NEWS

Agahan Durdyyev, the Pioneer of the new Turkmen Literature

In his book «The time to look back» remembering the course of life and the creative work of Agahan Durdyyev, a well-known Turkmen writer, one of the pioneers of the new Turkmen prose Alexander Ivanovich Aborskiy wrote: «For a long time there is not Agahan among us. Schoolchildren, young people read his books, philologists study his manuscripts, from time to time in editorial office or in the Union of Writers they remember this quiet and at the same time significant, bright man. One day, as if by chance, it was revealed that in comparison with his contemporaries of the same age, Agahan mastered well pure, rich Turkmen language. It is of course very important and these features for the young Turkmen prose are of no small importance. But not only purity of the language and picturesque style show the true essence of the prose of Agahan Durdyyev». (A.Аборский. Время оглянутъся. Москва, 1988, стр. 200) It is really so. In 1920-s works of this writer really opened new pages of the new Turkmen literature.

25 March 2021

Literature

European Orientalists about the Turkmen Literature

The scientists of Europe began showing interest in Turkmen literature in the 19th century. Heinrich Friedrich von Diez (1751-1817), a German diplomat and orientalist , translated and published several works of Eastern literature. In 1811 he published some parts from the Turkmen epic «The Book of Father Gorkut» («Gorkut ata») under the name «The Book of Oguz». Besides that he published his article about the chapter of the epic «The song how Beset killed Depegoz» comparing it with the episode about one-eyed Cyclops, named Polyphem in the 9th song of the epic «Odyssey» by Homer, a Greek epic poet of the 8th century B.C. He also published Turkmen sayings and proverbs, because for some years he worked as a diplomat in Turkey. Johann Wolfgang Goethe (1749-1832) a well-known German classic poet, after reading «The Book of Oguz» published in German by Friedrich von Diez wrote the following poem expressing his gratitude to him in his book «West-östlicher Divan»:

28 January 2021

Literature

Hunting Stories

All sorts of occasions, which sometimes leave very strong impressions, not always pleasant ones, in the memory of not only people, but also animals, always occur in hunting. “Those who have not seen fear have not been on the hunt,” people say. Here are some stories on this theme. A Fight at the Cost of a Voice

15 January 2021

Literature

A Wrestler Dish (A Short Story)

Berdi has returned from anniversary birthday party with a trophy. «He is not Berdi, but he is a brave spirit» as said Madresul, friend and fellow student of Berdi who had brought him to the party. Leaving the party, Berdi muttered to himself all the way coming to the hostel. «Well, would you ever do such a thing if you are not an out-and-out fool, as Gorogly beg used to say. Not for nothing do our forefathers said, «Don’ t ever try do something which you cannot grasp». Well, you’ve come here to study. Well, you do some wrestling. So what?! Aren’t there any other wrestlers except you? Wrestling doesn’t mean that you are the winner. Wrestling is just trying your luck. You either win or lose. If you are strong enough with your muscular calves, strong wrists and have knowledge of numerous wrestling methods – then, you are the winner. Otherwise, you are subjected to defeat by opponent with your back, touching the ground, and if you are able to move quickly from under your rival, then have no other choice rather than leaving the wrestling field accompanied with derisive laughter from spectators. And if you taste someone’s bitter words, you will be shivering and trembling with breaking out in goose pimples all over your body. In addition, if he says, «Alas, the ground where this fleshy wrestler fell down cracked with resounding noise, I am afraid that he has wetted h

10 November 2020

Literature

Beki Seytakov: Master of Prose

Beki Seytakov was born in 1914 into a poor peasant’s family in the Bedirkent village of the Tagta district of the Dashoghuz province. He experienced a hard life in his childhood. Later he expressed his feelings about that period of life in his poem «Little Child»: I remember my childhood passed in sorrowDay and night I wanted bread to borrow.

23 August 2020

Literature

Poetry is life

The Hero of Turkmenistan, People’s Writer Gozel Shaguliyeva is widely known in our country. Her verses, in which the melody of life plays, are full of thoughts, hopes and joys. She wrote her first poems about the Motherland for the school newspaper when she was 11. Poetry entered her life early and was not brought to judgment of readers for a long time, remaining, according to the poetess, “the refuge of her soul”. It was not until 1969, when she was 29, that she sent her verses to a literary newspaper for the first time, where they were published. She made her debut thus. The poetic talent of Gozel Shaguliyeva was noticed, and a new name appeared in Turkmen literature. The recognition from readers and poets of Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan came to her. Gozel Shaguliyeva is a fine lyricist. Many verses by the Turkmen poetess are set to music today. The songs I was Waiting for You, A White Dove, White Flowers and others became popular.

14 August 2020

Literature