Mintimer Shaimiev: "Through the trials of time, our gaze turns again and again to the works of Tukay."

      "Tukay left us an invaluable literary heritage" – Shaimiev

      "I still remember the fairy tale 'Shurale' by heart"

      – Mintimer Sharipovich, you have done a lot to immortalize the name of Gabdulla Tukay at the level of the republic and the country. Everyone knows that Tukay is your favorite poet. What are your personal thoughts about him? – First of all, I want to note that I do not consider myself an expert on Tukay's work. Moreover, much has already been said and written about his great mission in the history of the Tatar people and the significance of his creativity. I will perhaps try to express my own reflections about him. We are people of a happy generation who have come to know this world through Tukay's fairy tales and poems, perceiving him as the poet expressed. The first fairy tales are usually remembered for a lifetime. For example, I still remember the fairy tale 'Shurale' by heart. After all, in our childhood, we were convinced that Shurale certainly lived in the forest, and the Water Spirit in the river. The most interesting thing is that sometimes you think: "Maybe our Shurale still resides there?" "Finish the job – then walk boldly" and other kind teachings of the poet were absorbed into our young souls. The very first poem we learn to say is 'Tugan tel' – 'Native Language'. It is symbolic that it is sung to a folk melody. 'Tugan tel' is both a lullaby and an anthem of our nation, and an ode to the mother tongue. It turns out that Tukay is always with us; he has firmly entered the life and traditions of the Tatars, and his image lives in the depths of the soul of each person, uniting and inspiring us at all times. Perhaps that is why I have idolized Tukay all my life. I must say, not only because he is a Tatar poet, but because of the depth of his poetic thought and life philosophy. A genius is a genius! He accomplished so much in such a short life. Genius poets, like prophets, capture the essence of events many years ahead. So does our Tukay, perhaps because of his bitter fate, in his very young years, understood this world deeper than we do in our entire lives.

      Over the years, I have realized that he left us an invaluable literary heritage not only for us to read and enjoy but more so for us to be guided by it as a kind of universal folk code. Tukay depicted the Tatar nation as it is, neither praising nor belittling, critically justified, but preserving the dignity of the Tatars. The most important thing is that his assessments still provoke reflection today, instilling faith in the future of the nation. He has always been and remains on the side of his people, wanting to see them enlightened, among the leading nations of the world. Therefore, he set the vector for national development and seemingly prepared answers in advance to the complex questions that later arose before us.

      Let us remember the political storms of the early 90s of the last century. At that time, not only in the squares but also from official tribunes, Tukay's poetry was heard. His lines: "On Russian soil, we have left our mark", "We are faithful children of a united country", "We are strung on a single thread" became the foundation for making fateful decisions. Therefore, we did not stray from our path during those years; we not only survived but also hardened and became stronger. "The flow of time will get used to measuring me, / Any of them will be able to adjust their clocks by me," our Tukay wrote. And he turned out to be absolutely right. Going through the trials of time, our gazes turn again and again to Tukay's creativity.

      "The poems of our great poet sound modern even today"

      – What thoughts of his regarding our days would you draw attention to? – In the process of promoting the historical and cultural monuments of Tatarstan to the UNESCO World Heritage List, we dealt with the concept of "outstanding universal value," although this only pertains to tangible heritage. But in this case, I would apply it this way: Tukay's creativity is the outstanding universal spiritual value of our people. No matter what the times are, those who know, understand, and appreciate Tukay will find answers to all their questions.

      "No matter what the times are, those who know, understand, and appreciate Tukay will find answers to all their questions."

      Mintimer Shaimiev

      State Advisor of the Republic of Tatarstan

      I must note that in our days, new unseen opportunities have opened up before us, for example, new technologies, the internet, artificial intelligence, etc. Undoubtedly, they should be used to improve and enhance life, including, say, for studying and presenting Tukay's creativity. That is how it should be done. At the same time, some global processes associated with scientific and technological progress lead to the unification of cultures, turning them into a consumer mass culture devoid of national form and content, threatening the destruction of spirituality. Unfortunately, these processes are not always accompanied by the moral progress of humanity. "I despise the fleeting world and its momentary age, / To reconcile is a heavy sin before the immortal soul," thus thought Gabdulla Tukay.

      Therefore, now we, as a whole country, consciously walk the path of preserving our traditional values, culture, and maintaining unity, interethnic and interfaith harmony. As you can see, the poems of our great poet sound modern even today. The matter is primarily in the folk nature of his creativity. Tukay is flesh of the flesh of the people; living the hopes of the people, sharing their joys and sorrows, he, like no one else, was able to say: "The people – they are great, they are strong, they are inspired, they are melodic, they are writers, they are poets." You cannot say it more beautifully and better, perhaps. "It should be known that folk songs are never fading, pure and transparent mirrors of the soul of the people," Tukay wrote. Many generations of our creators have tested the folk nature of their works by gazing into this mirror. And it would be beneficial for modern representatives of creative professions to read Tukay's works "Folk Melodies" and "Folk Literature" again.

      In general, the creativity of Gabdulla Tukay is an inexhaustible source of inspiration and a spiritual support on the path of preserving our nation, not only for cultural, artistic, and literary figures but for each of us.

      Photo provided by the press service of the State Advisor of the Republic of Tatarstan