MAHMUDKHOJA BEHBUDI AND THE CULTURE OF BOOKMANSHIP
Keywords:
This article explores the remarkable contributions of Mahmudkhoja Behbudi (1875–1919), a leading figure of the Jadid (modernist) movement in Turkestan, to the development of national enlightenment, publishing, and librarianship. It examines Behbudi’s pioneering role in advancing the culture of reading, education, journalism, and book trade across Central Asia. Through his publishing house Nashriyoti Behbudiya, the newspaper Samarkand, and the journal Oyna, he established one of the first comprehensive systems for spreading scientific and cultural knowledge among the masses. The article highlights his creation of a public library, bookshops, and his efforts to import books from diverse regions—from Russia to the Middle East—reflecting his vision of intellectual freedom and modernization.Abstract
This article explores the remarkable contributions of Mahmudkhoja Behbudi (1875–1919), a leading figure of the Jadid (modernist) movement in Turkestan, to the development of national enlightenment, publishing, and librarianship. It examines Behbudi’s pioneering role in advancing the culture of reading, education, journalism, and book trade across Central Asia. Through his publishing house Nashriyoti Behbudiya, the newspaper Samarkand, and the journal Oyna, he established one of the first comprehensive systems for spreading scientific and cultural knowledge among the masses. The article highlights his creation of a public library, bookshops, and his efforts to import books from diverse regions—from Russia to the Middle East—reflecting his vision of intellectual freedom and modernization.
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