Turkmen prominent poet Mahtumkulu Firaki commemorated in Turkey

By Jeyhun Aliyev

ANKARA (AA) - Turkmenistan’s Embassy in Turkey organized a commemoration program on Friday for renowned Turkmen philosophical poet Mahtumkulu Firaki.

The program in Ankara gathered senior bureaucrats, ambassadors, academicians, representatives of NGOs and international and local institutions next to the monument of Firaki in Turkmenistan park, which was opened with the participation of Turkish and Turkmen leaders in 2012.

The program marked Mahtumkulu Firaki Poetry Festival week, held in the last week of June in Turkmenistan and abroad.

Firaki, who was born in 1724 and died in 1807, was a spiritual leader, philosophical poet and Sufi, who is considered the father of Turkmen literature.

The event began with the national anthems of Turkmenistan and Turkey and was followed by a wreath-laying ceremony and speeches by officials.

The poet is often placed alongside major prominent figures of Turkic literature such as Hoca Ahmed Yasevi, Yunus Emre, Ali-Shir Navai, Mevlana and Mahammad Fizuli.

- 'Expression of respect, love for elders'

Turkmenistan Ambassador to Ankara Ishankuli Amanlyev underlined that the event was organized as part of the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's independence and the declaration in 2021 in Turkmenistan as the "year of peace and trust."

He said that Turkmen President Gurbangulu Berdimuhamedov signed an order on wide preparations for celebrations of Firaki's 300th birth anniversary in 2024 and the development of the culture and art sphere in Turkmenistan is one of the priority aspects of state policy.

The envoy said the annual Mahtumkulu Firaki Poetry Festival is a "beautiful expression of Turkmen people's respect and love for all their elders."

"Today, all humanity has great respect for the works of the Turkmen wise, taking inspiration and spiritual power from the poems of the great philosopher and humanist poet, the famous master of words, who describe general human values and humanitarian principles," he said.

He emphasized that the literary heritage of Firaki is an "invaluable spiritual and moral wealth for present and future generations."

- 'Pride of whole world'

Dusen Kaseinov, the secretary-general of the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY) said that Firaki is not only "a pride of Turkmenistan but of the whole world."

"Keeping our values that make us who we are and our pride in bringing our cultural richness to where we are today and leaving it as a legacy to future generations is the most important premise of our existence," he said.

Firaki's unique poems and philosophy, which he left behind as a legacy, continue to guide and inspire people of culture nowadays as well,” said Kaseinov.

Deniz Cakar, a senior official from the Turkish Foreign Ministry, said that a great Turkic poet and philosopher has not only "left his mark in the 18th and 19th century literature of Turkmen people,” but also "guided the society" in which he lived politically, culturally and socially.

"With his poems, Mahtumkulu Firaki invited the Turkmen people to solidarity and national unity, and 200 years later, he became a torch for the Turkmen people on the road to independence and statehood," she said.

Serdar Ciggin, deputy mayor of Ankara, said Turkic states have common roots, culture and thoughts.

He said the "glorious history and friendship" between those states would leave a legacy to future generations.

Turkic Council Deputy Secretary-General Sultan Raev said the personality of Firaki comes first to the mind when mentioning Turkmen literature.

The poet is always remembered for "being a hope and guidance" of the nation, said Raev.