the Soviet era, did not perceive the evil intentions of those historians writing without proper scrutiny of their work, and simply repeated their views. They did not realize that these ideas form part of an invading country’s imperialist purpose.

When I read and examined the history books, I realized that the word ‘Türkmen’ has been replaced by the word ‘Türk’ for more than 50 years. In Ruhnama, however, I make the word ‘Türkmen’ regain its real meaning in order that today’s Türkmens come to know their ancestors and became vigorous with their spirit. May God help us!

On the day I declared our independence, I stated that Türkmenistan and Türkiye (Turkey) are two states, and one nation. For Oguz means Türkmen in one sense. The Oguz language is the Türkmen language. The language of the Seljuks and the Ottoman language is also the Türkmen language. Contemporary Anatolian Turkish differs little from Türkmen. Our religion, culture and lineage are identical. We Türkmens are proud of this and expect the same from our Turkish brothers.

5000 years have passed since the foundation of the first Türkmen state. This is proved by the arrowheads, arches and other remnants excavated in Bagabat, Altyndepe, Täkgala, the Ary Region, Margiyana and Köneürgenç, which have yielded significant information about the Oguz civilization and state of that period. These lands under the rule of Oguz Han were known as the Oguz Homeland. We have accurate information about this in the book Hududul-Alem,[1] which was written in the Medieval Period. Ancient sources tell us that the Oguz Homeland stretched from Altyntepe through Änew, Änew, Nusaý, Täkgala, the entire Merw, Köneürgenç and Caspian-