THE FAMOUS SCHOLAR WHO STUDIED MAGTYMGULY PYRAGY

During the Revival of the New Era of a Powerful State, the great sage of the Turkmen people, Magtymguly Pyragy, is held in the highest esteem. Our Hero Arkadag dedicates his book titled “Ynsan kalbynyň öçmejek nury” to our great poet, stating: “Magtymguly Pyragy is a great poet whose name has soared to the heavens in the realm of poetry, thanks to the power and magic of his words. He guided his contemporaries and his people to understand the essence of a just society and a happy life, and to recognize themselves as a nation. The great poet, who longed for his people to live in peace and tranquility, to be educated and knowledgeable, and for their culture to thrive, left behind a treasure of beautiful poems filled with wisdom and sweet emotions.” This highlights the limitless respect that the Turkmen people hold for their wise son.

The poetic works of the great wordsmith Magtymguly began to be published in the mid-19th century among the peoples of Central Asia, Russia, and Europe. His works attracted the attention of many scholars and travelers. Notably, prominent Russian scholar and traveler Hodzko published an article about the poet’s biography along with several of his poems in 1842. Scholars such as A. Wamberi, W.W. Bartold, E.E. Bertels, and L.N. Samoylovich highly valued and studied the poet’s creativity.

Among Turkmen literary figures, M. Kösäýew and B.A. Garryýew made significant contributions to compiling and publishing Magtymguly’s works.

During the Revival of the New Era of a Powerful State, extensive work is being done to develop science and education in our country, one of which is the science of literature. The literature of each nation reflects its soul. Turkmen literature has deep historical roots. Significant efforts are being made to collect, study, and present the works of prominent figures in Turkmen literature from ancient times, the Middle Ages, and the 18th-19th centuries to the public.

The work of our scholars, who have tirelessly collected, studied, and preserved our literary heritage, serves as a model for today’s youth. One such scholar is the esteemed literary scholar, candidate of philological sciences, and professor Mäti Kösäýew.

Prominent Turkmen scholar Mäti Kösäýew earned widespread respect through his work. He entered literary history as a researcher of Turkmen literature. Not only did he study literature, but he also compiled and published various genres of Turkmen folk poetry. Furthermore, he engaged with the literature of brotherly nations. Another unique aspect of the scholar is his specialization in Magtymguly studies. He made effective contributions to the study of our great classical poet Magtymguly. He not only edited works from Magtymguly but also from other prominent figures in 19th-century Turkmen literature, ensuring their accessibility to a wide audience.

Kösäýew’s work includes insights gained during scientific expeditions in 1958 to the regions of Sarahs, Tejen, and Kirov, where he collected valuable information about Magtymguly from Aşyr Kary, the renowned Muhy bagşy, and notable educator Penji Agalyýew. A manuscript containing 4425 verses of the great poet was discovered. The scholar worked passionately, dedicating himself to make up for lost time, as the great poet’s life and works captivated him. The dedication and enthusiasm with which Kösäýew engaged in disseminating Magtymguly’s works among the people were unparalleled. Scholar A. Esenow reflects on this in his article, stating that there is likely no one else who has studied every verse of the encyclopedic poet, discussing his life as if he were a living person.

During that period, Kösäýew published 24 articles dedicated to Magtymguly and ten books related to the poet’s life and works. He played a crucial role in organizing the 225th anniversary celebrations of Magtymguly. Notably, Russian scholar Dal traveled from village to village, meticulously documenting Magtymguly’s works, collecting invaluable information that reflects the significance of Kösäýew’s contributions.

