98-524: The Ruhnama , or Rukhnama , translated into English as Book of the Soul , is a two volume work written by Saparmurat Niyazov , the president of Turkmenistan from 1990 to 2006. It was intended to serve as a tool of state propaganda , emphasising the basis of the Turkmen nation . The Ruhnama was introduced to Turkmen culture in a gradual but eventually pervasive way. Niyazov first placed copies in
196-555: A Republic within the USSR. In the years following independence, Turkmenistan invested heavily in plants and machinery in an attempt to convert it from being primarily a supplier of petroleum to a more advanced economy; such investments included oil refineries and a polyethylene plant. In an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper, Niyazov claimed that Turkmenistan was able to process 85% of its domestic output. Additionally, numerous petroleum transportation projects were completed such as
294-552: A division of the Turkmen Ground Forces was renamed after Atamyrat Nyýazow. Today, the 22nd Motor Rifle Division "Atamyrat Niyazov" deployed in Serdar carries his name. One of the earliest acts of Niyazov was to abolish the death penalty. He also granted official human rights to the people, though they were not respected in practice, with his government being criticized as one of the worst human rights violators in
392-413: A fairy-tale girl, peri Agaýunus (the hero falls in love with a girl in his dream, goes in search of her, overcomes obstacles, takes her to Chandybil), about revenge on Arab-Reýhan for kidnapping his aunt, Gülendam , about the adoption of Ovez, about saving him from captivity and about his marriage. The "chapters" about Görogly's battle with Arab-Reýhan , making a way into an enemy camp,
490-419: A few weeks earlier for which the president had hand-picked all candidates. Niyazov and his wife, Muza Melnikova , who was of Russian and Jewish descent, had a son (Murat) and a daughter (Irina). Niyazov became president at the transition of Turkmenistan from a Soviet republic to an independent state. His presidency was characterised by an initial crumbling of the centralised Soviet model that in many respects
588-815: A hero of the people who struggled against unjust rulers. The epic combines the occasional romance with Robin Hood -like chivalry. Due to the migration in the Middle Ages of large groups of Oghuz Turks within Central Asia , South Caucasus and Asia Minor, and their subsequent assimilation with other ethnic groups, the Epic of Koroghlu spread widely in these geographical regions leading to emergence of its Turkmen , Kazakh , Uzbek , Tajik , Azerbaijani , Turkish , Crimean Tatar , Georgian , Kurdish , and Armenian versions. The story has been told for many generations by
686-609: A major research agenda in the country, often at the cost of academic disciplines. The text also doubled as the sole government-approved version of history across all Turkmen schools until Niyazov's demise, and had a substantial negative effect on academic scholarship. Several conferences on Ruhnama itself were organised by historical and cultural institutes. Other common topics were Turkmen epics, ancient Turkmen culture, and men of eminence – all deriving from Ruhnama . The only books which were allowed to be published were those whose views were in service of Ruhnama; Turkmenistan does not have
784-511: A model code of conduct . These are often supplemented with Niyazov's explanatory annotations. Virtues like generosity, unity, humility, hospitality, patience, honesty, defence of fatherland, protection of female dignity, and caring for horses (something that is placed into utmost importance by Niyazov's successor ) are emphasised upon. Some of his own poems singing paeans of the Turkmen are present, too. The Shajara-i Tarākima (unattributed) and writings of Ahmad ibn Fadlan are relied upon for
882-695: A pipeline from the Korpedje field to Kort-Koi in Iran. In 1991 and 2001, Niyazov issued decrees making water, gas, electricity, and refined salt free to use for ten-year periods. In 2005, Niyazov appointed Gurbanmyrat Ataýew as Minister of Oil and Gas, succeeding Atamyrat Berdyýew . Turkmenistan's other primary resources are cotton and grain. Niyazov continued the old practice of demanding yearly quotas in agricultural output, and then blaming and/or sacking deputy ministers when quotas were not met. Nevertheless, Turkmenistan had an emergent period during which there
980-516: A reconstruction of national history. Some seventy states are alleged to have been established by them – the Anau culture , Parthian Empire , Achaemenid Empire , Seljuk Empire , and Ottoman Empire among others – till the eighteenth century; this entire span was simultaneously periodised into four epic-epochs. Distinct since the inception of humans, the Turkmen were the same as the Turks and descended from
1078-506: A separate room), and state media regularly broadcast their content, with religious reverence. Official ceremonies featured hundreds of Turkmens singing from the book. 12 September was declared a national holiday. Ruhnama was the most integral aspect of the national educational curriculum across multiple domains. This emphasis on Ruhnama obviously ran in parallel to a rapid deterioration in overall standards of education. A course in Ruhnama
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#17327833892591176-427: A significant record of public debates surrounding history, unlike other post-Soviet states. In 2004, primary and secondary schools were assigned between two and four hours a week to Ruhnama while universities were assigned from four to eight hours. 26 of the 57 examination cards for the 2006 Turkmenistan University Entrance Examination revolved around themes set in Ruhnama . In the words of Laura E. Kennedy , Ruhnama
