On May 20, the presentation of postage stamps dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the birth of the great thinker and classical poet Magtymguly Fragi, issued by the USA-Turkmenistan Business Council with the support of the Embassy of Turkmenistan in the United States, was held at the National Postal Museum of the United States.
The ceremony was attended by Mrs. Chinar Rustemova, Executive Secretary of the Turkmen National Committee for UNESCO, Mr. Meret Orazov Ambassador of Turkmenistan to the United States, representatives of scientific, educational and cultural institutions. On the US side, Mr. Eric Stewart, Executive Director of the Business Council, Mr. Elliot Gruber, Executive Director of the National Postal Museum, Mr. John Pommersheim, Deputy Assistant Secretary Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Ms. Brianne Todd, Director for Central Asia at the White House, diplomats of foreign embassies accredited in the United States, as well as representatives of academia and American companies.
Speakers at the event noted that Magtymguly Fragi is an outstanding representative of Turkmen literature, who made an invaluable contribution to the literary and cultural heritage of all mankind. The issuance of the postage stamp dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the birth of Magtymguly Fragi and the presentation ceremony held on this occasion is an important event in the history of Turkmen-American cultural ties and will be of great importance in popularizing the great thinker's work not only in the United States but also beyond.
The canonical image of Magtymguly Fragi, drawn by famous Turkmen artist Ayhan Hajiyev, was used in the production of the postage stamp. It will be distributed in the United States as a souvenir as well as for electronic use.
Samples of the postage stamp will also be kept as museum treasures in the archives of the National Postal Museum of the United States and shown to visitors.
During the event, the participants were particularly impressed by the performances of Turkmen bakhshi and musicians who performed songs on poems by Magtymguly Fragi, as well as national melodies.
The participants of the presentation had an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the exhibition showcasing the rich culture, past and present of our people. The exhibition features samples of Magtymguly Fragi's manuscripts kept in the collection of the Magtymguly Institute of Language, Literature and National Manuscripts of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, exhibits of the State Museum of the State Culture Center, as well as works of art of the State Academy of Arts.
On May 21, a creative evening dedicated to the 300th anniversary of Magtymguly Fragi was held in the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., organized by the Embassy of Turkmenistan in the United States, the above-mentioned library and the Smithsonian Institution. Along with the Turkmen delegation, leadership and staff members of the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, a representative of the White House, researchers from the Smithsonian Institution and the Library of Congress, scholars from other academic institutions, poetry lovers and foreign diplomats took part in the event.
At the creative evening, the Turkmen and American scholars heard speeches on the works of Magtymguly Fragi, which are of great importance for mankind. According to Ms. Joan Weeks, Acting Chief, African and Middle Eastern Division Library of Congress, and Mr. Paul Taylor, Director of the Asian Cultural History Program and Curator at the Department of Anthropology of the Smithsonian Institution, Magtymguly Fragi's poems have a magical power that attracts the attention of any reader and calls all mankind to noble qualities and humanism.
In the speeches of scholars of the Magtymguly Institute of Language, Literature and National Manuscripts of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, special attention was paid to the poet's works that have survived to our days, translation and study of his poems by foreign scientists.
During the event, the Turkmen scholars presented the book of the Esteemed President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov “Anau - Culture from the depths of millennia” to the Library of Congress, whose representatives accepted the book with great respect and noted that it will further enrich the collection of publications on Turkmen literature and culture in the library's collection.
During this creative evening, songs on poems by Magtymguly Fragi and national musical compositions were also performed.
As part of the event, the delegation of Turkmenistan was given an excursion to the Library of Congress, which is one of the largest in the world. The members of the delegation familiarized themselves with the work of the library, its departments, books stored in them, including editions of Turkmen literature.
On the same day, the presentation of the books of the Esteemed President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov “Youth - the backbone of the Motherland”, “Anau - Culture from the depths of millennia”, as well as a new book of poems called “Magtymguly” was held in the at the Embassy of Turkmenistan in the United States. Representatives of the White House, the State Department, as well as representatives of foreign diplomatic missions in the United States attended the event along with the Turkmen delegation. The speakers noted the importance of the books of the Esteemed President and the new book of poems by Magtymguly Fragi in enriching the literary heritage of our country.
Within the framework of the mentioned events, exhibitions devoted to applied and fine arts of our people, national costumes, jewelry, manuscripts of Magtymguly Fragi's works, including books of Magtymguly Fragi kept in the Library of Congress were also held.
