MY BASHKIRS, GET READY TO STUDY!

MY BASHKIRS, GET READY TO STUDY! (Bashkorttarym, ukyu kerek!), a poem. Written in the second half of the 19th century. In it, M.Akmulla appeals to the Bashkir people to become educated, both to master various trades and crafts and to attain general higher degree of knowledge. The author compares educated people with strong lions, and ignoramuses with roaming stray bears. Akmulla sees perfection of a person in education and subsequent enlightenment. Study leads to his/ her spiritual development, and better ability to soberly and sensibly perceive various events and phenomena of life. The passionate conviction of the poet‑activist gives the work a strong pathos‑like style directed at common masses.

Literary translation into Russian was done by M.A.Gafurov.