“Istiqlal” mejmu’esi 1930-yillarning bashliridiki Sherqiy Türkistan milliy inqilabi we uning netijiside qurulghan Sherqiy Türkistan Islam Jumhuriyiti heqqide birinchi qol tarixiy menbe bergüchi siyasiy, ijtima’iy, iqtisadiy, diniy, edebiy we tenqidiy mejmu’edur. 20-esirning aldinqi yérimidiki Sherqiy Türkistanning siyasiy we ijtima’iy tarixi tetqiqatida Uyghurlarni asas qilghan yerlik xelqlerning aghzaki tarix matériyalliri hemde yazma menbelirige étibar bérilmey keldi. Uyghurlarni asas qilghan yerlik milletler 1930-we1940-yillardiki Sherqiy Türkistanning siyasiy tarixida asasliq rol alghuchi ijtima’iy topluq hésablansimu, emma meyli kommunist Xitay istilasidin kéyinki Xitay hökümet tarixshunasliqida bolsun yaki xelq’aradiki Ottura Asiya tetqiqatida bolsun, ularning öz til-yéziqidiki tarixiy menbeler hemde ularning éytimidiki yerlik tarixchiliq en’enisi izchil halda nezerdin saqit qilinip keldi. Téximu éniqraq qilip éytqanda, Uyghurlarning hazirqi zaman tarixi ularning öz éytimida emes, belki Xitay hökümet tarixshunasliqining ramka ichidiki éytimida yézilip keldi; Ularning öz béshidin ötküzgen tarixiy kechürmishliri ularning öz tili, öz yéziqi we öz hékayiliridiki éytimlarda emes, belki bashqilarning tili, yéziqi we hékayiliridiki wastiliq bayanlarda éytilip keldi. Shundaq, ularning özlirini ipade qilishigha imkaniyet bérilmidi, ular peqet bashqilar teripidin ipade qilinishqa mejbur boldi. “Istiqlal” mejmu’esi 1930-yillardiki Sherqiy Türkistan milliy inqilabi tarixidiki del mushu boshluqni toldurghuchi Uyghur til-yéziqidiki yigane menbelerning biridur. Eslide mezkur mejmu’eni her ikki heptide bir qétim neshir qilip tarqitish pilanlan’ghan bolsimu, emma 1933-1934-yillardiki Rayonning murekkep we turaqsiz siyasiy weziyiti seweblik, peqetla 1-2 qoshma sani neshir qilinipla toxtap qalghan. Bügünki künde mezkur mejmu’ening esli nusxasini Xitaydiki, jümlidin Shinjang Uyghur Aptonom Rayonidiki herqandaq bir arxip yaki kutupxanidin tapqili hem körgili bolmaydu. “Istiqlal” mejmu’esining birqanche dane esli nusxasi nöwette Seudi Erebistanidiki Türkistan Kutupxanisida, Shiwétsiyediki Lund Uniwérsiteti Kutupxanisi Yarring Yighmisi (Gunnar Jarring Collection)da, Shiwétsiye dölet arxipi (Riksarkivet) da we Istanbuldiki Shiwétsiye Tetqiqat Inistituti (Swedish Research Inistitute) ning kutupxanisida saqlanmaqta. “Istiqlal” mejmue’si 1933-yilining ikkinchi yérimida Qeshqerde qurulghan Sherqiy Türkistan Istiqlal Jem’iyitining neshir epkari süpitide neshir qilin’ghan. 1931-yili Qomuldin bashlan’ghan Sherqiy Türkistan milliy inqilabi 1933-yilining bashlirigha kelgende jenubqa kéngiyip, aldi bilen Xoten wilayiti yerlik qozghilangchilarning qoligha ötken we Xoten Islam Hökümiti jakarlan’ghan. Shu yili 5-aylarda Qeshqer wilayitimu yerlik qozghilangchilarning qoligha ötüp, Qeshqerde birlikke kelgen musteqil Sherqiy Türkistan Jumhuriyiti qurushning jiddiy teyyarliqi élip bérilghan. 1933-yili 8-ayda Qeshqerde bir qisim yerlik inqilabchi serxillar bash qoshup, aldi bilen Sherqiy Türkistan Istiqlal Jem’iyiti qurghan we musteqil Sherqiy Türkistan Jumhuriyiti qurushning teyyarliqigha jiddiy kirishken. “Istqiqlal” mejmu’esi mezkur jem’iyetning neshir-epkari süpitide qurulghusi Sherqiy Türkistan Islam Jumhuriyiti üchün siyasiy we nezeriyiwiy asas tiklesh meqsitide neshir qilin’ghan. “Istiqlal” mejmu’esining 1933-yilliq tunji sani (1-2-qoshma sani)da mezkur mejmu’ening meqset-nishani, Sherqiy Türkistan Istiqlal Jem’iyitining nizamnamisi, Qeshqerde Sherqiy Türkistan Islam Jumhuriyitining qurulushi we hökümet bayannamisi, hökümet teshkili we kabént ezaliri, Sherqiy Türkistan Islam Jumhuriyitining asasiy qanuni, Sherqiy Türkistan milliy inqilabining qisqiche tarixi, Sherqiy Türkistan xelqige qilinghan chaqiriq, Chet’ellerdiki Türk-musulman qérindashlargha muraji’et, Sherqiy Türkistan dölitining yéngi pul-mu’amilisi qatarliq höjjet xaraktérliq muhim matériyallar bérilgen. Mejmu’ening kéyinki bölikide Sherqiy Türkistandiki eng yéngi weziyet we milliy inqilab xewerliri hemde Qeshqer ehwali tonushturulghan. Alahide tekitleshke tégishlik yéri shuki, mejmu’ening axiriqi sehipiliride Sherqiy