1274-437: A specific Turkmen nature and introduced a new Latin-based Turkmen alphabet to replace Russian Cyrillic. The Latin Turkmen alphabet consists of: Aa, Bb, Çç, Dd, Ee, Ää, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Jj, Žž, Kk, Ll, Mm, Nn, Ňň, Oo, Öö, Pp, Rr, Ss, Şş, Tt, Uu, Üü, Ww, Yy, Ýý, Zz. Despite emphasizing a need to move from central planning to a market economy and to a full democracy during his reign, neither plan progressed. Yearly plans set forth by
1372-460: Is Zuleykha, you are Yusuf, brother. May all the beauties be alms to her, Brother, let me give you the Arab's daughter. Gorogly likes to fight for revenge, Her curly hair reaches her tender ankles, Her thin lips are made of honey, sugar, Brother, let me give you the Arab's daughter. A theme common to nearly all versions is that of the hero — Turkish : Köroğlu , literally "son of
1470-415: Is at a traditional wrestling competition such as Kirkpinar . A team of zurna and davul players play continually as the wrestlers struggle with each other. In 1967, Yaşar Kemal successfully collected this legend in his epic novel Üç Anadolu Efsanesi , which stands as the most outstanding Köroğlu reference in contemporary literature. Gurughli (also known as Gurghuli ) is the titular character of
1568-560: The CSTO . Turkmenistan has not participated in any United Nations peacekeeping missions. It has however become a member of Interpol . The full independence of Turkmenistan was recognised by a UN General Assembly resolution "The permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan" of 12 December 1995. As a result, in 2005 Turkmenistan would downgrade its links with the Commonwealth of Independent States becoming only an associate member under article 8 of
1666-703: The Cabinet of Ministers . His self-given title Türkmenbaşy , meaning Head of the Turkmen , referred to his position as the founder and president of the Association of Turkmens of the World . In 1999, the Assembly of Turkmenistan declared Niyazov to be president for life . In his time, he was one of the world's most totalitarian , despotic , and repressive dictators. He promoted a cult of personality around himself and imposed his personal eccentricities upon
1764-663: The Communist Party of the Turkmen SSR in 1985. He gained this post after Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev had removed his predecessor, Muhammetnazar Gapurov , following a cotton-related scandal. Under Niyazov, the Turkmen Communist Party had a reputation as one of the most hardline and unreformed party organizations in the Soviet Union. On 13 January 1990, Niyazov became Chairman of
1862-634: The Leningrad Polytechnic Institute , where in 1967 he received a diploma as an electrical engineer. After graduating, Niyazov went to study in Russia, but was expelled a few years later for academic failure. In 1962, Niyazov started his political career, becoming a member of the Communist Party . He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming First Secretary of the Ashgabat City Committee, and First Secretary of
1960-573: The Ruhnama in schools, universities and governmental organizations, new governmental employees were tested on the book at job interviews and an exam on its teachings was a part of the driving test in Turkmenistan. Turkmen State University even had a "Department of the Holy Ruhnama of Türkmenbaşy, the Great", and Ruhnama Studies were pursued as a major research agenda in the country, often at
2058-677: The Seljuqs to their last full flowering. The new names came into effect with the introduction of a new labor law which stated that "the dates of professional holidays are specified by decrees of the President of Turkmenistan". These names were later abolished by his successor Berdymukhamedov in April 2008. His father Atamyrat Nyýazow 's Red Army service was used to shape how the country celebrates Victory Day on 9 May. Unlike other Central Asian countries, Turkmenistan under Niyazov put emphasis on
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#17327833892592156-589: The Turkic peoples , mainly the Oghuz Turks . The legend typically describes a hero who seeks to avenge a wrong. It was often put to music and played at sporting events as an inspiration to the competing athletes. Koroghlu is the main hero of an epic with the same name in Azerbaijani , Turkmen and Turkish as well as some other Turkic languages . The epic tells about the life and heroic deeds of Koroghlu as
2254-575: The Turkmenistani presidential election featured Niyazov as the sole candidate, and chosen as the country's first popularly elected president. A year later he declared himself Türkmenbaşy , meaning "Leader of all Turkmen". In 1994 a plebiscite extended Niyazov's term to 2002 so he could oversee a 10-year development plan. The official results showed that 99.9% of voters approved this proposal. On 28 December 1999, Parliament declared Niyazov President for life ; parliamentary elections had been held
2352-693: The Walk of Health to improve the health of his population and forced the members of the government to travel it once a year. In May 2000, the government revoked all Internet licenses except for the state-owned Turkmen Telecom and in June 2001 shut down all Internet cafés. By 2005, there were 36,000 Internet users in Turkmenistan, representing 0.7% of the population. In March 2004, 15,000 public health workers were dismissed including nurses , midwives , school health visitors and orderlies . In February 2005, all hospitals outside Ashgabat were ordered to be closed, with
2450-603: The folk tradition . The most common version of the tale describes Turkish : Köroğlu destanı as Rushen Ali, the son of the stableman Koca Yusuf lives in Dörtdivan under the service of the Bey of Bolu . One day, Yusuf comes across a filly which, to his trained eye, is an animal that will turn into a fine beast if well-fed. Bey wants to give good fillies to the Sultan as a present to repair their worsening relationship. However,
