The Role of Mahmudkhoja Behbudiy's Enlightenment Ideas in National Awakening and Social Development

This article provides a socio-philosophical analysis of the enlightenment ideas of Mahmudkhoja Behbudiy, one of the prominent representatives of the Jadid movement in Turkestan, and examines their role in the processes of national awakening and social development. It explores the interrelationship between educational reform, the acquisition of modern knowledge, awareness of national identity, spiritual and moral development, and social responsibility in Behbudiy’s thought. Furthermore, the significance of new-method schools, the press, journalistic writing, and drama in the development of social consciousness is examined through the example of his play Padarkush and his broader educational and enlightenment activities. The study employs historical, systematic, and comparative analysis, together with the contextual interpretation of historical sources. The findings substantiate the significance of Behbudiy’s enlightenment ideas for national awakening, particularly in terms of educational renewal, the formation of public opinion, and the development of the intellectual and spiritual conditions necessary for national progress.