Türkistan Edebiyatigha béghishlan’ghan mexsus maqalilar, she’irlar, chaqiriqlar, mektep balilirining naxsha tékistliri we Sherqiy Türkistan marshi bérilgen. Mezkur mejmu’ediki höjjet xaraktérliq matériyallar 1933-yilidiki Sherqiy Türkistan Islam Jumhuriyiti tarixini tetqiq qilishta birinchi qol muhim menbe hésablinidu. Bu mejmu’ege bésilghan Sherqiy Türkistan Islam Jumhuriyitining Asasi Qanuni shu mezgildiki musulmanlar dunyasida küchlük tesir peyda qilghan. Eyni waqitta Yawropada siyasiy pa’aliyet élip bériwatqan Türkistan muhajirliri Qeshqerde neshir qilin’ghan “Istiqlal” mejmu’esidiki bir qisim maqale we höjjetlerni tashqiy dunyagha tonushturghan. “Istiqlal” mejmu’esining tunji sanigha bésilghan Sherqiy Türkistan Islam Jumhuriyitining Asasiy Qanunining toluq tékisti Fransiye paytexti Parizhda neshir qiliniwatqan “Yash Türkistan” mejmu’esining 1934-yilliq 3 sanigha uda ulap bésilghan. “Istiqlal” mejmu’esining ich muqawisigha “bu mejmu’ening shu’ari dinda, tilda, dilda, pikirde we ishta birlik” dep yézilghan. Bu shu’ar 19-esirning axiriqi charikide Rusiye musulmanliri arisida bashlan’ghan jeditizm herikitining bayraqdari Ismail Gaspirinski (1851-1914) teripidin otturigha qoyulghan “tilda, pikirde we ishta birlik” dégen meshhur chaqiriqtin élin’ghan. “Istiqlal” mejmu’esi Hijriye 1352-yilining Ramizan éyida, Miladiye 1933-yilining 11-12-ay mezgilide Qeshqerde neshir qilinip tarqitilghan. Mezkur mejmu’ening bash muherriri Muhemmed Emin Sufizade bolup, u 20-esirning bashlirida Tashkent, Buxara, Istanbul we Misirda oqughan. 1920-yillarda Rusiye Türkistanida Bolshéwiklar hakimiyitige qarshi qurbashilar (basmichilar) herikitige qatnashqan. 1930-yillarning bashliridiki Sherqiy Türkistan milliy inqilabi mezgilide neshriyatchiliq we teshwiqat ishlirida aktip rol oynighan. Qeshqer we Aqsu qatarliq jaylarda oqutquchi bolup, zamaniwiy milliy mekteplerni rawajlandurushta hesse qoshqan. 1937-yili Sherqiy Türkistan milliy inqilabi meghlub bolghandin kéyin qolgha élinip, Ürümchide militarist Shéng Shisey türmiside öltürülgen. “Istiqlal” mejmu’esining tili klassik Türki-Uyghur (Chaghatay) tilidin hazirqi zaman Uyghur tiligha ötüsh mezgilidiki ötkünchi dewrge mensup bolup, uningdiki maqale-eserler til, yéziq, imla we ipadilesh jehettin pütkül Türki tilliq xelqler chüshineyleydighan ortaq edebiy tilda yézilghan. Bu mejmu’ediki maqale-eserler hazirgha qeder Xitay, In’giliz yaki bashqa tillargha terjime qilinmighan. The irregular periodical <i>Istiqlal (The Independence)</i> is a firsthand historical source concerning the national independence movement that erupted in East Turkestan in the early 1930s and its direct outcome — the establishment of the East Turkestan Islamic Republic (ETIR) on November 12, 1933. It is a valuable collection of documents that provides critical, self-reflective content about the political, social, economic, religious, and cultural environment of East Turkestan during that era. In the study of China's frontier history during the first half of the 20th century, particularly in the field of modern political and social history of Xinjiang, oral histories and written records of local people, primarily the Uyghurs, have long been overlooked. Despite the fact that Uyghurs and other indigenous people played a central role as the main social actors in Xinjiang's political history during the 1930s and 1940s, both official Chinese historiography after the rule of the Chinese Communist Party and international scholarship on Xinjiang have consistently ignored historical documents in the languages of Xinjiang's indigenous peoples and their native historiographical traditions. To be precise, modern Uyghur history is not narrated by the Uyghurs themselves but is framed within China's official historical narrative. Their historical experiences are not expressed through their own language, script, and stories but are instead conveyed through the language, script, and narratives of others. <i>The Independence</i> anthology is a rare historical document in the Uyghur language that fills this gap. According to the original plan of its publishers, Independence was