2548-479: The " bagshy " narrators of Turkmenistan , fighter Ashik bards of Azerbaijan and Turkey, and has been written down mostly in the 18th century. Koroghlu is a semi-mystical hero and bard among the Turkic people who are thought to have lived in the 16th century. The name of "Koroghlu" means "the son of the blind", "the son of ember" or "the son of the clay" (the clay refers to death) in Turkic languages . His real name
2646-485: The Bey does not know enough about horses to appreciate the thin, famished animal that is presented to him. Being a man of foul and easily provoked temper, he suspects that he is being mocked and orders the poor worker to be blinded. His son, therefore, gains his nickname and harbors an ever-increasing hatred towards the Bey of Bolu in his heart as he grows up. The mare , which he names Kırat ( kır at means literally "gray horse";
2744-604: The Bey of Bolu, he won't be able to bring back the old, chivalric world that he was born into. The warrior-poet disbands his followers and fades into obscurity, leaving only these lines behind: Düşman geldi tabur tabur dizildi, Alnımıza kara yazı yazıldı. Tüfek icad oldu mertlik bozuldu Gayri eğri kılıç kında paslanmalıdır. Battalion by battalion, the enemy has come and lined up, The letters of dark fate are written on our foreheads. Valor has been lost whence guns were invented The curved blade in its holster shall rust. A typical occasion where one might hear Köroğlu melodies
2842-668: The CIS charter, as such it would not participate in any of the military structures of the CIS. In 2006 the European Commission and the international trade committee of the European Parliament voted to grant Turkmenistan " most favoured nation " trading status with the European Union , widely seen as motivated by interest in natural gas, after Niyazov announced he would enter a "human rights dialogue" with
2940-720: The EU. In January 1996, Niyazov met with Sayid Abdulloh Nuri in Tehran to inform him that the attendees of a CIS summit in Moscow had agreed to renew the mandate of CIS peacekeepers in Tajikistan, which was going through a civil war at the time. On 25 November 2002, Niyazov's motorcade was fired upon at about 7 a.m. in downtown Ashgabat as he was traveling to his office from his official residence in Arshabil. Niyazov claimed that it
3038-468: The Qibla, Brother, let me give you the Arab's daughter. Those who gazed at her face lost their mind, Brother, let me give you the Arab's daughter. If you are wise enough, learn from her words, The more you see her, the more you fall in love. And her lover will find solace in her face, Brother, let me give you the Arab's daughter. Our time has come again, to this vineyard of ours, And if she
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3136-556: The Supreme Soviet of the Turkmen SSR , the supreme legislative body in the republic. The post was equivalent to that of president. Niyazov supported the Soviet coup attempt of 1991 . However, after the coup collapsed, he set about separating Turkmenistan from the dying Soviet Union. The Turkmen Supreme Soviet declared Turkmenistan independent and appointed Niyazov as the country's first president on 27 October 1991. On 21 June 1992
3234-510: The Turkmen society. Let the entire world know that there has never been a place for evil and violence on the blessed Turkmen soil. I watched young dogs when I was young. They were given bones to gnaw to strengthen their teeth. Those of you whose teeth have fallen out did not chew on bones. This is my advice... Niyazov promoted a policy of strict neutrality in foreign affairs, refraining from seeking membership in NATO or GUAM and almost ignoring
3332-449: The US government said that by the time he died, "Niyazov's personality cult ... had reached the dimensions of a state-imposed religion." Epic of Koroghlu The Epic of Koroghlu ( Azerbaijani : Koroğlu dastanı, کوروجلو حماسه سی ; Turkish : Köroğlu destanı ; Turkmen : Görogly dessany ; Uzbek : Goʻr oʻgʻli dostoni ) is a heroic legend prominent in the oral traditions of
3430-607: The attack of the Sultan’s troops on the country of Görogly and the abduction of Ovez, the adoption of Gorogly Hassan, the son of a blacksmith, are of a heroic nature. The cycle ends with the story of the death of Görogly , who retired to a cave in old age. Various art forms are employed in the oral performance of Görogly , including narration, singing, vocal improvisation, and acting. Dessanchy bagshys are known for their prodigious memory, outstanding musical skills, and intelligence, which are all necessary qualities for performing
3528-559: The blind man", or more directly translated as 'Blindson' (analogous with the English surname Richardson, sons of Richard), defending his clan or tribe against threats from outside. In many of the versions, Turkish : Köroğlu earns his name from the wrongful blinding of his father, an act for which the son takes his revenge and which initiates his series of adventures. He is portrayed as a bandit and an ozan . A number of songs and melodies attributed to Turkish : Köroğlu survives in
3626-524: The capital city Ashgabat , in a country where at that time more than half the population lived in rural areas, once stating that, "If people are ill, they can come to Ashgabat." Under his rule, Turkmenistan had the lowest life expectancy in Central Asia. Global Witness , a London-based human rights organisation, reported that money under Niyazov's control and held overseas may be in excess of US$ 3 billion, of which between $ 1.8–$ 2.6 billion
