Every nation has great poets, whose poems penetrate into the very heart and remain in the people's memory. For Turkmens, this is Magtymguly Fragi. In his poetry, he reflected the spiritual image, national identity, culture, traditions and innermost dreams of the Turkmen people. An outstanding poet and thinker occupies a special place in the history of literature and culture around the world. In his works, imbued with deep humanism, universal human values - love for the Motherland, love of peace, a call for creativity, friendship and brotherhood - found vivid expression.

Magtymguly’s poetry is also close to the Uzbek people; his poems and songs are well known and loved in Uzbekistan. Fate itself connected the poet with the Uzbek land. After graduating from a rural school in the town of Hadji-Govshan in Turkmenistan, where the poet was born and raised, he studied for some time in Bukhara. Then he received a full education at the Shergazi Khan madrasah in Khiva. Having studied the history of Uzbekistan, Magtymguly was imbued with sincere love for our land, deep sympathy for its people and culture. In Khiva he found many like-minded people, mentors, friends and admirers. Recalling with gratitude the years he lived here, he composed beautiful poems. Magtymguly Fragi called the great Uzbek poet Alisher Navoi his teacher, which is an excellent example of friendship between the Uzbek and Turkmen peoples.

In the 21st century, the traditions of eternal friendship and good neighborliness of our peoples continue. The recently published decree of the President of Uzbekistan “On the wide celebration of the 300th anniversary of the great Turkmen poet and thinker Magtymguly Fragi” is the best confirmation of this.

This year in Uzbekistan, in order to show the respect of the Uzbek people for Magtymguly Fragi and in his person for the fraternal people of Turkmenistan, it is planned to publish a book of selected works of the poet, a collection of scientific articles dedicated to his life and work. An international scientific conference “The role of Magtymguly’s creativity in Uzbek literature and art” will be held in Khiva with the cooperation of the Academy of Sciences, the Writers’ Union, ministries and departments. It is planned to create theatrical productions and a feature film about the poet. Cinematographers from Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan will work together on the film.

It is planned to hold a republican competition among young singers “The best performer of songs based on Magtymguly’s poems” and an exhibition of works of fine art glorifying the bonds of friendship between fraternal peoples. The wonderful lines of Magtymguly will be heard in schools and universities, theaters, cultural centers, mahallas and military units, where creative meetings, literary and musical evenings with the participation of famous poets and scientists will be held.

As emphasized in the resolution of the head of state, at present, when a new stage has begun in the history of relations between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, the immortal artistic heritage of Magtymguly Fragi is becoming even more important. The unsurpassed works of the poet, equally revered by two fraternal peoples, are regularly published in our country in large editions. In memory of Magtymguly, a memorial complex was erected in Khiva, which became a place of attraction for admirers of his work.

A few days after the publication of the document, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov sent a message to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. He noted that the widespread celebration of the 300th anniversary of Magtymguly Fragi in Uzbekistan will be another manifestation of the inviolability of fraternal ties between our peoples and states, the commonality of their historical destinies, our unity and readiness to always be together.

In 2014, Uzbekistan celebrated the 290th anniversary of the birth of Magtymguly. His work is studied in schools and universities across the country. Since 2017, one of the central streets of Tashkent has been named after Magtymguly. In the same year, a bas-relief of a classic of Turkmen literature was installed here, and a shady alley was created. At the opening ceremony of the monument, its author, sculptor Jasvant Annazarov, emphasized: “Magtymguly Fragi is a “fiery” poet. I am from Khorezm, his works are dear to us. He was a national poet who managed to reach the heart of the common man and awaken beautiful traits in him.”

The poems of Magtymguly Fragi serve as an exemplary school of wisdom and high spirituality. His works are loved by the people and have been passed on by bakhshi storytellers for centuries, largely thanks to their poetic language, which is close to living colloquial speech. The poet proved that not only Persian and Arabic, but also the Turkmen language is suitable for high poetry. His lyrics united the Turkmen people. Indeed, in the poems of Magtymguly Fragi, the aspirations and thoughts of the Turkmen were reflected with unique completeness and involvement.

He was born in a difficult time for his people, there was no single nation, scattered tribes competed with each other and fought against foreign invaders. The poet, who observed such division from childhood, wrote: “The greatest enemy of the people is disunity; it is necessary to unite all tribes, serving one goal.” Magtymguly was a true patriot, the formation of a united Turkmen nation was his cherished dream. This is evidenced by the poet’s literary pseudonym - Fragi, which means “separated”, and his fiery lines:

Like the flesh of the return of being,
Having experienced the dream of death, he wishes
My bloody one
The soul desires other times.
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Fragi is exhausted by illness:
Uniter of Tribes
The arrival of the blessed one,
He is in love with Turkmenistan and desires it.

Despite all the hardships of fate, Magtymguly never lost faith in the happy future of his people, the inextricable connection with which, his life, was the ground on which beautiful and truthful poetry grew. He composed poems about his native expanses, the hardworking Turkmen people, reflected on human nature, love, friendship, enmity, betrayal.

In his works, the poet creates the image of a Turkmen horseman, fearless in battle, merciless to the enemy, honest and fair, contrasting him with a pathetic coward, huckster and hypocrite, capable of any meanness for the sake of profit. The poet criticizes human vices that impoverish the spiritual level of the nation and weaken the indomitable spirit of the people.

The very life and work of the Turkmen poet and thinker can serve as an example of patriotism, love of humanity and high morality for the younger generation of Uzbekistan. Acquaintance and every meeting with his poems bring the joy of contact with true art, a treasury of human wisdom, and soulful lyrics. Wide celebration of the 300th anniversary of the poet around the world and in our country will allow the imperishable lines of Magtymguly Fragi to pave the way to the hearts of millions more people.

Rano Abdumazhitova,
Senior Lecturer at the Department of Foreign Languages of the
Tashkent State Agrarian University