On February 5, Ovlyakuli Movlyamov, a talented Turkmen prose writer would have turned 85. His famous works are “The Duty”, “The Poet’s Youth”, “Morning in Lebap”, “Even One Man Can Make a Difference”, “The Evil Deed”, “The Outcry”, “and Gazelles”, among others. At the same time, he made his indelible imprint on satire, publishing satirical articles and humorous stories in “Krokodil” (“Crocodile”, a Soviet satirical magazine), “Tokmak” (a Turkmen satirical magazine), and “Charjou Pravda” (Charjou Truth).  

Despite his difficult, post-war childhood, the boy, who grew up in a remote rural area – Magtymguly Collective Farm, Halach Etrap – had a keen sense of humor and showed a clear understanding of good and evil in people’s relations. There were some extraordinary things that also shaped the teenager’s personality. A rural school he attended was named after Rakhmet Seyidov. The lyric poet, whose poetry many compared with that by Sergey Esenin, was Ovlyakuli Movlyamov’s uncle. And Ovlyakuli showed a literary bent from a young age. Therefore, after finishing school, he applied for admission to Turkmen State University, the Department of Philology, without any hesitation, and passed his entrance exams successfully. As a student, Ovlyakuli collaborated with several Ashgabat newspapers, and struck up acquaintances with young journalists and writers. He began to publish his works as well. The writer’s personal characteristics and his elegant and lively narrative style provided a basis for them. 

Ovlyakuli Movlyamov began his professional career as an editor at the Turkmen State Publishing House. Then, he worked as a copy editor for “Edebiyat ve Sungat” (“Literature and Arts”), as a special correspondent for “Tokmak”, and closely collaborated with the satirical magazine “Krokodil”. As a literary adviser of the Union of Writers in the Charjou Region, Ovlyakuli greatly contributed to nurturing young writers. As a member of the Theater Council at the S. Seydi State Music and Drama Theater, he wrote reviews for theatrical productions. 

Ovlyakuli Movlyamov’s personal archive includes letters from writers and their feedback on his works. For instance, Svyatoslav Kolev from Bulgaria wrote in his letter: “I am very glad to get to know such an interesting writer like you. On a commission from the Bulgarian newspaper “Otechestven Front” (Fatherland Front), I prepared an anthology of modern world humor and satire. I would like Turkmen humor to be represented by your humorous story “Golden Minutes”. 

A letter from literary critic, Professor Ude Abdullaev:

“When reading  the short stories “The Turning Point”, “The Poet’s Childhood”, “Dove Song”, “Repentance”, and many other lyrical stories by Ovlyakuli Movlyamov one can feel the writer’s right attitude to good and evil and his keen appreciation of the beauty of his country’s nature. 

People truly enjoy his satirical and humorous stories.”

People’s Writer of Turkmenistan Berdinazar Khudainazarov wrote about him: “... Ovlyakuli Movlyamov aptly and fully describes his main characters in his stories. The poetics that runs through all his stories helps to convey the beauty of his native Lebap region. This is what makes his narratives reminiscent of the poetry by his uncle – prominent poet Rakhmet Seyidov.” 

One of the writer’s daughters Oguljan Mavyeva shared her memories of her father with “Turkmenistan: Golden Age”. 

– My memories of my father are closely associated with our old apartment in the city of Charjou, which was full of guests: artists, writers, and musicians. There were always so many of them that once, my older sister Gyulshen, then a student at Teacher’s Training Institute, said: “I think it is high time for me to move into a hotel.” However, the other members of the family: six children, my grandmother and mother looked forward to welcoming guests. I liked it very much when my father’s friend Ernst Safonov from Moscow came to visit us. 

(E. Safonov (1938-1994), a Russian prose writer, translator, publicist, editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Literaturnaya Rossiya” (1989-1994). 

I remember, once the three of us traveled together to Pelvert by my father’s Zhiguli car. When we arrived there, my father showed his friend Ernst a well, dug by Begmurad-aga and an apple garden, planted and tended by this remarkable man. They both came up with an idea of writing a story about Begmurad-aga entitled “Even One Man Can Make a Difference”.

A letter written by E. Safonov from the writer’s personal archive says: “The story about Begmurad-aga will appear in “Selskaya Zhizn” (Rural Life). The description of how the old man was digging an aryk canal was removed from it. They say it is not typical.  

A short time ago, I received a warm letter from Begmurad with a photo of all his family...”

By the way, the story was named the best in the newspaper “Selskaya Zhizn” (Rural Life).

My father always looked forward to letters from the editorial office of “Krokodil” (Crocodile). His archive includes a letter from Uncle Yan (this is how Yan Polishchuk, one of the staff members signed his letter): I have received you story... but I remember your request for a satirical article. By the way, a good topic came up. Please read this letter and contact the author. When checking the facts, do not mention his last name, otherwise he can have problems. Well, we are awaiting the satirical story from you. We will edit it a little. Hurry up! June 1, 1973.”

My father was very fond of poet Kurbannazar Ezizov, and although Kurbannazar was five years younger, they were very friendly. Our family had long had an old letter he sent in 1965 from the military unit of the Samarkand Military District, where Kurbannazar Ezizov was doing his military service.  And when they both started their own families, and had only daughters, my father and Kurbannazar Ezizov agreed that they would not give up until they had sons. 

That year, a long-awaited boy, the fifth child, was born in our family. Kurbannazar Ezizov’s son, the fifth child in his family, was born too, but the poet did not see him. The two friends would have held big and joyous celebrations in honor of their long-awaited sons if the tragedy had not happened. 

My father’s friend Ernst and his family were staying with us at that time and they shared our family’s joy. My father gave his newborn son the name Hoshgeldi which means “welcome”. The name made Ernst’s daughter, Masha, so excited that she composed a poem and sent it to the then-popular newspaper “Pionerskaya Pravda” (Pioneer Truth)/

In 1985, a funny incident took place in our home when a group of students came to the Teachers’ Training Institute from Moscow State University, the Department of Journalism, to do an internship. Needless to say, my father invited the group and teachers to our home. The next day, the theater hosted the premier of a new production, and as was customary, the theater company came to us, too. 

 – It is a transit point, not a home, my sister grumbled. Yesterday we received a group of students and today the theatrical company came. 

– Do not be so grumpy, our father warned her, or you will become a character in my new satirical story. 

– Our father can do this! I cautioned my sister. 

My brother, my sisters, and I absolutely adored our father. He was fair and merry, and people took liking to him. Our father could easily find a common language with anyone, regardless of their age and official position. As years went by, his voluminous wavy hair turned gray. He did not like to have his hair cut short. Once, he looked at himself in the mirror, and said suddenly, “Leo Lvovich in the flesh!” We loved his accurate comparison with a lion and sometimes we called him like that, when only family members were around. Our father did not feel offended, just the other way round, a mischievous gleam lit his eyes at that moment.   

An editorial note: while reading the article about writer Ovlyakuli Movlyamov, we hope, some will recollect his stories, and others will be eager to learn about the master of description for the first time. 

Tamara GLAZUNOVA

Photo: from the writer’s personal archive

1. O. Movlyamov standing on a rostrum 

2. With artist V. Ataev in front of the editorial office of “Tokmak” (left)

With Kurbannazar Ezizov (right)

3. Editorial staff of “Edebiyat ve Sungat” (1980)

4. At the official opening ceremony of Ylkham Alley