The Manuscripts of Machtimguli Pyragi in Europe
AŠCHABAT – The manuscripts of poet-thinker of Turkmen people Machtumkuli Pyragi have great significance for studying history, language and literature of the Turkmen of XIX century.
Machtumkuli could render through his poems the problems of Turkmen people lived in the 18-19 centuries whose ancestors had created great empires. The readers are fond of the poet’s verses and they are even today of great importance, because everyone sees his everyday life in his poems. The events described in the poet’s verses are not only the life of Turkmen, but the life of all people, who lived in the region. This is the main factor of the verses to be loved by eastern peoples and occupies a special place in hearts of the readers.
In order to objectively and explicitly study life description of the poets, their literary heritage, who lived in the Middle Ages we have, first of all, to turn to manuscripts written by them or during their life. Actually, the manuscripts have vital importance in turms of original sources for studying history, literature, science and culture of peoples. Manuscript heritage is a key to the scientific researches. The manuscripts are of great importance for people dealing with past and working on the scientific base. That is why no exact information is possible to use without grounds i.e. manuscripts. It would have not been possible to study history, language, literature of Turkmen people without manuscripts, which cover the secrets of multinational heritage.
The number of divan, which come to nowadays and available in the fund of Machtumkuli institute of language, literature and national manuscripts Academy of sciences of Turkmenistan, is approaching 80 manuscripts. The compositions of Machtumkuli may be found in 50 analogies (beyaz).
We may consider Machtumkuli’s divan versed if the manuscript or its 90% consisted of poems of Machtumkuli. The manuscript containing verses of Machtumkuli delivered to us are met on various margins, the margin fill in edges, white pages that is the manuscripts made up from various poets. The manuscript heritage of poet may be found in the fund of oriental studies named after Abu Reyhan Biruni in Tashkent, (Uzbekistan), in the manuscript fund of institute of oriental studies Academy of sciences Petersburgh, (Russia), in the manuscript fund of institute in Budapest (Hungary), in British museum in England, in the library of Dresden. It is also available in the manuscript fund named after Fizuli of the National Academy of sciences of Republic of Azerbaijan Republic.
The Chairman of Khalk Maslakhaty (Peoples Council) of Turkmenistan our national leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov approved annual plan of National cultural center Turkmenistan «Miras» (Heritage) with an aim to studying heritage of Turkmen people.
In accordance with approved plan K. Janbekov and Baimuradov were in Hungary in business trip and carried out certain work in Academy of sciences of Hungary. As a result of this trip a microfilm copy of divan of Machtumkuli (file 314 has been brought tour country. The total number of verses in manuscripts is 184 verses, starting with «Chykyp oturmysh» and ending with184th poems «Джоша душуп сен».This manuscript has neither beginning nor end. The copy contains no date and the one who wrote it. This manuscript was probably delivered as a result of travel Arminia Vamberi to Central Asia in 1863-1864.
In 2010 the scholars of National institute of manuscripts of Academy of sciences of Turkmenistan K. Janbekov and R. Kurenov visited the libraries and manuscripts funds of Sankt-Petersburg of Russian Federation and brought the manuscript heritage of Machtumkuli and other famous people to our country. The total number of manuscripts delivered is 25 electronic copies. The Turkmen scholars carried out certain work in the Institute of Oriental studies of Academy of sciences in Sankt—Petersburg, Russian national library and at the library of Sankt-Petersburg State university. Among the manuscripts 10 manuscripts belonged to Machtumkuli. WE wanted to be clear how these manuscript turned out to be there/
1.SANKT-PETERSBURG
DD1354 (FILE B 319).
The manuscript begins with the verse: «This world» and ends with the verse «For the truth». The manuscript consists of 97 verses on 57 pages. This manuscript has beginning only. Nothing is given about the copyist and date. This book was presented by Molla Baimuhamet belonging to Tochtamysh tribe in august 1902. He was a teacher in Teke tribe city school in Merv. The manuscript is written on a new Russian used paper.
2.SANKT-PETERSBURG
DD1355 (FILE В 319)
This manuscript starts with the verse : «This world» and ends with the poem «Would have not come». It has 55 verse on 57 pages. It has beginning and no end. Nothing is known about the copyist and date.
