The Jadid movement became a symbol of the people’s awakening. They were called “Jadids” — the “new ones.” They were not merely teachers or reformers; they were individuals who understood that the true path against tyranny is knowledge. They believed that books and schools could be stronger than weapons and that education could give the people a second chance for the future. The very name of the movement reflected the spirit of a new generation: they felt a great mission ahead — to lead the people from darkness to light.
Jadids opened schools, created textbooks, and wrote articles to show people the path to freedom through education. They staged plays, published newspapers and magazines, opened cultural centers and societies, and formed unions to unite the people. They wrote sharp articles, raised crucial social issues, and did all this for one goal — the fight against tyranny.
Their sources of inspiration were diverse. Many of them traveled to Russia, Turkey, and other countries, observing new educational methods, translating articles and books, and exploring world literature and science. Yet the main driving force behind their activities was the life of the people themselves: poverty, illiteracy, and lack of rights.
In Turkestan, the Jadids focused primarily on enlightenment. Education became the main weapon in their struggle. In the new schools they opened, subjects included natural sciences, history, mathematics, Russian, and Turkish. The “phonetic method” of teaching reading was particularly significant, making knowledge accessible even to ordinary people. To provide schools with materials, they wrote and published new books.
Among the prominent figures was Saidrasul Azizi. He was born in Tashkent into a family that valued religious knowledge. He studied at the Mahmud Dasturkhanchi madrasa and later at a Russian-native school, graduating in 1900. After graduation, he taught at the madrasa, the Russian-native school, and a teacher’s seminary, becoming known as the “Eastern teacher.”
In 1910, Saidrasul Azizi traveled to Moscow and Saint Petersburg. He described his impressions in articles published in the newspaper Turkestan in 1910–1911, sharing his observations and ideas about education and enlightenment. Azizi noted that traditional teaching methods did not meet the demands of the time and did not foster critical thinking in students. He also highlighted flaws in textbooks that hindered the development of the young generation and criticized the use of foreign languages in instruction. Therefore, he chose the language spoken by the people for centuries and used it as the basis to create the first modern textbooks in Central Asia.
Saidrasul Azizi was not only a teacher but also a poet and translator. His works had a significant impact on the development of education and culture in the region. He wrote his alphabet not merely as a textbook but as a weapon against ignorance. Usul-i Awwal appeared in 1902 and immediately became a sensation. It was not a boring book of letters and exercises but a manifesto of a new era.
For the first time, children learned to read in their native Turkic language rather than in Arabic or foreign languages. Each letter led to the understanding of words and their meaning. The alphabet included texts about life, short proverbs, and examples from daily life — it taught not only literacy but also independent thinking. The method was innovative and bold: sounds became words, words became meaning, and meaning became knowledge capable of changing life. Previously, learning had been painfully difficult, with rote memorization extinguishing children’s interest; now, they discovered the world around them on their own. This alphabet became a symbol of Jadidism: through it, the first new schools were born, and a literate youth ready to build the future emerged. Usul-i Awwal proved that enlightenment is the path to freedom, that a book is stronger than a bullet, and that knowledge can awaken an entire nation. Each letter in this alphabet was a step toward a new generation, a time when thoughts and ideas could not be stopped. It became a legend: not just a textbook, but a key to light and knowledge that no one could ever take away.
Saidrasul Azizi, the founder of the alphabet and a teacher, became a victim of repression for teaching children new knowledge. Along with him, other teachers suffered; many lost their lives for their dedication to education. After his and his colleagues’ execution, it was said that at night in the schoolyard, one could hear the teacher’s voice, and invisible letters would appear on the blackboard. When he was led to execution, the bell rang by itself, as if the teacher’s soul was bidding farewell to his students. The story of the Jadids and Saidrasul Azizi shows that true power lies not in weapons, but in knowledge. Through their schools, textbooks, and unwavering dedication, they lit a path from ignorance to enlightenment, proving that education can awaken a whole nation. The Alphabet of Freedom was more than a book—it was a key to a brighter future, a symbol of hope, and a reminder that even in the darkest times, the light of learning can never be extinguished.
- Abdirashidov, Z. Ismail Gasprinsky and Turkestan at the Beginning of the 20th Century: Connections — Relations Influence / Z. Abdirashidov. Tashkent: Akademnashr, 2011.
- Azizi, S. M. On the Distinct Contributions of S. Azizi / S. Azizi, S. M. Azizi
- Gasprinsky, I. Ismail Gasprinsky and Turkestan at the Beginning of the 20th Century:
- Saidjanov, M. Yu. Saidjanov, M. Yu. / M. Yu. Saidjanov.
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