EDUCATIONAL REFORMS OF THE JADID ENLIGHTENERS: THE CASE OF MAHMUDKHOJA BEHBUDI
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18981993Keywords:
Jadidism, Mahmudkhoja Behbudi, Usul-i Jadid, Turkestan, Educational Reform, New Method Schools, Central Asian Enlightenment.Abstract
The late 19th and early 20th centuries marked a critical juncture in Central Asian history, characterized by the emergence of the Jadid movement—a socio-intellectual wave aimed at modernization and national awakening. Central to this movement was Mahmudkhoja Behbudi (1875–1919), whose multifaceted contributions as a polymath, educator, and publicist reshaped the pedagogical landscape of Turkestan. This article examines Behbudi’s educational reforms, focusing on his advocacy for the Usul-i Jadid (New Method) schools. By analyzing his seminal works, including the drama Padarkush (The Patricide) and his numerous journalistic contributions in Oyna and Samarqand, the study elucidates how Behbudi synthesized traditional Islamic values with contemporary secular sciences. The research employs a socio-historical and hermeneutic methodology to evaluate Behbudi’s curriculum designs and his critique of the stagnant madrasa system. The results indicate that Behbudi’s initiatives laid the foundational stones for the modern Uzbek educational framework, emphasizing literacy, linguistics, and civic responsibility. This study concludes that Behbudi was not merely a reformer but a visionary whose educational philosophy sought to bridge the gap between Western progress and Eastern identity.
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