3.SANKT-PETERSBURG
DD1356 (FILE В 320)
This manuscript starts with the verse : «Oldness friends» and ends with the poem «Heaven». It has 36 verses on 17 pages. It has beginning and no end. Nothing is known about the copyist and date.
4.SANKT-PETERSBURG
DD1357 (FILE В 3657)
This manuscript starts with the verse : « Бинамаз чиркин » and ends with the poem «No fire ». It has 222 verses on 70 pages. It has beginning and no end. Nothing is known about the copyist and date.
This manuscript contains Durdy poet reply to the poem of Mahktumkuli : «What is fire ». This poem is not available in other manuscripts. The copyist seems to have been written himself. The margins are swept and replies make disappointed.
- SANKT-PETERSBURG
DD1357 (FILE D-21)
This manuscript starts with the verse : « Good talks » and ends with the poem «My soul ». It has 6 verses only. It has beginning and no end. Nothing is known about the copyist and date.
In 1903the manuscript was gifted by karakalpaks. I. A. Belyayev the course-mate of Samailovich presented this manuscript to him in 1903.
MANUSCRIPTS OF MAKHTUMKULI IN BUDAPEST,
AT THE HUNGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (Hungary)
The Hungarian Academy of Sciences has 2 manuscripts of the poet. One of them has been known for a long time and it was stored in folder 314. This manuscript consists of 278 pages. On the first page of this manuscript the folder number is Or 314. The manuscript contains 130 poems and he has been studied thoroughly. This copy was brought to Turkmenistan in 2007 in the form of microfilm. The manuscript mentions that this manuscript was donated to the Hungarian Academy of Sciences by the Hungarian scientist Arminim Vambery. The second manuscript is stored in folder 373. This manuscript contains five poems by Magtymguly. The remaining poems are written by the poets Andalib, Misgiklych and Mataji. This specimen was brought to Turkmenistan in 2023 in electronic form and has not been studied before. The manuscript mentions that this manuscript was also donated to the Hungarian Academy of Sciences by the Hungarian scientist Arminim Vambery.
THE MANUSCRIPT OF MACHTUMKULI FROM LIBRARY OF DRESDEN (GERMAN FEDERATIVE REPUBLIC)
The number Or.827 is written on the first page of the manuscript. It consists of 117 pages. The manuscript has no beginning and the end is damaged. The manuscript is not studied effectively. The copy was gifted in a year of independence of Turkmenistan inpaper shape by the turkmen diaspora living abroad.
THE MANUSCRIPT OF MACHTUMKULI in British museum in London( England)
The number Or.11414 is written on the first page of the manuscript. It consists of 142 pages. The manuscript has no beginning and the end is damaged. The manuscript has 213 verses and is not studied effectively . The copy was gifted in a year of independence of Turkmenistan in paper shape by the turkmen diaspora living abroad. In some sorciers it is mention that this manuscript was presented by Arminim Vamberi Hungarian scoler to British museum.
THE MANUSCRIPT OF MACHTUMKULI in IN THE FUND OF INSTITUTE NAMED AFTER FISULI OF NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN
In 2014, prior to celebration of 290-th aniversary of Machtumkuli Pyragi it was informed that two manuscripts are avaiable in the manuscript fund of the Institute named after Fizuli the national Academy of sciences of the Republic of Azerbaijan. These manuscripts are kept under files 170 and 1558.
The manuscript in the set170 consists of 55 pages and is considered not full. These manuscripts were studied by Azerbaijan scholar Ismihan Osmanly and Turkmeen scholars R. Godarov and R. Kurenov and prepared for publication on Azerbaijan and Turkmen languages.
In commomeration of 300 years anniversary jubilee of Machtumkuli Pyragi the great efforts are taken by the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and nation-wide leader of Turkmen people Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on streamlining cooperation in various scientific fields. This gives an opportunity to jointly study scientificuly the creativity of the great poet.
That’s why the representatives of Turkmenistan take part in scientific forum and conferences in order to deeply study the great poet-thinker Machtumkuli Pyragi.
Now the scholars are in Spain on business trip to study philosophical and manuscripts of the great poet of Turkmen people in order to make this data accesible not for Turkmen readers but to the readers in the world.
Academy of sciences of Turkmenistan
Language, literature and people named after Machtumkuli
Academic secretary. Historical sciences candidate
Kakajan Janbekov
