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Abstract

The movement of Jadidism became one of the most important in the life of the Turkestan society in the early 20th century. This movement was not merely a cultural and educational phenomenon, but also a great socio-political process which influenced the modernization of society, the formation of the public thought, and creation of national intelligentsia greatly. The Jadidism movement developed within the framework of the colonial policy and was directed on the renewal of cultural, educational, and social life.

This report aims to demonstrate the role of key representatives of the Jadid movement through a personographical approach, which enables a deeper understanding of the movement's nature by exposing it through the actions of specific historical figures. The biographies of Jadidism representatives show that individual educators proved to be a significant driving force behind cultural and social transformations. These figures not only presented new ideas but also worked on their practical application: establishing new types of schools, creating teaching materials, founding a national press, and conducting wide-ranging educational work among the people.

Among the most known leaders of the Jadid movement was Abdullah Avloni — a brilliant educator, public figure, author, and publicist. Avloni believed education was the key to social progress and sought to implement new teaching methods revolving around critical thinking, secular knowledge, and national identity. His most significant work, TurkiyGulistonYohud Akhlok ("Turkish Paradise or Morality"), was dedicated to moral education and the upbringing of youth. His textbooks Birinchi muallim (First Teacher) and Ikincimuallim (Second Teacher), designed for new-method schools, also made an important contribution to educational practice, intertwining traditional moral values with contemporary pedagogical ideas.

Avloni also contributed to the formation of nation theater, through which he managed to attract attention towards the problems of education, morality, and social advancement. He played his role as well in the development of the national press since it was to him a crucial instrument of enlightenment and spread of progressive ideas.

Thus, the personagraphical approach allows us to view the history of Jadidism not merely as a set of ideas, but as the result of the activities of specific individuals. Biography becomes an important tool for understanding the social, cultural, and intellectual changes in Turkestan society, and studying figures such as Avloni offers a deeper understanding of the region's modernization and the formation of its national intelligentsia.