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culture

Makhtumkuli Fraghi

one of the great eastern poets, fighter for

human rights and freedom (1724-1807)

By Mr. Habib Zalmai, researcher, Member of the Global Jurists Association of Afghanistan

Makhtumkuli Fraghi was a talented poet, during Makhtumkuli Fraghi’s lifetime is
master of speech, a famous researcher and ambiguous. The years of his life coincide
representative of classical Turkmen literature. with the period of major social, military, and
He played a significant role not only in the economic crises. An insecure region without
development of the language and literature of a stable government, each region has its
the Turkmen people or entire Turkic nations, own emir and khan, each region has its own
but also in the development and progress of rules and regulations that are different from
Eastern literature. each other. Makhtumkuli traveled frequently
throughout what is now Iran, Afghanistan,
His father, Dovletmammet Azadi, was one of India, Azerbaijan, and others.
the famous scientists and a great religious figure,
master, and poet of his time. Makhtumkuli was It is well known that a poet or writer can
brought up in a large family with his siblings create a truly valuable literary work only
and loving mother named Arazgul. when he himself has experienced the joys and
sufferings of this life, seen ugliness and beauty,
Makhtumkuli Fraghi received his primary wealth and poverty, glory and dishonour.
education from his father Dovletmammet Makhtumkuli Fraghi devoted all his literary
Azadi. Due to the focused efforts of his father and mystical work to his people. The period
and the personal talent possessed by the poet of the poet’s life and the social situation of that
himself, he was able to rise to the pinnacle of time strengthened him, so he always strived
fame in a short period of time. Makhtumkuli to reflect in his mystical poems the national
was a lover of science and knowledge, strived unity, courage and steadfastness against
for education and improvement of his oppressors, unity and empathy, friendship and
mystical worldview. As a young man he was closeness between people. According to him,
enrolled in a school (Shirgazi) in Khiva for unity and cohesion of people was the only way
three years, and afterward he was enrolled in to survive and win.
the Gogeldash school in Bukhara.
Makhtumkuli Fraghi was also very interested
Bukhara at that period was one of the centres in the works of great literary figures, clergy
of science, culture and cradle of civilization, and Sufism. He wrote about such outstanding
where students from different parts of Central personalities as Abu Saeed Abul Khair,
Asia came to study in search of knowledge Khoja Yusuf Hamadani, Omar Khayyam,
and science. The social and military situation Nizami Ganjavi, Hafez Shirazi, Saadi Shirazi,

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