Gabdulla Tukai is a famous Tatar writer, poet, critic and translator. He is the founder of the new poetry of the nation, highly raises the feeling of patriotism. Tukai created a school of poetry, under the beneficial influence of which a large generation of not only Tatar, but also other writers grew up.
Gabdulla Tukai: biography
The writer was born on 04/26/1886 in the village of Kushlavych. His father, Muhamedgarif, hails from the Kazan province. The writer’s grandfather was a mullah. When Gabdulla was 4.5 months old, his father died, and at the age of three he lost his mother. For some time he lived in the family of his grandfather Zinnatulla, after he ended up in Kazan in the family of a childless Muhammetvali, where he lived for about 2 years.
The biography of Gabdulla Tukai says that his adoptive parents fell ill, and the boy was in the family of a peasant Sagdi in the village of Klay, where he lived for three years. Peasant life was not easy for him. Here he worked, studied and learned the life of Gabdull Tukai. A short biography further tells about his further childhood, which took place in Uralsk. He was taken to his family by the merchant Galiaskar Usmanov, where his aunt was the mistress. The future writer studied at the Tukhvatullin family madrasah, attended the Russian class at the same time, his great natural talent manifested in his studies.
By the age of 16, the basic beliefs and traits of the poet had formed. The biography of Gabdulla Tukai confirms that the young man was very educated: he knew well European, Russian, Eastern cultures, several languages and many tales that he told interestingly.
He had a good ear, and he sang well, although his voice was not particularly beautiful, but the young man was able to embellish the notes of the melody.
Collaboration with publications
The first literary works of Tukai were partially preserved in the journal Al-Ghasr al-Jadid (1904). In the same year, he translated Krylov's fables into his native language and offered to publish them. He was interested in the works of Lermontov and Pushkin. His first work in poetry was a translation of A. Koltsov's work “What are you sleeping, peasant?”, Published in 1905.
The biography of Gabdulla Tukai says that after the revolution of 1905 began, the first magazines and newspapers Al-Ghasr al-Jadid and Fiker appeared in Uralsk. Tukai collaborated with them and published many poems on the topics presented by the revolution. The writer also participated in numerous urban demonstrations.
In 1907, Tukai left the Tukhvatullin madrasah. Thus began his free life.
The June 3 coup, which happened in the same year, prompted the writer to create the poem “Let's not leave!”. The biography of Gabdulla Tukai says that in this work the voice of a fighter sounded, calling to the end to stand up for the honor of the native land and democracy. Tukay's poems such as “A Pair of Horses” and “Shurale”, written at the beginning of the 20th century, are devoted to the theme of the native land.
Tukay's creativity
Many different genres swept Gabdulla Tukai. Biography his work is defined as folk and realistic.
In the fall of 1907, the writer arrived in Kazan to do what he liked there. Literary circles accept him with ease, he draws close to young writers who are grouped around the Al-Islah publication.
At this time, Tukai directed all his literary opportunities to the satirical-humorous magazines Yalta-Yult and Yashen. By 1908, the writer had a cycle of interesting poetic and journalistic essays. The poems "The blessed memory of Khusain" and "Tatar youth" are filled with feelings of historical optimism.
For the years 1909-10. the writer created one hundred poems, two fairy tales, an essay in the autobiographical style “What I Remember About Me”, an article on Tatar creativity, 30 reviews and feuilleton notes, published 12 books. For many years, Tukai collected folk songs. In 1910, the writer published some collected songs in the book “National Melodies”.
Gabdulla Tukai: biography for children
At the same time, Tukai began to compose poetry and prose for children. The poems “Goat and Ram”, “Shurale” and 50 verses, about 100 translated fables, he created in five years. Creations “Call to work”, the poem “Shurale” and “Merry pages”, written based on folk tales, had a great place in the literature. Tukay created 2 reading books on Tatar literature for the school. The poet was recognized as the founder of Tatar literature for children.
Travel Writer
Most of Tukay’s poems and essays were inspired by trips to the villages of Zakazanye. They describe the reality, estimated by the intercessor of the people.
Despite poor health, in 1911-12, Gabdulla made trips that were of great importance to him. In 1911, Tukay came by ship to Astrakhan, on the way he met the Volga region ("Little Journey", "Cottage"). Here the writer stayed with a friend of Sagit Ramiev. In Astrakhan, he met the Azerbaijani public figure Nariman Narimanov, who was sent there for revolutionary activity.
In the spring of 1912, the writer decided to go to Kazan, Ufa and Petersburg. He lived in St. Petersburg for thirteen days, after which he went to Troitsk, and then to drink koumiss in the Kazakh steppe in the hope of improving his health. In August, Tukay returned to Kazan. He worked in a printing house and, despite poor health, continued to engage in creativity.
2 (15) .04. 1913 Gabdulla Tukai died. He died in the prime of his life. Tukay traditions became decisive ideological and aesthetic factors and life-giving sources for the development of Tatar literature in the future under the banner of nationality and realism.
Gabdulla Tukai was buried in the Tatar cemetery in Kazan.
Memory of the poet
In honor of the writer are named: Kazan Square, metro, streets in Ufa, the village of Dautovo in the Chelyabinsk region.
Also, Tukay was erected monuments in Uralsk, Sank Petrburg and Moscow.
Museums of Gabdulla Tukai are opened: the Literary Museum in Kazan, the literary and memorial complex of Gabdulla Tukai in the village of New Kirlay.
The name of the writer also called the prize of art in Tatarstan.