3724-553: The communist system, with his image replacing those of Marx and Lenin . During his rule, Niyazov created a strong cult of personality around himself, which resembled the one around the Kim dynasty in North Korea. He renamed the town of Janga and city of Krasnovodsk after his nickname Türkmenbaşy , and renamed schools, airports, Ashgabat streets, and even a meteorite after himself and members of his family. The city of Kerki
3822-424: The cost of academic disciplines. Niyazov claimed those who read it thrice were destined for heaven. Like Kim Il Sung , there is even a creation myth surrounding him. During Niyazov's presidency there was no freedom of the press nor was there freedom of speech. This further meant that opposition to Niyazov was strictly forbidden and major opposition figures were imprisoned, institutionalized, deported, or fled
3920-495: The country's sacrifice during the Second World War. In 2005, Niyazov flew to Moscow to celebrate the diamond jubilee of the war's end, and just days prior, he congratulated Turkmen veterans of the war as well as Russian veterans on behalf of Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian veterans on behalf of Viktor Yushchenko . Individually, Niyazov's father was awarded the honorary title of Hero of Turkmenistan in 1994 and in 2004,
4018-431: The country, and their family members were routinely harassed by the authorities. A silhouette of Niyazov was used as a logo on television broadcasts. The eccentric nature of some of his decrees, and the vast number of images of the president led to the perception, especially in western countries, of a despotic leader, rich on oil wealth glorifying himself whilst the population gained no benefit. For these, and other reasons,
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4116-488: The country, such as renaming Turkmen months and days of the week to references of his autobiography the Ruhnama . He made it mandatory to read the Ruhnama in schools, universities and governmental organizations; new governmental employees were tested on the book at job interviews and an exam on its teachings was a part of the driving test in Turkmenistan. In 2005, he closed down all rural libraries and hospitals outside of
4214-470: The country. In Ashgabat, he erected a rotating, $ 12 million, golden statue of himself that always faces the sun. Niyazov gave every citizen a watch with his portrait in its dial. Niyazov simultaneously cut funding to and partially disassembled the education system in the name of "reform", while injecting ideological indoctrination into it by requiring all schools to use his own book, the Ruhnama , as their primary text. He also made it mandatory to read
4312-466: The country: Daşoguz and Lebap . Outside of Turkmenistan, the tradition is found in neighbouring countries — including Uzbekistan , Tajikistan , Kazakhstan , and Iran — and in other places where Turkmen ethnic groups have historically lived. The epic of Görogly tells the story of the hero, Görogly , and his forty jigits (warriors) that includes descriptions of all major traditional events of Turkmen life. Sections in prose that describe
4410-460: The days of the week , to Turkmen heroes, poets, historical events, family members and himself was an unexpected development. For example, September was renamed Ruhnama in honour of the book written by Niyazov (which he finished writing on 19 September 2001). Not all the changes promoted Niyazov; October was renamed Garaşsyzlyk (Independence) to mark the state's founding on 27 October 1991, and November Sanjar in honour of Sultan Sanjar who led
4508-1557: The dissemination of the element among the public and attract potential new performers. The following is one of several poems encountered in the Turkmen version of Görogly , which is often performed by bagshys at Turkmen weddings. First column is the poem in its original (Turkmen) language, the second column is the poem's Turkish translation and the third one is its English translation. Kybladan sallanyp geldi mestana, Aga jan, Arabyň gyzyn bereýin. Jemalyn görenler boldy diwana, Agajan, Arabyň gyzyn bereýin. Aryp bolsaň, habar algyl sözünden, Bakdygynça, gözüň doýmaz gözünden, Aşyk bolan behre alar ýüzünden, Aga jan, Arabyň gyzyn bereýin. Ýene döwran geldi biziň bu baga, Ol Zuleýha bolsa, sen Ýusup, aga, Biziň gözel ähli şoňa sadaga, Aga jan, Arabyň gyzyn bereýin. Görogly beg ar üstünde söweşer, Burma saçy tar-tar topugna düşer, Ýuka dodaklary balmydyr-şeker, Aga jan, Arabyň gyzyn bereýin. Kıble'den sallanıp geldi mestane, Ağacan, Arabın kızını vereyim. Cemalını görenler olmuş divane, Ağacan, Arabın kızını vereyim. Arif olsan haber algıl sözünden, Bakarsan gözlerin doymaz gözlerinden. Aşık olan behre alır yüzünden, Ağacan, Arabın kızını vereyim. Yine devran geldi, bizim bu bağa, O Züleyha ise sen Yusuf, ağa. Tüm güzeller olsun ona sadaka, Ağacan, Arabın kızını vereyim. Köroğlu beğ öç uğruna savaşır, Kıvırcık saçları topuğuna düşer, İnce dudakları baldır ve şeker, Ağacan, Arabın kızını vereyim. She came swinging and whirling from
4606-458: The epic cycle from Central Asia. The cycle includes up to fifty segments which are still performed by the peoples of Turkestan in Tajik as well as Turkic languages . Gurughli, whose name means "born of the grave", is the immaculately conceived child of the sister of Ahmadkhan (a Turkistan khan ). She dies during pregnancy, and the child is born while the mother is already buried and survives on
4704-470: The epic form a basis for social interactions among Turkmen people and are reflected in social networks and relations among individuals. The epic enables Turkmen people to learn and transmit their common history and social values to younger generations. Indeed, it is used as a tool for educating the young and strengthening national identity, pride, and unity. Through Gorogly, youngsters are taught diligence and precise thinking skills. They are also taught to love
