The Influence of the Behbudi Phenomenon on the Jadid Movement

Mahmudkhoja Behbudi, a prominent Uzbek enlightener who fought for the liberation of Turkistan in the first two decades of the 20th century, and a founder and leader of the Jadid movement, is noteworthy not only for his innovations in the field of enlightenment but also for his political views and practical activities. This article presents evidence – based on concrete facts –regarding Behbudi’s political involvement, which remained largely unspoken during the Soviet period and the first quarter-century of Uzbekistan’s independence. It analyzes his contributions through the school textbooks he compiled, his articles, the short story The Chinese Woman with the White Fan, the drama Patricide, and his dedicated work as the publisher and editor of Samarkand Newspaper and Journal of Oyina. It also examines his efforts under Tsarist Russia with the “Cultural Autonomy of Turkistan” program, his intense political activity during the Provisional Government period, his role in the proclamation of the Turkistan Autonomy, and his benevolent efforts to serve the people after the Bolsheviks came to power.