c. 1724–c. 1807 (also 1808)
Magtymguly Pyragy, Persian: مخدومقلی فراغی
Magtymguly Pyragy · 土库曼斯坦
18th-century Turkmen Sufi poet and thinker, founder of Turkmen written literature.
Born c. 1724 in Hajji Qushan (now Golestan Province, Iran, near today's Turkmenistan border), his father was the scholar Döwletmämmet Azady. He studied successively at madrasas in Khiva, Bukhara, and elsewhere, and after returning home wrote poetry in spoken Turkmen on patriotism, unity, social injustice, and love, calling on the tribes to stop infighting and achieve unity. His poems circulated mainly orally and in manuscript during his lifetime, were collected after his death, and have been translated into many languages. He died c. 1807 (one account says 1808, uncertain) and was buried in Aq Taqeh-ye Qadim, now Golestan Province, Iran.
People & stories
Places in their life
Birthplace Hajji Qushan; places of study Khiva and Bukhara.
People
Cultural significance
A symbol of Turkmen national literature and national consciousness; Turkmenistan commemorates him every year on 27 June, and his lines are still used as proverbs today.
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