4802-426: The epic performance. For the transmission of knowledge, teacher bagshys use a variety of techniques and materials. When the apprentice is ready, his knowledge is thoroughly evaluated. The master then gives his blessing to the new performer, who is thus granted the right to perform the epic independently and teach students of his own. This system of transmission ensures a constant flow of knowledge from one generation to
4900-517: The epic, including talent for music, poetry, narration, and language as well as traditional skills described in the epic—such as the breeding Akhal-Teke horses —are highly valued. All of these elements constitute the cultural identity of Turkmen people. The element is safeguarded thanks to gatherings and social events such as wedding ceremonies. Dessanchy bagshy competitions, regular national and religious holidays, celebrations, commemorations, and international cultural festivals also contribute greatly to
4998-422: The epic. Performers should master traditional musical instruments — such as the dutar (a two-stringed plucked instrument) and the gyjak (an instrument resembling the fiddle)— and be able to sing various melodies of the epic, performing improvisation. Under the supervision of his master, in addition to learning the repertoire and perfecting his skills, the apprentice of the baghshy learns moral and ethical norms of
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#17327833892595096-458: The events alternate with sections in poetry that express the characters’ feelings. The first "chapter" of the epic is about a miraculous birth and heroic education of Görogly (he grows up with grandfather Jygalybek and aunt Gülendam ), raising the winged horse called Gyrat, building the Chandybil fortress and gathering warriors. Next are the stories about the marriage of Görogly to
5194-592: The government and a centralised economy gave little indication of moving away from state-dominated economics, and the dictatorial nature of many of his decrees and his declaring himself "President for Life" gave little hope as to much progress in these two areas. Turkmenistan has the second-largest oil reserves in the former Soviet Union, generating high revenue for the state. The government has used central planning , such as state control of production and procurement, direct bank credits with low interest rates, exchange rate restrictions, and price controls, since it existed as
5292-434: The government staged the attempt to crack down on mounting domestic and foreign political opposition. Ethnic Russians in Turkmenistan were disproportionately targeted in the aftermath. The summer of 2004 saw a leaflet campaign in the capital, Aşgabat, calling for the overthrow and trial of Niyazov. The authorities were unable to stop the campaign and the President responded by firing his Interior minister and director of
5390-494: The history and culture of their homeland. Yet respect towards other nations and cultures is encouraged. In the epic, the Turkmen people are portrayed as compassionate, wise, generous, hospitable, and tolerant. They demonstrate leadership, fearlessness, and loyalty to friends, family, and country. They respect their elders and never break promises. Because of the emphasis of these values in Gorogly, knowledge and skills related to
5488-403: The last months of pregnancy. However, people bury her with Gorogli inside. After some time, a local shepherd notices the number of sheep is decreasing. He spies after his sheep and finds a small boy, at the age of 3-4 eating one of the sheep. When he tries to catch the boy, he escapes and hides in a grave. As the story narrates later he will fight against giants and kill them. It is said Gorogli had
5586-409: The masses; almost all significant Turkmen epics were condemned and banned by 1951–52. These epics would be rehabilitated back into public (and academic) discourse only with the onset of Glasnost . Ruhnama built on this rehabilitation phase. Niyazov claimed to have received a prophetic vision where Turkmen ancestors of eminence urged him to lead Turkmens to the "golden path of life". The first version
5684-438: The milk of one of the mares from Ahmadkhan's herd, until he is found and named by shepherds. The other hero in the tales is his adopted son Ahwazkhan, child of a fairy mother. His tales are told in all-night storytelling sessions in free verse. The background presumed known by the audience, they start without much introduction and are accompanied by music from a two-stringed lute, the dombra . Later brought into line with Islam ,
5782-631: The move and fleeing to distant lands whenever his enemy organises a large-scale campaign to capture him. Before he succeeds, however, the knowledge of firearms is carried by merchants to Anatolia. Even the simple guns of the time are sufficient to change the ways of the warriors forever: The balance of power is upset by the "holed iron", as Köroğlu calls the tool when he first sees one, and the Beys of Northern Anatolia engage in brutal warfare with each other. The fighting goes on and on, with no end in sight. Köroğlu realizes that even if he succeeds in bringing down
5880-539: The nation's schools and libraries but eventually went as far as to make an exam on its teachings an element of the driving test . It was mandatory to read Ruhnama in schools, universities and governmental organisations. New governmental employees were tested on the book at job interviews. After the death of Niyazov in December 2006, its popularity remained high. However, in the following years, its ubiquity had waned as President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow removed it from
