There is a building of the Magtymguly Institute of Language, Literature and National Manuscripts of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan in the historical center of Ashgabat, where one can literally touch the pages of history, visibly feel the connection with the wisdom of ancestors, the connection between the past and the future of human heritage.
The rich and unique manuscript collection of this largest repository of ancient manuscripts in Central Asia contains more than ten thousand rare oriental manuscripts and lithographic books mainly in the Turkmen, Arabic and Persian languages. At the same time, there are valuable materials in Russian, Uzbek, Kazakh, Karakalpak, Balochi, Kurdish languages and even manuscripts in Hebrew. According to the dates of creation, they cover the XIII–XX centuries and relate to the history, culture, literature of the Turkmen and other peoples of the East, as well as to medicine, astronomy, mathematics, geography, wildlife... There is also rich material of oral heritage recorded by scientists on scientific missions and expeditions across the country.
The staff of the departments directly related to the preservation and restoration of manuscripts were my guides and consultants in this world of the precious heritage of bygone eras. In total, the Institute accommodates eight departments, a phonetic laboratory and the editorial office of the popular science magazine “Miras”. Thanks to the tireless research of scientists, this research center has collected priceless manuscript monuments that were stored in libraries of dozens of countries around the world.
My consultants pulled their priceless treasure from special cells of the book depository, demonstrating unique samples, including several versions of the epic “Gerogly”, manuscripts by the classics of Turkmen literature – Andalib, Azadi, Magtymguly, Mollanepes and other world-famous poets. The researchers talked about the rare poem “Wagzy Azat” (Azadi’s Sermons) by Turkmen poet-classic Dovletmamed Azadi, the only copy of the book “World History” by Salar Baba Gulaly oglu Kharydari, a Turkmen historian from Nisa, handwritten by the author in 1555–1556, which is a real treasure of this manuscript collection.
Among the rarities are Nasreddin Tusi’s commentary on Abu Ali ibn Sina’s work “Al-isharat va-tanbihat” (Instructions and Warnings) dated 1318, and manuscripts by Abu Ali ibn Sina himself.
The Institute staff demonstrated gilded pages and a beautiful leather binding of the XIX century Koran, commissioned by the Khan of Khiva Allaguly Khan, as well as original editions. Among them is a book, huge in format and volume, weighing more than seventeen kilograms, containing the work “Mukhyt” (Ocean) by Muhamed Sarakhsi, as well as a small booklet called “Nurname” weighing one hundred grams. A special place in the collection of valuable rarities is occupied by the ancient manuscript “Tovrat, Ivrit” (Torah) in the form of a 28-meter-long scroll. It is written on parchment with the text of the Pentateuch and dated to the 10th century.
Manuscripts of lifetime editions deserve attention. Among them is the only existing copy of the work “Serkhul Mukhtaser Vakaya” of the 17th century in Arabic, the copyist of which was Dovletmammed Azadi, the father of the great Turkmen poet Magtymguly.
Looking at these truly imperishable pages, which came from the hands of paper masters, skilled copyists, artists, gilders and bookbinders, one feels a reverent sense of belonging to their millennial existence, as if entering into a dialogue with both the author and everyone who has ever touched the manuscripts during their long life.
By carefully collecting, preserving, restoring, studying, translating and publishing these valuable testimonies of bygone eras, which contain centuries-old life experience of people, scientists of the Institute of Language, Literature and National Manuscripts of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan not only shed light on the past of the Turkmen people but also help to understand and comprehend the origins of modern events and, perhaps, gain experience for the future.
This topic was the subject of conversation with the Scientific Secretary of the Institute, candidate of historical sciences Kakadzhan Dzhanbekov.
“Our national heritage, including manuscript monuments, being an integral and valuable part of the cultural wealth of the Turkmen people, is significant for the current and future generations. Turkmen historians have repeatedly raised this topic, especially in the context of the International Year of Peace and Trust and the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s neutrality celebrated this year,” my interlocutor said.
The ideas of neutrality and preventive diplomacy have deep roots in the spiritual and historical experience of the Turkmen people, which formed their mentality, Kakadzhan Dzhanbekov believes. Manuscripts, ancient books and folk legends at the disposal of the Institute’s scientists feature numerous examples of Turkmen ancestors giving preference to non-confrontational ways of interaction with other nations, peaceful resolution of disputes and problems.
“People have been communicating with each other for centuries – trading, fighting, making alliances. Even at the dawn of their history, Turkmens conducted foreign policy activities, speaking in modern terms, defending their interests. Can you find examples of this in manuscript sources?” I asked the scientist.
“Of course, my interlocutor said. For example, not having permanent diplomatic missions, the Turkmens sent envoys to neighboring lands to conduct various negotiations. Thus, the manuscript “The Life of Sultan Jelaleddin”, brought to the institute from the National Library of France in 2009, talks about the sultan’s mission to the Mongols before the invasion of Genghis Khan.
“Turkmen diplomacy developed mainly in wartime conditions, which had a decisive influence on its character, Kakadzhan Dzhanbekov said. One of the most ancient customs of the Turkmen, strictly observed in all eras, was the preliminary warning of the enemy about the war. A widely known example comes from the epic “Oguznama”, recorded in the 14th century by Rashid ad-Din. Oguzhan Turkmen sent a special envoy to the Georgians, warning about the upcoming battle: I am obliged to immediately act against you. Be vigilant and informed, so that you do not say later that Oguz attacked you suddenly, during your carelessness and without warning.”
