Learning to Become Turkmen: Literacy, Language, and Power, 1914-2014

272 Pages·2018·12.844 MB·

by  Victoria Clement

Learning
Become
to
Turkmen
Central Eurasia in Context
Douglas Northrop, Editor
Learning
Become
to
Turkmen
Literacy, Language, and Power, 1914–2014
Victoria Clement
University of Pittsburgh Press
Published by the University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15260
Copyright © 2018, University of Pittsburgh Press
All rights reserved
Manufactured in the United States of America
Printed on acid-free paper
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Cataloging-in-Publication data is available from the Library of Congress
ISBN 13: 978-0-8229-6463-6
Cover art: Statue of a Turkmen woman reading
Cover design: Melissa Dias-Mandoly
To my parents, who made everything possible
Map 1. Map of Turkmenistan. From https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/re
sources/cia-maps-publications/map-downloads/turkmenistan-physiog.jpg/image.jpg
Contents
Acknowledgments
ix
Note on Transliteration
xi
Introduction
3
Chapter 1
Jadid-Inspired Paths to Modernity, 1914–1917
17
Chapter 2
Partners in Progress: Turkmen Intellectuals in Soviet Space, 1917–1930
37
Chapter 3
From the ABCs to the ABCs of Communism, 1930–1953
68
Chapter 4
Speaking Soviet, 1954–1984
91
viii
Chapter 5
From Happy Socialism to Independence, 1985–1996
112
Chapter 6
Altyn Asyr Nesli: Nyýazow’s Golden Generation, 1996–2006
137
Chapter 7
The Era of Might and Happiness, 2007–2014
160
Conclusion
173
Notes
181
Bibliography
229
Index
255
ix
Acknowledgments
Researching and writing this book has been a magnificent adventure. I am pleased
to have this opportunity to thank the individuals and institutions who lent support
over the many years I have worked on this project.
As a doctoral student at the Ohio State University I had the good fortune to
work with Nicholas Breyfogle, Eve Levin, and Harvey Graff, each of whom read
large sections of this manuscript multiple times. I am forever indebted to them.
While an undergraduate student at the University of Massachusetts I met Audrey
Altstadt, who took me under her wing, taught me Turkish, and mentored me over
the years. She remains my valued friend. Dona Straley taught me to read the Arabic
script. My study of Jadid-inspired Turkmen would not have been possible without
her guidance.
A number of colleagues have contributed to my thinking over the years. Lau-
ra Adams, Erik Dahl, Marianne Kamp, Adeeb Khalid, Paula Michaels, Daniel
Moran, and Pamela Pennock read and commented on sections of the manuscript.
Adrienne Edgar generously shared research notes and advice at various stages and
read much of the manuscript. I have been lucky to have been friends with her over
these many years. I also thank Peter Kracht, the editorial staff at the University
of Pittsburgh Press, and Douglas Northrop for their encouragement and guidance
with the manuscript. Nurmukhamed Eldosov was an invaluable research assistant.
The International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX), American Coun-
cils for International Education, the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), and
the National Endowment for the Humanities funded this project at various stag-
es. Awards from these institutions allowed me to conduct research in Aşgabat and
Moscow. A postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Cham-
paign, allowed me to begin the writing process. Time spent as a Title VIII Research
Scholar at the Kennan Institute of the Woodrow Wilson Center for International
Scholars allowed me to conduct research at the Library of Congress and to finish
writing the manuscript.
My deepest appreciation goes to the friends and family members who believed
in this project. My parents, William and Susan Clement, were unwavering in their