THE SOCIO-CULTURAL LEGACY OF SAIDNOSIR MIRJALILOV WITHIN THE JADIDIST MOVEMENT

Abstract

This paper examines the socio-cultural contributions of Saidnosir Mirjalilov, one of the prominent figures of the Jadidist movement in early 20th-century Turkestan. As a reformer and intellectual, Mirjalilov played a critical role in promoting modern education, national identity, and cultural revival among the Muslim communities of Central Asia. He founded one of the first new-method (usul-i jadid) schools in Turkestan, advocating for progressive curriculum reforms and the integration of science, secular subjects, and mother-tongue instruction into traditional Islamic learning. Beyond his educational efforts, Mirjalilov was active in shaping public discourse through print media and was involved in broader initiatives for cultural and spiritual renewal. This study contextualizes Mirjalilov’s efforts within the wider Jadidist framework and explores how his work contributed to the emergence of modern Uzbek identity and intellectual consciousness. His legacy continues to influence contemporary understandings of enlightenment, resistance, and cultural identity in post-Soviet Central Asia.