My
purpose in writing Ruhnama is to express explicitly how the
nation has contributed much to the sciences, literature, civilizations,
and development of the world and in every area of life. I describe our
good fortune at the beginning of our history, which affected the world,
but in the last seven or eight centuries our nation has shrunk. She is
measurably smaller but still not an insignificant nation. Though her
name is often not recalled among the great, in fact, she is a very great
nation, in her mind, in her spirit, in her blood, in short, in all her
entity. I want to show that the great legacy of our ancestors remains.
The Türkmen nation has traced marks as magnificent as those of Great
Britain, of the Great Indian Nation and of The Great Chinese Nation.
(60)
During
the era of the Gaznaly Mahmyt, the Seljuk Kingdom, Köneürgenç states,
Türkmen was the leading nation in
the science, literature, and art in the world. Türkmens introduced the
Türkmen civilization to others.
After
the collapse of the Harzemªah state, which had supported science,
literature and the spiritual world, the Türkmen’s eminent
philosophers, scholars, literati, artists and craftsmen spread not only
through Turkey, but also, by another route, to Caucasus, Anatolia,
Arabia and from there passed though Egypt to Spain.
(61)
Anyone
with sense who reads the Book of Gorkut Ata can understand how
far-sighted, successful and wise Oguz Begs’ worldview was. In the book
of Gorkut Ata it can be seen that Oguz people had a great wealth of
literature and cultural diversity in festivals and holidays. Could a
society with such a wealth of literature, art and cultural range be
close to the primitive culture of fire-worshippers? The religion of
fire-worshippers was perpetuated by certain narrow-minded philosophers
of the ancient times, such as Mazdak and Mani.
(106)
The
Atabegs started the education of the sons of Soltans at a very early
age. Atabegs were carefully chosen from among the soldiers.
The
children of the Soltans were taught foreign languages, military
knowledge and command. The Soltans educated in this way could speak the
languages of other nations, understand world literature, and utilise the
technology of war.
(117)
Mahmyt’s
interest in science, literature and art and his patronage of scholars
and scientists were no less than his statesmanship and commandership. He
hosted and protected poets, such as Firdewsi, in his palace.
(141)
Fighting
for freedom is right. The jewels of Türkmen literature, “The Book of
Gorkut Ata”, “Görogly”, Legends of Döwletýar, “The Epic of
Yusup-Ahmet”, the writings of Ýunus Emre, Garacaoglan, Burhanetdin of
Sivas, Baýram Han,
Abdyrrahym Han, ªabendi, Andalyb, Magrupy, Magtymguly, Seýdi, Zelili,
Mollanepes, Kemine, Mätäji, are works of art which all show the
patriotism, courage, manliness, heroism of the Türkmen nation.
(188-189)
Our
literature is vivid and vigorous, a life in itself. It is passed on as
songs or epics by from mouth to mouth. A nation fed on such literature
can never put forth a traitor!
(189)
All
religions, first and foremost, and then literature and art which aims at
the good of mankind put forth an exemplary model of man.
The
main objective of our state is to educate excellent people who will be
praised in world literatures, who have good spirits, who are generous,
brave and bold, and who set great goals. Every member of our nation
should be comfortable. But they should first be knowledgeable,
consistent and have a progressive view of the world.
(299)