5978-837: The national perception into a system and organisation. I have written the Ruhnama to enable my nation to perceive our past and to envision our own dignity. Niyazov c. 2002, Clement (2014) According to Amieke Bouma, a scholar of post-socialist historiography, it is best treated as an epic in its own right: the Oğuzname of the third millennium. Tanya L. Shields reads it as an anti-colonial autobiography, which gets "almost comic in its grandiosity". It has been compared to Kemal Atatürk 's Nutuk , and Leonid Brezhnev 's Trilogiya . Stories and proverbs are borrowed from existing Turkmen epics – Oğuzname , Book of Dede Korkut , and Epic of Koroghlu – in preaching of morals and promotion of
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#17327833892596076-565: The next and maintains skill levels and standards. In addition, the Turkmen National Conservatory , the State School of Culture and Arts, and various specialized school facilitate the acquisition of dutar skills by learners before they enter training with a dessanchy bagshy master. Görogly plays an important role in a wide range of social functions within Turkmen communities. Values and emotions described in
6174-407: The police academy on national television. He accused the minister of incompetence and declared: "I cannot say that you had any great merits or did much to combat crime." Niyazov later announced that surveillance cameras were to be placed at all major streets and sites in Turkmenistan, an apparent precaution against future attempts. Niyazov became a substitute for the vacuum left by the downfall of
6272-499: The predominantly Islamic nature of Turkmen society, Niyazov granted pardons each year on the Laylat al-Qadr ( Night of Power ) in the month of Ramadan . For example, in 2005, 8,145 convicts were pardoned, including 229 foreign nationals. In 2006 Turkmenistan set free 10,056 prisoners, including 253 foreign nationals from 11 countries. Niyazov said: Let this humane act on the part of the state serve strengthening truly moral values of
6370-507: The public school curriculum and halted the practice of testing university applicants on their knowledge of the book. Epics had played multiple important roles in the social life of Central Asia across centuries. Pre-modern rulers of these regions usually appropriated the text and invented a connection between themselves and the epic-cast, to seek legitimacy for their new order. Stalin had considered these epics to be "politically suspicious" and capable of inciting nationalist feelings among
6468-464: The publication of the second volume, Niyazov had mosques and churches display the Ruhnama as prominently as the Quran and Bible, and cite its passages during sermons. The Türkmenbaşy Ruhy Mosque , which was commissioned in 2002 at his birthplace, is the largest mosque in Central Asia and features engravings from the Ruhnama as well as the Quran across its wall and minarets. A twenty foot tall neon Ruhnama
6566-441: The reason being that the sick should come to the capital for treatment. All libraries outside of the capital were also closed, as Niyazov believed that the only books that most Turkmens needed to read were the Quran and his Ruhnama. In January 2006, one-third of the country's elderly had their pensions discontinued, while another 200,000 had theirs reduced. Pensions received during the prior two years were ordered to be paid back to
6664-459: The region and University of Glasgow professor, saw this as a transfer of Niyazov's cult of personality to Berdimuhamedow. The Ruhnama has been translated to over 50 languages. These translations were primarily designed by foreign corporations to gain a cordial relationship with Niyazov, and were not meant for international consumption. These state-authorized translations vary substantially from one to another, leading Dan Shapira to conclude that
6762-500: The requirement to pass a secondary-school examination on the Ruhnama was rescinded. And in 2014, it was finally declared that Turkmen universities would no longer test applicants on their knowledge of the book, in what Slavomir Horak interpreted as the total purge of Ruhnama from Turkmen educational curricula. It has been noted that books written by Berdimuhamedow, Niyazov's successor, had begun to be included in coursework following his inauguration as leader. Luca Anceschi, an expert on
6860-491: The revival of Turkmen culture as one of the top priorities in Turkmenistan's development. He introduced a new Turkmen alphabet based on the Latin alphabet to replace Cyrillic . The National Revival Movement , an organisation to promote Turkmen culture (Turkmen: "Galkynish"), was also founded. In many respects, Niyazov's cultural ideas and changes were most visible to external viewers. His renaming of months, as well as most of
6958-493: The river in time. Köroğlu is by the river when the foam starts flowing, but, as he is ignorant of the significance of the event, he does not drink from the river. Instead, his horse Kırat does and becomes immortal. After his father's death, Köroğlu takes up arms against the Bey. As he has only a few followers, he does not engage the army of Bolu directly and uses guerrilla tactics instead. He raids and plunders his former master's property, and eludes his would-be captors by staying on
7056-478: The safeguarding of the Görogly tradition. Bagshys are the main promoters of traditional Görogly performance as they teach and transmit the element to prospective performers in the same way they learned from their masters. In addition, each province has a bagshylar oyi ("house of bagshy"), where masters gather monthly to exchange ideas, record themselves, and broadcast their performances on TV and radio. This allows for
