Turcology Research

Abstract

The Volga-Ural region witnessed modernization movements—known today as Jadidism—between the nineteenth century and the first quarter of the twentieth century. This period brought about significant transformations in various areas such as the establishment of a common literary Turkish language, the reform of schools and madrasahs, demands for equal citizenship under Russian rule, women’s rights, religious reform, and political representation. Árminius Vámbéry, the renowned Hungarian Turkologist, was among the European scholars who closely followed this awakening, which symbolized adaptation to the modern world in all aspects.
Vámbéry maintained correspondence with leading figures of the Jadidist movement, including İsmail Bey Gaspıralı, Rızaeddin Fahreddin, and Muhammed Fatih Kerimî, and regularly followed prominent Tatar periodicals such as Tercüman, Vakit, Şura, Kazan Muhbiri, and Yuldız. His articles on the Turkish and Islamic world were published in these journals, his works were introduced to the readers, and he became a respected intellectual authority whose opinions were frequently consulted. Moreover, he earned particular respect and trust as perhaps the only orientalist who introduced the Russian Turks to the Western public with genuine impartiality. For this reason, Vámbéry can be considered both a source of intellectual inspiration for the Jadidist movement and a representative of Western influence.
This article explores Vámbéry’s interest in the Russian Turks, particularly his close connection with the Volga-Ural Turks and his influence on local intellectuals. It aims to address how he perceived and interpreted the modernization process, what role he played within it, and what his presence meant to the Volga-Ural intelligentsia. Ultimately, the study reveals that the Hungarian scholar positioned the Tatar modernization movement as a pioneering and exemplary case within both the Turkish and Islamic worlds. He viewed modernization as an interconnected whole, where developments in various domains were mutually influential, and he was regarded not only as a political and national influence but also as an intellectual guide by the Tatar reformers.