AKMULLA (1831-1895)

Akmulla is a nickname of a classic of Bashkir poetry, a national sessen whose real name is Miftakhetdin Kamaletdinov. This assumed name means “honest, bright teacher”. He was born in 1831 in the south of Bashkiria. His father was a religious man who wanted his son to become a good Muslim, but Miftakhetdin aspired to knowledge. The Koran couldn’t give him answers to such questions as why the earth is flat according to the Koran, but is round according to non-religious books; why should some people be rich and others – poor. The young man learned several languages – Turkish, Arabic and Persian and read a lot of books of oriental scholars.

He studied in several medresses and travelled a lot in the southern Ural regions and Kazakh steppes. Akmulla appealed to people to study, to gain knowledge and progress. He believed in the national strength of his people and was among the first to say: ‘My Bashkirs, you should study. It is absolutely necessary to study.’ And this appeal was very important in the middle of the 19th century.

In the 1980s he finished his famous “Elegy in Memory of Shigabutdin Mardany” in which he expressed his ideas about education. The poem “Edifications” was also an important achievement of the national poetry and Bashkir philosophical thinking.

He wrote a great many poems, though only one book of poetry was published during his life. He ridiculed the vices of the contemporary society and that is why he was hated by the authorities.

Akmulla’s poetry had great impact on Bashkir literature. Thus his influence is felt in the poetry of Mazhit Gafuri, Shaikhzada Babich, Saifi Kudash and others. Akmulla’s works also influenced Kazakh and Tatar literature.

Akmulla lived a very hard life. He died in 1895. Bashkir people are proud of Akmulla’s poetry. In 1981, an Akmulla museum was opened in his native village.