MAHMUDKHOJA BEHBUDI: THE IDEOLOGICAL LEADER OF THE TURKESTAN PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT

Abstract

The article discusses Mahmudkhoja Behbudi, a key figure in the Jadid movement of Turkestan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Behbudiy played a crucial role in promoting education, enlightenment, and national liberation through journalism and political activism. He established the newspaper Samarkand and the magazine Oyna, which advocated for cultural progress, modern education, and socio-political change. Behbudi’s work was centered on fighting colonial oppression, modernizing education, and encouraging political participation for Turkestan’s independence. His legacy remains vital in the region's history of intellectual and national awakening.