American Journal Of Philological Sciences
91
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ajps
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue 03 2025
PAGE NO.
91-94
10.37547/ajps/Volume05Issue03-23
Munavvar qori abdurashidkhanov - publisher, publicist
and school of enlightenment
Sayyora Xalimova Abdurahimovna
Associate Professor, Department of "Media Theory and Practice", Candidate of Philological Sciences, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Received:
24 January 2025;
Accepted:
21 February 2025;
Published:
23 March 2025
Abstract
:
The article analyzes the editorial and journalistic activities of the founder of the Tashkent Jadid school,
editor, publisher, publicist and public figure Munavvar qori Abdurashidkhanov in the first national publications
"Tarakkiy" and "Khurshid". It presents the progressive views of the great enlightener that the fate of the nation is
decided by education and the upbringing of children, based on the study of original sources and articles.
Keywords:
Education, ignorance, art, upbringing, reform, education, marriage, scholars, tarakiy.
Introduction:
One of the leaders of the Turkestan Jadid
movement, the founder of the new method schools
and the national press, the great enlightener, public
figure Munavvar qori Abdurashidkhanov, has a special
place in the formation of national journalism in
Uzbekistan. His entry into the press is directly related
to the period of national awakening that took place in
Turkestan at the beginning of the 20th century.
Academician Naim Karimov writes about this: “The role
of agitators (propagandists) from Turkey and Egypt,
literature in Turkish, Azerbaijani, Persian and Russian
languages, in the formation of Munavvar Qori’s
worldview cannot be denied. Archival documents
indicate that there were strong ties between Turkey
and the intelligentsia of Turkestan and Bukhara. In
addition, the press and literature published in
Orenburg, Kazan, and Petersburg, in addition to Turkish
representatives such as Ziya Kokalp, Tawfiq Fikrat, and
Ziya Pasha, the works of people such as Muhammad
Abdo, who cared for the independence of Islam and
Islamic countries, and his mentor Jamoliddin Afghani,
had a positive impact not only on Munavvar Qori, but
also on the consciousness and worldview of young
people in many Muslim countries.” . Initially, the
enlightenment darga began working in the editorial
office of the "Central Asia's Lifetime Newspaper
Tarakkiy", which was organized by the cunning policy of
the Russian administrators in Turkestan. Although the
newspaper actually served to strengthen the tyrannical
policy of the tsarist government, it gave impetus to the
emergence of a national press. The local people did not
accept this government newspaper, and the
publication was forced to stop. In this situation,
progressive
youth
led
by
Munavvarkori
Abdurashidkhanov
founded
the
first
national
publication, "Tarakkiy", on June 27, 1906. Ismail Obidi,
a talented person who could speak Russian fluently,
was appointed as the editor-in-chief of the newspaper.
"Our new generation has embarked on a mission to
"whiten and enlighten the black people" . From the
very beginning, the newspaper tried to explain Russia's
colonial policy and the great blessing of national
freedom. In the newspaper "Tarakkii", - writes
Professor S. Azamkhodjaev, who studied the press of
that time, - there are often calls for the abolition of the
privileges of the ruling classes, equality of nations, the
distribution of all land to peasants, an eight-hour
workday, and the right to demonstrate. The newspaper
writes, in particular: "The government is sucking the
blood of the people like a leech, is severely torturing
them, and the manifesto of October 17, 1906 is a ruse
to calm the people. Soon, not a single particle of such
"freedoms" will remain, and therefore the people
themselves will act to overthrow the edifice of tsarism”
. What did "Tarakkiy" propose to the people? -
continues S. Azamkhodjaev. - Here is his proposal:
"Muslims, like Russians, Poles, Jews, should demand
their rights and freedoms... unite with other nations
and act together against the government."” . In issues
1-2
of
the
newspaper,
Munavvar
Qori
Abdurashidkhanov published an article entitled “Our
ignorance is complicated by anger.” In it, the author
American Journal Of Philological Sciences
92
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ajps
American Journal Of Philological Sciences (ISSN
–
2771-2273)
sharply criticizes the educational system in traditional
Muslim schools and proposes to reform it. In particular,
“Just as
every nation’s schools and madrasas die, our
schools and madrasas, although they die in a disorderly
and unsystematic manner, are not so few as to be
nonexistent. Just as every nation’s efforts and zeal in
educating and educating its generations are in vain,
there are also those among us who, without any
consent, show shortcomings in educating and
educating their innocent generations as much as they
can.” . Based on the analysis of the shortcomings in the
field of education, the author, far from criticizing
teachers and parents, emphasizes the lack of books and
manuals for the necessary modern knowledge. He calls
on his compatriots living in the abomination of
oppression and violence to wake up from the sleep of
heedlessness. “Oh brothers, oh compatriots!!!
