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ResearchBib IF - 11.01, ISSN: 3030-3753, Volume 2 Issue 8
THE JADID MOVEMENT IN TURKESTAN AND ITS HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Ergashev Oybek Qaxramon o‘g‘li
Kokand University, Department of Social Sciences, Lecturer.
Phone: +998 91-153-98-99
oergashev@kokanduni.uz
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17045091
Abstract. This article analyzes the emergence of the Jadid movement in Turkestan, its
socio-political foundations, main directions, representatives, its role in national awakening, and
its historical significance. The educational activities of the Jadids, their literary heritage,
contributions to the press and theatre, as well as their struggle against colonialism are examined
in detail.
Keywords: Turkestan, Jadidism, national awakening, enlightenment, independence,
intellectuals, theatre, press.
Historical foundations of the Jadid movement
At the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, significant changes took
place in the socio-political life of Turkestan. The conquest of Tashkent in 1865, Bukhara in
1868, Khiva in 1873, and Kokand in 1876 by the Russian Empire drastically altered the fate of
the region.
Colonial policy abolished political independence and disrupted economic and cultural
life. The Russian administration aimed to turn Turkestan into an agrarian raw material base.
Cotton cultivation was expanded compulsorily, leading to food shortages and economic
crisis. The national, political, and religious rights of the local population were restricted. These
developments intensified the discontent of Turkestan intellectuals and created the socio-political
basis for national awakening.
It was in this historical context that the Jadid movement emerged. Its formation was
influenced by three main factors:
1.
Global processes of modernization
– the development of science, technology, and
industry in Europe and Russia.
2.
Reformist ideas in the Islamic world
– the influence of intellectuals from Turkey,
Egypt, Iran, and Crimea.
3.
Domestic backwardness in Turkestan
– widespread illiteracy and the outdated system
of schools and madrasas.
Thus, Jadidism arose as a response to the socio-economic and cultural needs of its time.
Goals and activities of the Jadids
The Jadids initially appeared as
enlightened intellectuals
. Their primary aim was to
rescue the people from ignorance, familiarize them with modern sciences, and increase literacy
through new-method schools.
The main goals of the Jadids:
•
Educational reform:
establishing new-method schools and producing modern textbooks.
•
National awakening:
helping the people rediscover their historical identity.
•
Social reform:
promoting justice, honesty, and moral purity in society.
•
Political independence:
striving for Turkestan’s sovereignty and self-governance.
Their activities were diverse: they opened schools, wrote textbooks, published
newspapers, organized theatres, and spread enlightenment among the people.
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For example, Mahmudkhoja Behbudiy published educational manuals at his own
expense, while Abdulla Avloniy established a theatre alongside his school.
However, their activities were strictly controlled by the Tsarist authorities. Jadid schools
were often labeled as “suspicious institutions” and, in some cases, were shut down. This
repression accelerated the politicization of the movement and strengthened the struggle against
colonialism.
Jadid literature and press
Jadidism was not limited to education. It also laid the foundations for
modern literature
and a national press
.
•
Literature:
In Jadid writings, the struggle against ignorance, the quest for freedom, and
ideas of national awakening occupied central places. Behbudiy’s drama
“Padarkush”
criticized
outdated traditions. Fitrat’s
“Munozara”
highlighted the differences between new and old
schools.
Cho‘lpon’s poetry expressed the pains of the nation and the dream of independence.
•
Press:
The Jadids used newspapers and journals as a means of awakening national
consciousness. Behbudiy published the newspaper
“Samarkand”
and the journal
“Oyina”
;
Munavvar Qori edited
“Taraqqiy”
; Avloniy published
“Shuhrat”
and
“Turon.”
These
publications served as schools of enlightenment and political awareness.
The Jadids were also active in
theatre
, using the stage as a tool for public education. In
1911,
“Padarkush”
was performed in Tashkent, marking the birth of modern Uzbek theatre.
Weaknesses of the movement and its consequences
Despite its historical significance, the Jadid movement had certain weaknesses:
•
Their influence was largely limited to urban intellectual circles and did not fully reach the
broader population.
•
They could not establish a unified political organization to realize their goals.
•
Internal divisions (e.g., between the “Young Bukharians” and “Young Khivans”)
fragmented the movement.
•
The repressions of the Tsarist regime and later the Bolsheviks hindered the development
of the movement.
In the 1920s–1930s, many Jadid intellectuals fell victim to Soviet repression. Figures
such as Behbudiy, Fitrat, Cho‘lpon, Avloniy, and Munavvar Qori were executed or exiled. This
dealt a severe blow to the national awakening movement.
Conclusion
The Jadid movement remains
the largest national, educational, and political current
of the early 20th century in Turkestan
. The Jadids strove to rescue the people from ignorance
and lead them toward science and progress. Their efforts laid the foundations for modern
literature, press, theatre, and a reformed education system.
Although politically weak and unable to achieve independence, their legacy played a
crucial role in shaping the national identity of the Uzbek people. Jadidism thus left an indelible
mark on history as one of the spiritual roots of today’s independence and development.
References
1.
Karimov, I.
National Ideology – The Foundation of the Country’s Future.
Newspaper
“Xalq so‘zi,” April 7, 2000.
2.
Karimov, I.
Without Historical Memory, There is No Future.
Tashkent: “Sharq,” 1998.
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3.
Karimov, I.
Free and Prosperous Homeland, Free and Prosperous Life – Our Ultimate
Goal.
Newspaper “Ishonch,” January 25, 2000.
4.
History of Uzbekistan (Concise Reference Book).
Tashkent: “Sharq,” 2000.
5.
History of Uzbekistan (Part I).
Tashkent: “Universitet,” 1997.
6.
History of Uzbekistan (Concise Lecture Notes for Students).
Tashkent: “Universitet,”
1999.
