Dagestan Old Printed Books in Avar Language in Department of National Literature in the Russian National Library (St. Petersburg)

Authors

  • Patimat M. Alibekova Institute of Languare, Literature and Arts n.a. G. Tsadasy Dagestani Scientific Centre RAS, 45, ul. M. Gadjieva, Mahachkala, Dagestan, 367025, Russian Federation

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu13.2020.205

Abstract

The article gives a general description of old printed Dagestan books stored in the Department of National Literatures of the Russian National Library in St. Petersburg and an annotated description of the most popular Avar-language writings in Dagestan in Ajam. The Department of national literature of the Russian National Library in St. Petersburg has the richest literature in 98 languages, ranging from 17th-century printed editions to modern literature. The library has 159 books in the North Caucasian languages. The books are published in the printing houses of Muhammadmirza Mavraev in Temir-khan Shura, A. M. Mikhailov in Port-Petrovsk, Ibnuhajar Nahibashev in Khasavyurt. The works are written in Arabic, Chechen, Avar, Lak, Kumik and Dargin languages. Avar writing passed a rather long and complicated way of formation and development. The numerous works of Avar written language that have come down to us testify to the gradual process of adapting the Arabic graphic system to the phonetic features of the Dagestan languages. The earliest of them date from the XIII–XIV centuries. The formation of the Ajam letter system contributed to the appearance in the languages of the peoples of Dagestan a large number of works of various genres written by Dagestan scholars or translated into national languages. The emergence of typography in Dagestan at the end of the 19th — beginning of the 20th century accelerated the development and dissemination of the Ajam written language and literature. The geographical dispersion of the storage places of old-printed Dagestan books complicates our understanding of their quantitative indicator. Annually conducted by the staff of the Department of Oriental studies of the Institute of history, archaeology and Ethnography of the DFC RAS archaeographic work with expedition trips to different regions of Dagestan indicates the existence of many undiscovered written sources on the history of Dagestan book culture. The identification of old printed books, their fixation and research remains a relevant task today. In the article we tried to give an extended description of old-printed books in Avar language, located in the Department of National Literatures of the National Library of Russia. Book descriptions are supplemented with information about the authors of books, the characteristic of works, copyists, which are drawn from prefaces, colophons and extra-text entries. The information contained in the article can be useful in compiling catalogs and descriptions of old printed books in Dagestan languages.

Keywords:

Russian National Library, Dagestan old printed books, works in Avar language, type lithographs, Dagestan scholars.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
 

References

Isaev A. A., compiler. Catalog of printed books and publications in the languages of the peoples of Dagestan (pre-revolutionary period). Makhachkala, Dag. FAN SSSR Publ., 1989. 298 p. (In Russian)

Gamzatov G. G., Shikhsaidov A. R., Magomedov A. J., Murtazaliyev A. M., Hanmurzayev K. G., Magomedova Z. K., Alibekova P. M., Tagirova N. A., Aglarov Z. M., Osmanova M. N. East and West in the historical fates of Dagestan culture. Slovesnaia kul’tura Dagestana: logika formirovaniia, opyt tysiacheletiia. Shkola i proekty akademika G. G. Gamzatova. Makhachkala, DNTs RАN Publ., 2006, pp. 151–230. (In Russian)

Gamzatov G. G, Shikhsaidov А. R., Gadzhiev M. S., Аbdullaev I. K. H., Isaev А. А., Аlibekova P. M. Millennial experience of writing is behind the shoulders of Dagestan. Slovesnaia kul’tura Dagestana: logika formirovaniia, opyt tysiacheletiia. Shkola i proekty akademika G. G. Gamzatova. Makhachkala, DNTs RАN Publ., 2006, pp. 247–311. (In Russian)

Isaev A. A. Magomedmirza Mavraev is the first printer and enlightener of Dagestan. Makhachkala, DNTs RАN Publ., 2003. 240 p. (In Russian)

Pokrovskij M. N. Diplomacy and wars of Tsar’s Russia in the XIX century. Moscow, Krasnaya nov’ Publ., 1924. 392 p. (In Russian)

Omarov M.-R. Theologians of Dagestan. Rybynsk, Rybynskii dom pechati Publ., 2010. 304 p. (In Avar)

Isaev А. А. Professional katib, a talented translator from Khadzhalmakhi. Vestnik Instituta IAE DNTs-RAN, 2008, no. 3, pp. 26–30. (In Russian)

Nazir ad-Durgeli. Delight of minds in biographies of Dagestan scientists. Nuzhat al-’azhan fi taradzhim ‘ulama’ Dagistan. Arabic translation, commentary, facsimile edition, pointers and bibliography prepared by A. R. Shikhsaidov, M. Kemper, A. K. Bustanov. Moscow, Mardzhani Publ., 2012. 432 p. (In Russian)

Аli-Gadzhi iz Inkho. Works. Makhachkala, Dzhangar Publ., 2013. 428 p. (In Avar)

Аbasil M. K. K. To the 160th anniversary of the birth of Ali-Gadji from Inkho. Hakikat, 2005, no. 113–125. (In Avar)

Khajbullaev S. M. History of the Avarian literature. Makhachkala, Delovoi mir Publ., 2006. 654 p. (In Russian)

Yusupova Ch.S. Аli-Gadzhi from Inkho: life and creativity. Makhachkala, DNTs RАN Publ., 2005. 247 p. (In Russian)

Yusupova Ch. S. Art world of Ali-haji from Inkho. Dagestanskie sviatyni. Book 1. Ed. by Amri Rzayevich Shikhsaidov. Makhachkala, Epokha Publ., 2007. 279 p. (In Russian)

Аbdulatip Shamkhalov, compiler. Collection of ancient Avar songs and stories. The second edition was prepared by A. M. Murtazaliyev. Makhachkala, 2011. 352 p. (In Avar)

Аlibekova P. M. Persian language and literature in Dagestan. Iranskii mir i iug Rossii: proshloe i sovremennye perspektivy. Iuzhnorossiiskoe obozrenie. Vol. 22. Rostov-na-Donu, North Caucasus Scientific Center of Higher School Publ., 2004, pp. 90–99. (In Russian)

Spiritual poetry of Omar-hajji Ziyavuddin Dagestani: Research and texts. Preface to the book, comments and notes by A. M. Murtazaliyev. Makhachkala, 2010. 424 p. (In Avar)

Published

2020-07-17

How to Cite

Alibekova, P. M. (2020). Dagestan Old Printed Books in Avar Language in Department of National Literature in the Russian National Library (St. Petersburg). Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Asian and African Studies, 12(2), 230–248. https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu13.2020.205

Issue

Section

History and source studies