We
must open our eyes from the sleep of heedlessness and
look around us. In this era when every nation is satisfied
with the fact that the first means of protecting its
happiness and future is knowledge, and when it makes
excessive efforts in science and education, if we
continue in this heedlessness and ignorance, there is no
doubt that our future will be extremely dangerous and
we will become a laughing stock and a laughing stock
to the whole world.” . In this article, the publicist calls
on the lion-like sons of Turkestan, who serve foreign
immigrants such as Russians and Jews, to get out of this
swamp of ignorance. Professor B. Dostkaraev defines
the word ignorance as follows: "A person's ignorance of
something is called ``ignorance'', that is, ``ignorance.''
not knowing rra will be" . This scene showed that
Turkestan was a victim of oppression and violence
under the rule of Tsarist Russia at the beginning of the
20th century and was on the verge of decline. "This also
shows that Munavvarqori was meticulously observing
the surrounding reality” . That is why the researchers
described this article as "a work that caused ideological
battles of its time." . Indeed, M. Abdurashidkhanov
clearly outlined in this article the most important
factors determining the future of the nation. Today we
live in the 21st century, in the information space, in the
process of rapid globalization. Uzbekistan has become
an independent country that has determined its own
path of development. However, these progressive
ideas put forward by Munavvarkori have not lost their
essence. There are such phrases of President Sh.
Mirziyoyev: “It is clear to all of us that the cornerstone
of development, the force that makes the country
powerful and the nation great, is science, education
and upbringing. Our tomorrow, the bright future of our
Motherland, is, first of all, closely connected with the
education system and the upbringing we give to our
children.” . Another article by the publicist on a
relevant topic is called "On Marriage." It contains the
following sentences: "If a rich person does not give
zakat, even though it is obligatory to give zakat, no one
cares, but if he does not marry his son and throw a
party, he deserves to be criticized among the people." .
Such defects associated with wedding ceremonies in
the social life of the nation were a tragedy for the
Turkestan Muslims, who were increasingly moving
away from their true nature. The article also contains
the following passages: “...when a lycan plays in a
courtyard, all the women stand around it and light fires
in the middle like pagan fire-worshippers, in some
places the men also stand on one side and watch the
game of these villains, and some fools, taking coins in
their hands and calling their players, perform a great
act of prostitution. These acts are watched by the
drunken women.” . Marriage is a blessed step for two
young people to enter a new life. However, it is
regrettable that during the process of escorting them
to this sacred threshold, the immorality that occurs
during wedding ceremonies, "the worst thing is that the
religious people and the guardians of Sharia who see
these situations do not say anything," and as a result,
such illegal customs that started in one neighborhood
soon spread to another.” . In the sec
ond part of the
article, Munavvar Qori tries to remind his compatriots
of an even more important issue. After the
proclamation of the October 17 Manifesto by Emperor
Nicholas II in 1905, every citizen of Russia began to
demand his religion and rights. The author is disturbed
by the fact that in such a situation, the people of
Turkestan are still preoccupied with their petty
everyday life, indifferent to political processes: “There
is not a single city or region left where consultations
and consultations have not been held on the election
of representatives to the State Duma from Muslims,
and there is not a single region left where meetings and
consultations have not been held on the reform of the
country and the implementation of Sharia. But we, the
Muslims of the Turkestan region, are still eating dust in
a prison of captivity” . This M. Abdurashidkhanov seeks
to find the root of the problems that are undermining
the development of the nation. In his work, we see
precisely this professionalism, deep analysis and
interpretation of solutions. The author even expressed
the rebellion of the heart in poetic lines:
Wake us up, O Lord, from this hobby of heedlessness,
Guide us to the path of truth and the path of error.
Throughout the article, the author also sharply
criticizes the indifference and indifference of local
officials: “We, citizens, are like sheep, Muslims, our
officials are like shepherds, and they should be
responsible for our situation... Everyone is honest in
their statements, we are secretly selfish, everyone
shows zeal and enthusiasm, we are divided and
American Journal Of Philological Sciences
93
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ajps
American Journal Of Philological Sciences (ISSN
–
2771-2273)
indifferent” . Such critical statements caused the
newspaper "Tarakkiy" to quickly become popular
among the people. On the other hand, the newspaper's
frank criticism of schools and education, scholars and
Sharia leaders, the existing system, and tsarist
administrators frightened the government. The 20th
issue of the newspaper was confiscated and its editor-
in-chief Ismail Obidiy was arrested. This news did not
dismay the new enlighteners M. Abdurashidkhanov.
Based on his experience gained in newspaper editorial
offices, he managed to obtain permission from the
governor-general to publish the newspaper "Khurshid".
