― 15 марта 2019 г.
Pioneers of the Turkic World – 14: 125th Anniversary of the Birthday of the Uzbek Contemporary Novelist Abdullah Kadiri
Abdullah Kadiri, the great author and poet of the Turkic World from Uzbekistan and founder of contemporary Uzbek literature known as one of the emblematic figures of the national awakening movement of Uzbekistan was commemorated in an event dedicated to the author by TURKSOY within the framework of its series of conferences on pioneers of the Turkic World.
The commemorative event featuring a conference dedicated to the 125th Anniversary of the Birthday of the Uzbek Contemporary Novelist Abdullah Kadiri was hosted by the International Organization of Turkic Culture and took place in cooperation with the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Ankara along with the Presidency of Turks Abroad and Related Communities, and the Hacı Bayram University of Ankara. The conference gathered the Chief Advisor to the President of the Republic of Turkey Yalçın Topçu, the Ambassadore of Uzbekistan to Ankara H. E. Alisher Agzamkhadjayev, the Ambassador of Tajikistan to Ankara H. E. Mahmadali Rajabiyon, the Chairman of the Presidency of Turks Abroad and Related Communities Mr. Abdullah Eren, along with many scholars, authors, students and journalists.
In the opening speech he delivered at the conference, TURKSOY Deputy Secretary General Prof. Dr. Fırat Purtaş extended his gratitude to all those who contributed to the organization of the event. Mr. Purtaş further stressed that the conference takes place on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the birthday of Abdullah Kadiri who was a disciple of the Movement of Enlightment of the Turkic World known as "Usul-ü cedid" and who was an iconic figure of contemporary Uzbek literature.
Prof. Dr. Purtaş who further said that TURKSOY had organized an event together with the Embassy of Uzbekistan a few months ago extended his gratitude to the Embassy and said that TURKSOY is grateful for the strong interest shown by participants of the conference as well as to Uzbekistan for its support and belief regarding the common future of the Turkic World united in friendship and solidarity.
Prof. Dr. Purtaş who also stressed the fact that ties between Turkey and Uzbekistan have gained considerable impetus in the recent past added: “The visibility of Uzbekistan within the Turkic World is growing further everyday. The most concrete sign thereof is the fact that the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed the city of Hiva as Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2020 at the Summit of the Turkic Council held last year in Cholpan Ata in Kyrgyzstan. This was truly a turning point. Along with this candidature, Uzbekistan which is one of the founding member countries of TURKSOY when it was established in 1993 started to actively contribute to activities carried out by TURKSOY. Within this framework, we have went on a3-day working visit to Uzbekistan where we went to Tashkent and Hiva with a delegation of TURKSOY. This working visit is also a sign that Uzbekistan will foster its acitivity within TURKSOY as a member country thereof.”
The Chief Advisor of the President of the Republic of Turkey Yalçın Topçu who also extended his gratitude to all those who contributed to the organization of the event stressed that cultural activities work wonders when it comes to develop ties among nations. Mr. Topçu who also qualified Turkic Republics as “children of identical parents who grew up in different cradles” further said “If we are to remember eachother and reming ourselves of the fact that we are kindred peoples we have to foster our political, commercial and social ties and the best way to do this is through cultural ties. These activities are very important. As our ancestor Gaspyraly once said, one day we will be united in language, ideas and actions.”
Mr. Topçu further said “Today, we are going to commemorate the great novelist of the Turkic World Abdullah Kadiri. This author who wrote major works such as “Singing Days” which cost him persecution by the Soviet Regime due to the fact that it was advocating national consciousness later saw his works banned from publication before being emprisoned himself although his works continued being spread. Kadiri who was later executed by firing squad is an author whose works are compared to Shakespeare. He will be commemorated by TURKSOY throughout the Turkic World. In 2020, the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World will be Hiva, and this will certainly give a strong impetus to the further development of our mutual ties.”
Ambassador Alisher Agzamkhadjayev stressed that besides his many talents Abdullah Kadiri was also a translator who tranlstaed world classics into Uzbek language and contributed to the enlightment of young generations, which is why he was then persecuted by the Soviet regime which prohibited his works and assassinated him. Ambassador Agzamkhadjayev who also extended his gratitude to TURKSOY and the Hacı Bayram Veli University for the organization of this event to commemorate the great Uzbek author further said “Abdullah Kadiri’s works can be seen as a series of guiding principles for the Uzbek people, masterfully teaching them values such as humanism, love, patriotism and universal tolerance. All his works and especially his poems are a call upon their readers for knowledge and enlightment. Kadiri’s poems clearly show the powerfulness and debth of Uzbek literature.”
Ambassador Agzamkhadjayev further expressed his strong belief in the fact that with its publications and activities introducing authors of the Turkic World such as Kadiri to future generations as well as to our kindred peoples with tranlsations thereof into their dialects TURKSOY will further strengthen the solidarity, cooperation and friendship among Turkic peoples
The President of of the Presidency of Turks Abroad (YTB) who also delivered a speech said that the YTB carries out activities to foster ties among Turkic republics and peoples and that the YTB has been in close cooperation with the Turkic Council and TURKSOY last year: “We have come together in TURKSOY to commemorate the great author of the Uzbek people. If we want to talk about the Turkic World in the 21st century, we must talk about all those who fought for it in all respects and died in the 20th century. We must draw lessons from this past experience. This is why it is a great pleasure for us representing Turks Abroad and Kindred Peoples in this event.”
Mr. Eren who also stressed that they will come together in a meeting gathering the Turkic Council and TURKSOY again next week in Germany to discuss and agree upon a roadmap regarding activities to be pursued by diasporas of Turkic republics together fuether added: “Based on the experience of Turkey in recent years, Turkic republics we can say that if we work in close cooperation with Turkic republics and communities, I believe that Turkic peoples will have a much stronger say in world politics after the second hald of the 21st century. Culture and art are an extremely good starting point for this. Since its establishment, TURKSOY has been filling a considerable gap in this respect. We will continue commemorating pioneers of the Turkic World as an institution.”
The opening speeches were followed by a short film on the life and work of Abdullah Kadiri.
The event went on with a panel discussion chaired by Prof. Dr. Fatih Kirişçioğlu, the Director of the Department of Contemporary Turkic Dialects of the Ankara Hacı Bayram University.
Papers presented by Prof. Dr. Şuayip Karakaş from the Aydın University, Prof. Dr. Joppor Eshonkulov, Director of the Alişir Nevai State Museum of the Academy of Science of Uzbekistan, Prof. Dr. Kahraman Radjabov, Expert of the Institute of History of the Academy of Science of Uzbekistan and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Veli Savaş Yelok from the Ankara Hacı Bayram University all touched upon various aspects of the life and work of Kadiri who contributed to the founding of contemporary Uzbek literature and the awakening of the national consciousness of the Uzbek people with his novels and poems. All panelists particularly praised Kadiri for his strong interest in art from an early age on despite difficult conditions he lived in and gave detailed information on his struggle against Soviet repression, the prohibition of his works, his emprisonment and assassination.
The event also featured performances by the State Artist of Uzbekistan Abror Zufarov, the minstrels Zeki Erdali and Şeyda Erdali.