As an example of the Turkmen generosity to the defeated enemy, the scholar talked about the meeting of the Seljuk ruler and outstanding commander Togrul-bek with the Baghdad caliphs after the Seljuks conquered Baghdad. Togrul-bek took upon himself the protection of caravan routes in all countries of the Islamic world. He also announced the construction of caravanserais, wells and rabats (fortresses to protect caravans). This information is noted in Kamil-et-Tewarykh (Complete Chronicle) by Ibn El-Esir, copies of which came to the manuscript collection of the Institute from the National Library of Egypt and the Suleymaniye Library (Turkiye).
In the same vein, Kakadzhan Dzhanbekov also mentioned the event of May 29, 1453, when Mehmed II, a descendant of the Oghuz, conquered Constantinople, entered the city and did not oppress any of the confessions represented there, leaving their leaders to manage their parishes. This tradition is still preserved in Istanbul.
Drawing a parallel between the events of the glorious past of Turkmens and modern achievements of neutral Turkmenistan, Kakadzhan Dzhanbekov recalled a well-known historical fact testifying to the humanism, mercy and humanity of the Turkmen ruler and commander of the Seljuk state, Alp-Arslan. This is the battle that took place on 19 August 1071 at Manzikert (now a Turkish city and district Malazgirt) between the Seljuk Turks led by Sultan Alp-Arslan and the army of the Byzantine Empire led by Emperor Roman IV Diogenes. Even when intelligence informed Alp-Arslan that a huge army was moving on him, he sent ambassadors to Emperor Roman Diogenes with a peace proposal, but the latter, thinking that the Sultan was afraid, arrogantly rejected it. As a result, the Byzantine army was defeated by the Seljuks, and the emperor became a prisoner of a Muslim ruler for the first time in history.
Sultan Alp-Arslan, despite the treachery of his enemy Romanus Diogenes, treated him not as a prisoner but as a guest, offering him a place near him and escorting him on his way home. According to historical records, upon returning home, Diogenes and his family were imprisoned and blinded by the order of the new emperor Michael Dukas VII. Unfortunately, he did not experience the humanity and mercy shown to him by Sultan Alp Arslan.
In continuation of our conversation, the scientist noted that people-to-people diplomacy was also used as the main form of political communication between Turkmens and the outside world since the fall of the Great Seljuks. Thanks to the art of people-to-people diplomacy, without having their own independent state, Turkmens played a key role in the geopolitics of Central and South Asia, Middle and Middle East as a whole.
At all times and in all spheres of life, the Turkmen carefully preserved their original values, resisted discord, which was reflected in the sayings of thinkers and poets. The aforementioned book “Wagzy Azat” by Turkmen thinker Dovletmammet Azadi contains a wise maxim: “Whoever lights a fire will burn in it himself, whoever digs a hole will fall into it himself.” It is noteworthy that this quote in Turkmen, German and English was chosen in 2012 by the German cultural society “Kunst Welt e.V. Berlin” for the project “Path of Prophets”, representing outstanding figures of various states and peoples. This statement was placed on a panel on one of the central streets of Berlin – Friedrichstrasse.
According to my interlocutor, most manuscripts and historical works glorify justice, ingenuity, heroism and magnanimity of the Turkmens, their humane attitude to other people living in the territory of the states they created. In this regard, Kakadzhan Dzhanbekov recalled the traces of the glorious historical past that Turkmen ancestors left in India.
In our conversation, we could not ignore one of the striking examples of people-to-people diplomacy – a story of liberation of the brother of Turkmen musician Shukur-bakhshi from captivity by the Iranian khan, which was reflected in folk legends, and then in the story “Shukur-bakhshi” by Nurmurad Sarykhanov and feature film “Contest” based on this story.
As is known, the villagers offered the bakhshi to ransom his brother or free him by armed attack, taking a sabre in his hand. But after a sleepless night of thinking about whether there are no other ways to resolve the conflict but battle and recalling Magtymguly’s poems, the musician goes to the enemy camp completely unarmed, taking with him only a musical instrument – dutar. In a peaceful contest, Shukur-bakhshi wins his brother’s release from captivity by the power of music. The essence of the story – it is possible to defeat the enemy with the help of art without allowing a bloody massacre.
It is no coincidence that the musician’s thoughts mention the poetry of Magtymguly, who can be called an outstanding diplomat. It is in the poems of the great Turkmen poet-philosopher that his ideas about the world and the role of the Turkmen people in it, as well as the enduring universal values – humanism, peacefulness, call for unity, friendship and brotherhood – are reflected.
The Institute has prepared for publication the Encyclopedia of Magtymguly and the Explanatory Dictionary of Magtymguly’s Poems. The manuscripts and books related to Magtymguly Fraghi, the number of which increased last year that marked the 300th anniversary of the poet, prove that the humanistic message of his works and his legacy as a whole are increasingly relevant in the context of analyzing the events of the modern era, which helps to delve into the essence of many current problems of humanity, including global and regional politics.
An excursion into history based on the study of the priceless manuscript heritage conducted by the Scientific Secretary of the Magtymguly Institute of Language, Literature and National Manuscripts of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, Kakadzhan Dzhanbekov, was yet another confirmation of the connection between the modern peacekeeping policy of the permanently neutral Turkmen state and the centuries-old wisdom of the Turkmen people, which consists in the ability to create priceless examples of the creative potential of humanity.