View this article in RussianIn 1842, the Polish scholar Alexander Chodzko published three poems to his divan in London. He collected these poems during his travels to the Kopetdag region in 1833, crossing through the Hurasan desert. The published poems included “Duza myýhmandyr” “Galmazlar” and “Sil galmaz”. These works also featured renowned compositions such as “Ýaraşmaz” and “Olmaz”, attributed to Kemine and Aýdyn Deregezli, respectively.
In 1862, professors from Kazan and St. Petersburg universities, prepared “Türk hristomatiýa,” including Magtymguly’s works. Over 30 poems were included, and in 1879, a collection was published in Leipzig under the supervision of Professor Wenger/Majar and Professor Wamberini from Budapest University. This publication was recorded in the “Zeitschrift der deutschen morgenländischen gesellschaft”
In 1907, Professor N.P. Ostreomow published 81 of Magtymguly’s poems in issues 54-58 of the newspaper “Türküstan habarlary.” During the same year, Ostreomow also published “Otuziki tohum kyssasy we Mahtymguly” (The Story of Thirty-two Seeds and Mahtymguly) with lithography by G.H. Aryfjanon. In 1911, this book was reprinted in Mary with the help of Mir Zahed Mir Syddykogly, with 2000 copies printed. In the same year, Ostreomow published a separate collection of Magtymguly’s works in Arabic script in Dushanbe. The compilation of Magtymguly’s works was published in cities like Stavropol, Ufa, Kazan, Simferopol, Urenburg, and Khiva.
The most notable publication of Magtymguly’s works, involving the participation of Turkmen scholars, occurred in 1910 in Bukhara. This valuable work is preserved in the lithograph collections of the Abū Rayḥān Bīrūnī Eastern Studies Institute in Uzbekistan.
In 1912, Nurmuhommet ogly Niýazy, living in Astrakhan, published Magtymguly’s works under the title “Diwan-e Mahtumguly.” This information was documented in the journal “Shura” (Nos. 12-17, 1913). According to Niýazy, “Ýagşymämet ogly Hajy Nury efendi” assisted in the publication of Magtymguly’s works.
In 1914, Gurbanberdi Gürgeni from Esenguly published “Diwan-e Magtymgulyny” with his own funds, titled “Azadynyň behişt namasy” (The Paradise of Freedom). This edition included a total of 189 poems.
W.E. Mejow published 78 of Magtymguly’s poems in volumes 422 (pages 125-135) and 446 (page 65) of the work “Türküstan ýygyndysy.”
At present, the full significance of Magtymguly’s poetry, imbued with the spirit of national identity, is universally recognized. His poetic excellence, along with that of other classical Turkmen poets, is revered and celebrated as a precious cultural heritage.
In 1944, an edition of Magtymguly’s works was printed in Berlin by Gurban in Latin script, comprising 85 pages. It was titled “Türküstanyň azatlygy ugrunda” (For the Liberation of Turkistan) and was referred to as the “4th book published by the Literary and Scientific Department of the National Turkistan Committee.” The publication contained 2 pages in German and 8 pages in Turkmen. The preface stated: “They sacrifice themselves for their own people and their nation’s well-being, and our famous Magtymguly is one such great figure…”
Regarding Gurban, the person responsible for the publication, it is known that his real name was Remezan and he was from the Gökleň tribe in Gyzylarbat. He completed his education with Gara Seýitli in Baku at the beginning of October Revolution, then returned to Turkmenistan to work as a history teacher. He was sent to the front during World War II and became a prisoner of war in Germany. There, he was associated with the “Turkestan Liberation Committee” and successfully managed to publish Magtymguly’s works in 1944 during the tumultuous period of fascist rule. Gurban later worked at a radio station in England until around 1960 before disappearing from public view.