Махтумкули Фраги: Жизнь и творчество туркменского поэта-суфия

18th century Turkmen spiritual leader, poet and sufi
the Turkmen spiritual leader

Magtymguly Pyragy ( Makhdumqoli Farāghi; ; ; c. 1724 – 1807), born Magtymguly, was a Turkmen spiritual leader, philosophical poet, Sufi and traveller who is considered to be the most famous figure in Turkmen literary history. 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 the incipient national consciousness of the Turkmen people. He is part of a unique period in the cultural history of Central Asia, with his exceptional talent projecting his personal poetic synthesis onto the next generation of poets of the region. In a wider context, Magtymguly is often placed alongside major figures of the Turkic literary world such as Hoja Ahmad Yasawi, Yunus Emre, Ali Shir Nava'i and Fizuli.

Magtymguly lived at a time when Turkmen tribes were displaced from their homeland, and plundered as a result of constant clashes with Iran and Khiva. He deeply resented it and expressed his feelings of repentance in his poems. Indeed, Magtymguly express strong social protest in his poems, but his political thought is mostly directed towards the unification of the Turkmen tribes and the establishment of an independent polity for Turkmens.

Magtymguly is part of a unique period in the cultural history of Central Asia; his exceptional talent projected his personal poetic synthesis onto the next generation of poets of the region. Magtymguly is often placed alongside major figures of the Turkic literary world such as Hoja Ahmad Yasawi, Yunus Emre, Ali Shir Nava'i and Fizuli. 27 June is celebrated in Turkmenistan as "the Day of Workers of Culture and Arts and the poetry of Magtymguly Fragi".

Monuments to Magtymguly Pyragy are installed in cities across the former USSR, including Kyiv (Kiev), Astrakhan, Tashkent, and Khiva, as well as in Iran and Turkey. A monument to Magtymguly made of concrete and natural stone was erected in Magtymguly Square on Magtymguly Avenue in the center of Ashgabat in 1971. He is also one of several statues that surround the Independence Monument in Ashgabat. The statues depict people praised in the Ruhnama, a spiritual guide written by Turkmenistan president Saparmurat Niyazov.

Magtymguly is a city in far south western Turkmenistan in Balkan Province, the administrative center of Magtymguly District. Magtymguly is a zone in a gas and oil field in Turkmenistan.

Makhtumkuli (1968, producer Alti Karliyev) — the role was played by Hommat Mulluk. Fragi – Razluchyonnyy so schastyem (1984, producer Khodzhakuli Narliev) — the role was played by Annaseid Annamuhammedov.

In 1959, the USSR issued a postage stamp to mark the 225th anniversary of the birth of Magtymguly. In 1983, the USSR issued another stamp to mark the 250th anniversary of his birth. Turkmenistan issued a 10 manat banknote bearing his likeness in 2009.

In 1974, an orchestral composition by Veli Mukhatov was created "In memory of Magtymguly". In 1992, the Magtymguly International Prize in the field of Turkmen language and literature was established. In 2013, the composer Mamed Huseynov wrote an opera called "Monologues of Magtymguly Pyragy". From 2002 to 2008, the month of May in Turkmenistan bore the name "Magtymguly". In 2014, the Magtymguly Pyragy Medal was established as a reward for great achievements in the study, dissemination and promotion of the creative heritage of Magtymguly. A Turkmen dry cargo ship is named "Magtymguly".