The following are notable publications dedicated to the 225th and later 250th anniversaries of Magtymguly:

— Magtymguly, Memorial, A., 1959

— The Wise Words of Magtymguly, A., 1959

— Magtymguly, Selected Poems (Pocket Edition), A., 1959

— Magtymguly, Selected Works, A., TDH, 1959

— Magtymguly, Selected Works, Volumes 1 and 2, A., Turkmenistan YA Publishing, (with B. Garryýew)

— Folklore about Magtymguly, A., 1959

— Magtymguly, Selected Poems, Ashgabat-Baku, TSSR YA Publishing, 1960, in Arabic script (with B. Ahundow)

— Magtymguly, Selected Poems, A, Turkmenistan, 1st edition 1976 (with B. Garryýew), 2nd edition 1977

Moreover, Kösäýew’s numerous influential articles and publications have evolved over the years into beloved books that the public eagerly reads.

Turkmen people’s writer Atamyrat Atabaýew, in his reflective article, highlights Kösäýew’s contributions to Magtymguly studies: “Mäti Kösäýew has accomplished much in preparing, publishing, and promoting Magtymguly’s works. He has made significant contributions during the celebrations of the poet’s 225th and 250th anniversaries. If you pay attention, you will find Kösäýew’s name in several of the publications of Magtymguly’s works. After completing my studies, I began working as an editor at the ‘Turkmenistan’ publishing house in 1972. From that time, I participated in the publication of Magtymguly’s books, often being appointed as the editor for each new edition. This was due to my article titled ‘Repeatedly Reading Magtymguly,’ which addressed the issues of words, lines, punctuation, and logical inconsistencies in various editions of his works. Mäti aga appreciated the article and agreed with many of the ideas presented. As the compiler of the book, he worked alongside me to make corrections.”

We must also note Kösäýew’s initiative in creating the Magtymguly Museum at Turkmen State University. His daughter, Kümüş Amangeldiýewa, recalls, “Film director Alty Garlyýew and artist Ayhan Hajyýew would frequently consult each other while creating a portrait of Magtymguly. When establishing the museum at Turkmen State University, many of the exhibits and manuscripts were brought from home. I remember one instance when a foreign guest was visiting my father, who was still working at the time, and the leaders of that time wanted to present a carpet as a gift from the museum. My father locked the museum and took the key home, and despite many calls, he kept saying ‘no’ until the commotion subsided. He regarded the museum as his treasure, and as the director, he was respected so much that during that period, even a kolkhoz chairman gifted him a black house as a present.”

In Kösäýew’s 1972 collection titled “Some Issues of Literary History,” Magtymguly, his life, era, and the study of his works are thoroughly elucidated.

Professor M.Kösäýew explains the poet’s mastery by noting how his phrases evolved into aphorisms, ultimately becoming proverbs commonly used in everyday life. He cites the following verses as examples:

“Do not compete with the strong,

Do not race with the swift.” (proverb)

“Magtymguly, do not compete with the strong,

Avoid evil, do not resort to wrongdoing.” (Magtymguly)

Additionally, Kösäýew discusses the artistry of Magtymguly Pyragy’s poetry and the various forms of poem construction, highlighting how his diverse genres (murabba, muhammas, aydysh, mynajaty, etc.) have survived to this day. He supports his claims with the poet’s verses, showing that the poet’s works are rich in artistic devices and successfully penetrate the inner world of individuals. Moreover, the profound philosophical insight of Magtymguly is evident in his verses.

In the section “The Study of Magtymguly,” Kösäýew points out that the poet’s work began to be studied even before the Great October Revolution. He mentions that one of the first scholars to study Magtymguly was the Russian Turkologist I.N. Berezin, who included one of his poems in the 1857 “Turkish Hrestomathy,” introducing the Turkmen poet to Russian readers. He also notes that in 1874, Yenayew translated several of Magtymguly’s poems into Russian, underscoring the significance of the poet’s works  and their impact on both Eastern and Western cultures.

1. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, Ynsan kalbynyň öçmejek nury —A.: TDNG 2014
2. A. Esenow. Professor M. Kösäýew —A., 1990
3. M. Kösäýew. Edebiýat barada söhbet — A., 1972
4. M. Kösäýew. Edebiýat taryhynyň käbir meseleleri — A., 1972

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