On September 6, 1906, the first issue of the newspaper
was published under the editorship and publisher of
Munavvar Qori Abdurashidkhanov. "Khurshid" was
eight pages in A-2 format and was warmly received by
readers. Professor B. Dustkaraev describes it as "the
newspaper served as a platform for conveying to the
people the thoughts and ideas of the Jadids who
emerged on the scene of social activity to lead
Turkestan to independence." . In fact, the newspaper
promoted national unity, condemned tyranny, and the
issue of reforming schools and madrasas was widely
discussed and analyzed so that the nation could
understand its identity. In this regard, as the editor-in-
chief, Munavvarkori attracted a number of writers to
the newspaper. Under their signatures, he diligently
tried to convey his ideas and advice to the people. For
this reason, the newspaper was closed by the Russian
government after only 10 issues were published. More
precisely, the newspaper's voice, full of the spirit of
national freedom, was silenced. This did not stop the
publicist. He served as the ideological editor of the
newspaper "Shukhrat" under the leadership of
Abdullah Avloni, and later under the patronage of the
Tashkent nobleman Saidkarimbay Sayidazimov. In this
regard, the publicist's article "The Reason for Order"
published in the October 8 issue of the newspaper
"Tujjor" is also noteworthy. Because with the
establishment of Usuli Sautiya schools in Turkestan,
there were no books in their native languages for
students. The author, moved by this, writes: "There is
one reason why the method of Sautiya is not generally
introduced into Turkestan schools, and that is the lack
of books... We have no books in our own language and
script, we do not know Tatar books ourselves, and even
if we do, we cannot teach them to children." I myself
have been suffering from the lack of books for five
years, just as I have been dying to be tortured with
these answers." . Although new method schools were
introduced in Turkestan, teachers did not have books,
so Munavvarqori published the book "Adibi awal" as a
solution to this problem and presented it to new
method schools. From these examples, it can be
concluded that the writer, as not only a publicist, but
also an organizer, enlightener, and patriot, tried to
unite the intelligentsia of Turkestan in one direction. He
made effective use of the methods of development
taking place in the world and showed dedication in
promoting modern development trends through the
press that could be assimilated into the shell of the
national mentality, and called on the intelligentsia to
unite. All publications, in which Munavvarqori was the
ideological leader, "... at that time, he served as a
platform for conveying to the people the thoughts and
ideas of the new people who entered the social scene
to lead Turkestan to independence.” . As you
familiarize yourself with the pages of this newspaper,
you will see that it covers such important issues as
reforming
schools
and
madrasas,
abolishing
unnecessary formalities that lead the nation to the
abyss, and explaining the true nature of national and
tyrannical oppression. The editor-in-chief gathers
around him the progressive-minded businessmen and
intellectuals of his time. Among them were such
prominent Tashkent
figures
as
Fansurollobek
Khudoyorkhanov,
Muhammad
Rahimkhodja
Nuriddinkhodjaev, and Mullah Ziyo Akhund. They
closely assist Munavvarqori. The newspaper becomes a
fast-paced and objective publication in order to
become a platform for social thought. “From the very
first days of their appearance, the Jadids encountered
opposition from both the tsarist authorities and local
rulers. Therefore, they wanted to free the people from
these two foci of oppression, from these two swamps
of backwardness.” . They sought to realize this idea and
goal through the national press. Therefore, in a short
time, the first national publications became a beacon
of freedom, eager to help solve the existing problems
of the local population. Hundreds of letters from the
population on various problems began to arrive at the
editorial office. The editor-in-chief called "Khurshid"
the unfading sun for the freedom of Turkestan.
"Khurshid" sought to convey to the population on every
page that being aware of modern science is a necessity
of the time. We have accepted such innovations as the
telegram, railway, mail, light bulbs and printing books,
we must also accept, that is, study, modern science and
sciences. ,- says the newspaper. Such progressive ideas,
of course, worried the tsarist government. That is why
the newspaper was stopped by the government after
only 10 issues were published. In conclusion, it should
be said that Munavvarkori, based on the newspapers
"Tarakkiy" and "Khurshid", opened the bright paths of
the Uzbek national press. He boldly brought the
shortcomings and problems existing in society to the
attention of the public. He was not afraid of criticism
and analysis, debate, and discussion in order to awaken
the nation from the sleep of indifference so that it
could understand its own identity. As an ideological
American Journal Of Philological Sciences
94
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ajps
American Journal Of Philological Sciences (ISSN
–
2771-2273)
leader, the guru of enlightenment led creative youth to
the pulpit of the press. He sought to prove that the
press is the nation's universal school, a platform for the
truth. As editor-in-chief, he and his team demonstrated
journalistic courage and skill in identifying important
topics, awakening public opinion, encouraging young
talents to think critically, and analyzing and criticizing
socio-political issues.
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