Turkmen poets and writers have made valuable contribution to Eastern literature. Turkmen literature flourished particularly in the eighteenth century and reached the climax of its development and fully identified itself with the emergence of Magtymguly. Magtymguly’s life and work represents the highest stage of artistic and moral development of Turkmen society of his time. 

In fact, Magtymguly laid the foundations of the contemporary Turkmen language, the realistic literary tradition and the national identity of the Turkmen.

Magtymguly is a distinct poetic personality. His personality comprises wisdom, high intellectual merits and profound spiritual qualities. The poet invariably meditates about nobility and cowardice, about beauty and deformity, about life and death.

Turkmen people will respect and love their great son forever. One of the main avenues and universities of the Turkmen capital bears the name of Magtymguly. Oppositethe Ministry of Foreign Affairs there is a monument to Magtymguly on Magtymguly avenue.

An international Magtymguly Prize has been founded in the field of Turkmen literature. And this prize is awarded not only to the citizens of Turkmenistan, but also to the citizens of foreign countries.

Professor Yusup Azmun, who lives in Great Britain founded Magtymguly’s Friends Society in Oxford. He published a book of Magtymguly’s poems in English, and Turkmen Government awarded him Magtymguly Prize for his study of Magtymguly’s poetry.

Louise Bazen, an outstanding French researcher from France was also awarded this prize for his help in the study and dissemination of the literary heritage of Magtymguly all over the world.

Prof. Walter Feldman from Philadelphia University of the USA works on the interpretation of the poetry of Magtymguly, too. He writes about Magtymguly the following “He was part of a unique period in the cultural history of Central Asia, but his own extraordinary talent projected his personal poetic synthesis onto the next generation of writers, and beyond them to the majority of Turkmen poets”. On June 27, the celebration of Magtymguly’s Poetry Day is held annually in Turkmenistan. On this day people gather around the monuments of Magtymguly and have a meeting with the poets of Turkmenistan who study his works and create new poems. On this day they recite Magtymguly’s poems or tell interesting facts from his life story.

Celebration of Magtymguly’s Poetry Day in Magtymguly etrap is a particular page of Turkmen life. Students, schoolchildren and teachers, researchers, scientists take part in that holiday. They read their poems, meet with the people living in Magtymguly’s birthplace. The ceremony is also held at school which is named after Magtymguly.

Gulchemen PARAHADOVA,

student of the institute of International Relations

of the MFA of Turkmenistan.