupy first place
According to folk legends and travel- one's neighbours, diligence, hospi- for Turkmens, after the Koran."
lers' accounts, incapable of enduring tality, fidelity to the ideals of peace
any more of the people's misfor- and goodness. Centuries later, the The Turkmen people pass on their
tunes and distress that reigned in the dreams of cohesion and unity of love for Magtymguly from genera-
poet's native land, Magtymguly died the Turkmen people, of glory and tion to generation. In this regard,
in the late 178os/early 1790S. He was universal recognition of the belo- it is appropriate to mention here
buried next to his father's grave at ved Motherland, promoted in the the words of the world-famous wri-
the Dovietmamed Azadi Cemetery. immortal verses of the poet and pro- ter and master of Kyrgyz literature,
Located in Northern Horasan, in the phet, have been fulfilled in the life of Chingiz Aitmatov: "The fact that
settlement of Ak-Tokai, the graves modern Turkmenistan. Today the Magtymguly's words have reached
remain up to the present time places work of Magtymguly helps the na- the present day is a great achie-
of worship and pilgrimage. tion to better understand its history, vement for the Turkmen people.
to recognize the legacy of the Turk- Magtymguly lives in the hearts of the
The ideas of the great Magtymguly men nation. The people have carried Turkmens. With his poems on their
were understood by his contempora- their love for Magtymguly through lips, people went to battle and the
ries as a passionate call and a patrio- centuries demonstrating the inextri- guillotine. Magtymguly's poems wel-
tic appeal, the Turkmen nation's spi- cable link between the past and the comed the birth of a man and mour-
ritual and moral awakening that led present. The poet's verses sound like ned over his death".
the people forward, inspired confi- an anthem to patriotism and free-
dence, illuminated the way with the dom, to unity and solidarity, and to The poet's literary heritage is
unfading light of truth. The poet's the spiritual and ethical principles of represented mainly by songs and
philosophical views on conscience, the Turkmen people. lyrical verses. The songs were
honour, freedom and justice, closely created in the ancient folk style --
intertwined with universal values, In the nineteenth century a renow- each of them representing an
found their embodiment in the Main ned Hungarian traveller and scien- arbitrary number of quatrains
Law -- the Constitution of the inde- tist Armin Vamberi, after his visit united by rhyme. The total volume
pendent neutral Turkmenistan. to Turkmenistan, wrote: "The most of his poetry is not completely
interesting and extremely indelible known; between 16,000-18,00o
In the creative work of the great impressions made on me were those lines have survived. In the Russian
thinker Magtymguly Pyragy, the minutes when I heard bakhshi sing- National Library, which has around
Turkmen people found spiritual ing one of Magtymguly's songs du- 13,000 books in the Turkmen lan-
guidelines and drew lessons about ring a festivity or an ordinary party." guage, of special value are the four
History 37