Aug 14 2024 88 mins 4
In this episode, we explore the rich tradition of Uyghur poetry through the lens of two central concepts: *Yar* and *Jan*. *Yar* represents the beloved, often symbolizing an unattainable love or divine presence, while *Jan* encapsulates the essence of life, soul, or self. Join us as we delve into how these timeless themes are interwoven in Uyghur poetic tradition, reflecting the deep philosophical and spiritual currents that have shaped Uyghur culture for centuries.
This episode is recorded entirely in Uyghur, as an in depth conversation between Ahmatjan Osman, Merdan Ehet'eli, and Mukaddas Mijit.
Ahmatjan Osman, is a Uyghur poet who writes in both Uyghur and Arabic. A leader of the Uyghur New Poetry (gungga) movement in the 1980s, he is considered one of the "foremost Uyghur poets of his generation".His use of free verse was influential in subsequent Uyghur poetics. His poetry has been described as trying to "capture the sacred and philosophical, the ineffable and the transient, in a wholly unique lyric voice".
Merdan Ehet’éli was born in Hotan. His earliest poems date back to secondary school and contributed to the development of the Nothingism movement in Uyghur poetry (for more on Nothingism, see the podcast: https://www.weghurstories.com/episode-3). He is also a translator, working on translations of Borges and Dickinson from Chinese into Uyghur, and translating Uyghur Nothingist poems into Chinese. He left for studies in Cyprus in 2016 and has been unable to return to the region since. After a lengthy journey, including living in Serbia between 2018 and 2020, he currently resides in exile in Paris.