7154-439: The shore of the river with his son, but his son drinks the foam before he does. As this miracle can give everlasting health and youth to only one man, Yusuf loses his chance to see again, and dies a few days later, ordering his son to avenge him. In some versions of the story, neither Yusuf nor his son can drink from the foam. Yusuf is warned by Hızır just before the phenomenon occurs, but being an old and blind man, he cannot reach
7252-426: The state. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan strongly denied allegations that the cut in pensions resulted in the deaths of many elderly Turkmens, accusing foreign media outlets of spreading "deliberately perverted" information on the issue. On 19 March 2007, Niyazov's successor Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow reversed his decision by restoring pensions to more than 100,000 elderly citizens. In keeping with
7350-505: The state. Several of his specific policies find a mention. Niyazov's life is described to great details throughout the text – loss of parents in childhood, attachment to land, and his patriotic zeal for attaining sovereignty from Soviet imperialism. These descriptions form an embedded strata of the volume. Drafted with explicit parallels to the Quran , this volume asked that the Ruhnama be recited as regular prayer after purifying oneself; it
7448-399: The stories originate from a time before Islam reached the area but became a "vehicle for the transmission of religious and moral instruction, especially targeted at the masses of nonliterate Muslims". The extant corpus of Gurughli poetry entails some 100,000 lines. It reached its final form in the 18th century and was first discovered by the outside world through Russian travelers in 1870. It
7546-793: The text remains in flux. The English version was translated from a Turkish translation of Ruhnama ; it does not correspond to the Turkmen version in many places, but is generally more accurate and bulky than the Russian translation. Shadow of the Holy Book is a documentary on human rights abuses in Turkmenistan. Saparmurat Niyazov President of Turkmenistan Government election Others Family [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov ( Russian : Сапармурат Атаевич Ниязов ; Turkmen : Saparmyrat Ataýewiç Nyýazow ; 19 February 1940 – 21 December 2006), also known as Türkmenbaşy ,
7644-407: The venerable Noah via Oghuz Khagan , who had set up the first polity c. 5000 years ago. Warfare was apparently rare, and the state always preferred peace. Despite vague references to archaeo-historical evidence to support this range of pioneer assertions, there is a total lack of source material, as understood in an academic sense. The Persian sphere of influence on Turkmen polity across medieval era
7742-430: The word kırat can also mean "carat", "quality" ), grows up with him and indeed turns into an animal of legendary stature and strength. One day, Hızır shows himself to Yusuf in a dream and tells him that soon, the waters of the river Aras will flow briefly as a kind of thick foam and whoever drinks that foam will be cured of whatever physical problems that may be ailing him, including blindness and aging. Yusuf goes to
7840-496: The work was ghost-written. Scholars note Ruhnama to be a "mosaic" of different literary genres, the text combines spiritual and political advice, legends, autobiography, short stories, poems, and (fabricated) Turkmen history. Written to "recover real Turkmen history without Soviet distortions", Niyazov promised the return of an atavist past from the times of Oghuz Khagan , but only if the conduct of ancient Turkmens were emulated in accordance to his sage guidance. The Ruhnama brings
7938-468: The world. Press freedom under Niyazov's leadership was much criticised as it was with other post-Soviet Central Asian states. The Turkmen media constantly doted on the president and helped build his cult of personality. In 1998, Niyazov closed the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan . It was reopened in 2009 after his death by his successor Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow . In January 2000, Niyazow inaugurated
8036-685: Was Rövşən in Azerbaijani, Ruşen Ali in Turkish or Röwşen Aly in Turkmen, which was a loanword from Persian رُوشن Rowšan meaning light or bright . In Turkmenistan, the epic is called Görogly which translates as "the son of a grave" and holds a special place among the Turkmen epics. The Turkmen people refer to performers specialized in Görogly as dessanchy bagshy (musicians performing songs from dastan). Within Turkmenistan, dessanchy bagshy are encountered in two regions of
8134-519: Was a Turkmen politician who led Turkmenistan from 1985 until his death in 2006. He was the first secretary of the Communist Party of Turkmenistan from 1985 until 1991 and supported the 1991 Soviet coup attempt . He continued to rule Turkmenistan as president for 15 years after independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Turkmen media referred to him using the title His Excellency Saparmurat Türkmenbaşy, President of Turkmenistan and Chairman of
8232-831: Was allegedly situated in the Foreign Exchange Reserve Fund at Deutsche Bank in Germany. Niyazov was born on 19 February 1940 in Gypjak (or Kipchak), just outside Ashgabat in the Turkmen SSR . He was a member of the influential Teke tribe of the Turkmens . According to the official version of his biography, his father, Atamyrat Nyýazow , died in World War II fighting against Nazi Germany , while other sources contend that he dodged fighting and
8330-442: Was also to never lie in an improper place. Thematically, the volume is concerned with morals and ethics. A total of 21 chapters deal with optimum manners and decorum for different situations and target audiences. Niyazov's own narration gains a position of authority; he does not always seek support from the epics to support his positions. Niccolosi notes Ruhnama to have transformed Turkmenistan into an " epideictic space", which
