ASHGABAT, February 9. /Dunyo IA/. On the eve of the V International Symposium on the theme “Navoi and the Eastern Renaissance”, held to mark the 585th anniversary of the birth of the great poet and thinker Alisher Navoi, Bagul Annabaeva, a lecturer at the Turkmen State Institute of Culture, commented to the Dunyo Information Agency on the significance of Navoi’s legacy for the formation of spiritual and cultural identity among the peoples of Central Asia:

-  The development of any society is reflected in its ability to embrace the finest examples of its heritage and transmit them to the future. By absorbing the culture of antiquity and building upon it with its own achievements, medieval Arab culture reached remarkable heights. As a result, historically significant breakthroughs were made in the East, following the course of ancient traditions. Viewed in this broader context, it becomes clear that societies capable of embodying a true model of the spiritual and intellectual experience of the past can serve as a living legacy for the future.

The greatness of the Eastern Renaissance lies not only in producing world-renowned masters such as al-Farabi, al-Biruni, al-Khwarizmi and Ibn Sina, but also in their profound confidence in the ability to transmit the achievements of the past to the future, refining them through the trials of wisdom and science. From this perspective, the work of the great Alisher Navoi laid a solid foundation for the cultural and spiritual development of the Uzbek people.

Today, without fully appreciating the value of this literary heritage, it is impossible to fully grasp the development of the Turkmen people from the Middle Ages to the present day. Through engagement with the works of Alisher Navoi, we gain a clearer understanding of the spiritual and cultural legacy of our people; the thinker’s writings remain a vital source for studying the literary characteristics of that era.

In Navoi’s works, we discover the true essence of literary and linguistic traditions that continue to resonate to this day. The poetry, thought and scholarship of Alisher Navoi form an enduring foundation for spiritual and intellectual development.

As both a poet and thinker, Navoi serves as an interpreter for understanding subsequent literature and a promoter of the authentic meaning of literary and linguistic forms. The fundamental role of the great master, who gifted the world with numerous works, is revealed even in a single composition, such as “Lison ut-Tayr” (The Speech of the Birds, a narrative interpretation).