As any other country in Central Asia, Turkmenistan is in its rudimentary level of economic, political and cultural revival from 72 years of Soviet rule. Remaining under a stringent command system, its rich natural resources allows Turkmenistan’s Government to provide its population with free gas, electricity, salt, and drinking water. Historically, five Turkmen tribes such as Teke, Yomut, Gokleng, Yazyr and Ali ran a nomadic life of continuing discord and were hostile even among themselves prior to the Soviet invasion. Building inter-tribal unity and cohesion had been an everlasting aspiration of the Turkmens. Today, these five tribes still constitute the main structure and content of the population in Turkmenistan.

In the 18th of the month of Magtymguly 1992, the Constitution of Turkmenistan was adopted that declared Turkmenistan as a secular and democratic state. The adoption day of the constitution was officially declared as the Day of Revival and Solidarity in Turkmenistan. The following day, the 19th of May, was usually marked with celebration of the Day of Magtymguly’s Poetry, a well renowned Turkmen poet; however with Turkmenbahi’s decree of 2000, the Day of Magtymguly’s Poetry was moved to the 18th, and a chain of celebrations or a “triple holiday” came out in Turkmenistan. Today, this date of a cluster of celebrations also coincided with the 12th anniversary of the constitution of Turkmenistan.

Developing a policy of solidarity or unity and making it an official holiday in Turkmenistan bodes well for maintaining stability in the country. Building peace and stability was the main objective behind the decree of 1992 per se that announced these holidays. In addition, a policy of solidarity is aimed at building a harmonious life of what the main newspaper Neytralnyi Turkmenistan (Neutral Turkmenistan) reports is 40 different nationalities residing in Turkmenistan. “No conflict and no major crime in our country are signs of solidarity and development” said Turkmenbashi, speaking about the years of independence. Moreover, a policy of solidarity and revival also constitutes a part of the Presidential National Program “Strategy of economical, political and cultural development of Turkmenistan until 2020.” In this context, a National Revival – a nationwide process or movement, the President’s official policy is essentially aimed at restoring historical Turkmen values, culture and creating higher living standards in Turkmenistan.

On this day, President Niyazov congratulated the nation of Turkmenistan by wishing eternal harmony, health and prosperity. As it is declared an official state holiday, state employees are released from work to join the celebration of the event nationwide. Lasting from morning till evening, thousands of people gathered at the Garashsyzlyk (Independence) Park in the capital Ashgabat and put flowers on Magtymguly’s monument. Representatives from the Cabinet of Ministries, the Mejlis (legislature of Turkmenistan) Non-Governmental Organizations as well as representatives of foreign embassies and firms in Turkmenistan were among those who gathered to celebrate the “triple holiday.”

Magtymguly was one of the most influential and prominent Turkmen classics and writers of the eighteenth century. What distinguished him from others is that he often wrote about the Turkmen peoples’ historical dreams and aspirations for independence and building a strong Turkmen state. In his poems, Magtymguly also called all five hitherto belligerent Turkmen tribes to come together and serve one state avoiding inter-tribal hostilities.

On this occasion, a monument of Magtymguly was erected in his honor in Balkan velayat (region) of Turkmenistan. A special exhibition of national carpets and precious stones along with Magtymguly’s poems was held in the National Museum in the capital city of Ashgabat. Besides, as the Neytralnyi Turkmenistan reports, there was a special evening ceremony held in Moscow on the occasion of the Day of Magtymguly’s Poetry. Representatives of embassies, the Turkmen Diaspora in Moscow, and many other poets participated in the ceremony. The Executive Committee of the International Association of the Union of Writers and the Moscow Society of Turkmen culture were the initiators of the ceremony.

Thus, this nationwide process of nationalization is viewed and expected to be a guarantee of stability, national revival, human rights, economical prosperity and social welfare in what Turkmenbashi declared as the “Golden Century of the Turkmen.” As the President’s widespread policy of National Revival gains support in the country, further subsequent policies and reforms are to follow to foster nationalism in Turkmenistan.