8428-522: Was an attempt at a coup, and as a result, the Turkmen government arrested thousands of suspected conspirators and members of their families. Among the figures who were arrested/purged were former Foreign Ministers Boris Şyhmyradow and Batyr Berdiýew , as well as Major Begench Beknazarov of the Turkmen Ground Forces and Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Serdar Charyyarov. Critics claim
8526-416: Was erected at an Ashgabat park in 2003. A mural of Niyazov drafting the Ruhnama has been put in place, too. In August 2005, the first volume was launched into orbit so that it could "conquer space". A photo-journalistic essay in 2006 noted the nation to be filled with advertisements of Ruhnama – each at a cost of two dollars. Government offices featured the Ruhnama prominently on their desk (often devoting
8624-525: Was finally published in December 2001. On 18 February 2001, it was accepted at the 10th joint meeting of the State Assembly of Elders of Turkmenistan, and National Assembly. In September 2004, Niyazov issued a second volume. An edited volume on the Ruhnama, published a year later, quotes his overall purpose to have lain in highlighting the nation's significant contributions to fields of art and science. Victoria Clement and Riccardo Nicolosi suspect that
8722-424: Was heavy investment in plant and machinery so the country could change from a producer of raw cotton to a cotton processor. During Niyazov's presidency, a textile industry was founded in Turkmenistan. Niyazov introduced the practice of " Melon Day ", a harvest festival celebrated on the 2nd Sunday of August; unlike some of his other creations, the celebration of "Melon Day" has continued after his death. Niyazov put
8820-447: Was in "permanent, unanimous exultation of the person of Niyazov ". Bouma found the Ruhnama to rebirth Turkmenistan under Niyazov's responsible leadership. The most significant component of ideological propaganda during the later phase of Niyazov's personality cult , the text was a marker of politico-cultural literacy and key to survival in post-Soviet Turkmenistan. Niyazov claimed those who read it thrice were destined for heaven. After
8918-415: Was mandated for all students in school as part of social sciences. It was also made a required reading across all universities, and knowledge of the text was necessary for holding state employment; this perpetuated discrimination on minorities who were not proficient in Turkmen. Turkmen State University even had a "Department of the Holy Ruhnama of Türkmenbaşy the Great", and Ruhnama Studies were pursued as
9016-518: Was neatly purged; though, Zoroaster was appropriated as a Turkmen hero who had advised people to not abide by Mazdak 's path of fire-worship. Both 18th and 19th century – integral to the foundation of modern Turkmenistan – are skipped except for the mention of Magtymguly Pyragy and the Battle of Geok Tepe . Soviet Turkmenistan is described in a single page, where it is blamed for colonisation. The narrative resumes with Niyazov ushering in independence of
9114-548: Was recorded between 1930 and 1960 and is preserved in the Tajik Academy of Sciences . In the Uzbek bakhshi tradition ("bakhshi" is a narrator of dastans or epic, usually, playing his dumbira, two-string musical instrument), the history and interpretation of Köroğlu's name are different from the Turkish one. "Go‘ro‘g‘li" in Uzbek just like in Turkmen means "the son of grave". As it is told, Gorogli's mother dies while being in
9212-434: Was released in the 1990s but soon withdrawn because it did not fulfill Niyazov's expectations. Preparations for the revised book were underway as early as April 1999, when Niyazov declared that Mukkadesh Ruhnama would be the second landmark text of Turkmens, after the Quran. President of Turkmenistan Government election Others Family [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] The first volume
9310-478: Was renamed for his father, and city of Ýylanly for his mother. The doting actions of the official Turkmen media supported his cult of personality. The national anthem of Turkmenistan referred to him. According to the newspaper Neytralny Turkmenistan physicians were ordered to swear an oath to the President, replacing the Hippocratic Oath . Statues and portraits of him were put everywhere throughout
9408-509: Was taught with a theological zeal. In his early days, Ruhnama was led away from its earlier spot-of-prominence though it continued to be a part of educational curricula. In Spring of 2007, official references to Ruhnama were trimmed and around 2009-10, television broadcasts of Ruhnama stopped. Scholars have noted these incremental changes to fit Berdimuhamedow 's posturing as a would-be harbinger of Turkmen renaissance, which necessitated partial critique of his predecessor's tenure. In 2011,
9506-439: Was therefore sentenced by a military court. His mother and two brothers were killed in the devastating 1948 Ashgabat earthquake . His mother, Gurbansoltan Eje , was part of the cult of personality later. He grew up in a Soviet orphanage before the state put him in the custody of a distant relative. After finishing school in 1959, he worked as an instructor in the Turkmen trade-union exploratory committee. He then studied at
9604-509: Was unsuited for a transition to smaller, separate states. There was outside concern about press freedom and to a lesser extent religious rights of minority religious groups. Niyazov made a personal attempt to create a cultural background for the new state of Turkmenistan by writing and promoting the Ruhnama , an autobiography meant to guide the people of Turkmenistan with his ideas and promote native culture (and by extension prohibiting foreign culture). He also took part in creating new holidays with
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