intended to be issued biweekly. However, due to the complex and turbulent political situation in southern Xinjiang during 1933-1934, only the combined first and second issues were published before its discontinuation. Today, the original copies cannot be found in any archives or libraries within China, including the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. A small number of surviving original copies are held in the private library of Rahmetulla Turkistani, a Saudi Arabian scholar of Uyghur descent, the Gunnar Jarring Collection at Lund University Library in Sweden, the National Archives of Sweden (Riksarkivet), and the library of the Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul, Turkey. The PDF version offered here came from the website of <a href="https://www.uyghurkitap.com/">"UyghurKitap" (UyghurBook)</a>. The founders of UyghurKitab website scanned the book and converted it into PDF with the permission of the Library of Rahmetulla Turkistani. CUA got permission from the UyghurKitab to publish it on our website. Published in Kashgar in the second half of 1933 as the official publication of the East Turkestan Independence Association, the anthology emerged during a pivotal time. The East Turkestan national independence movement, which began in Qomul (Hami in Chinese) in 1931, had spread to various oases around the Tarim Basin by early 1933. The main southern East Turkestan oasis cities such as Hotan, Kashgar, and Aksu were successively brought under the control of local insurgent populations. Various rebel forces began preparations to establish a unified East Turkestan Republic. In August of that year, local rebel elites formed the East Turkestan Independence Association to actively prepare for the founding of the Islamic Republic. The Independence anthology served as the theoretical mouthpiece of this association, aiming to awaken the populace and lay the political and ideological foundation for the forthcoming Islamic Republic of East Turkestan. The first combined issue of <i>The Independence</i> anthology (Issues 1-2, 1933) includes the following core content: - The editorial mission and the charter of the East Turkestan Independence Association (ETIA) - The declaration of the East Turkestan Islamic Republic (ETIR) established in Kashgar - The composition of the government of the East Turkestan Islamic Republic and the list of cabinet members - The full text of the Constitution of the East Turkestan Islamic Republic - A brief history of the East Turkestan national independence movement - A Letter to the People of East Turkistan and A Letter to Overseas Turkic Muslim Brothers - An announcement regarding the issuance of new currency by the East Turkestan Islamic Republic In the later sections, updates on the latest developments in East Turkistan, trends in the independence movement, and reports from the Kashgar region were published. Notably, the final section of the publication featured a dedicated East Turkestan literature column, including essays, poetry, manifestos, ethnic folk songs, and the lyrics to the East Turkestan March. The documents published in the inaugural issue are indispensable historical materials for a comprehensive study of the East Turkestan Islamic Republic (1933-1934), which holds special significance in 20th-century Uyghur political history. The Constitution of the East Turkestan Islamic Republic, published in the anthology, had a profound impact on the Islamic world at the time. Political activists from Russian Turkestan (or Soviet Central Asia), who were in exile in Europe, introduced parts of the publication and its documents to the international community, including the full text of the Constitution of the East Turkestan Islamic Republic. This was subsequently reprinted over three consecutive issues in 1934 in the Paris-based magazine <i>Yash Türkistan (Young Turkistan)</i>. The cover of the anthology bears the motto: "Unity in Religion, Language, Heart, Thought, and Action." This slogan is derived from the famous 19th-century initiative "Unity in Language, Thought, and Action," proposed and widely disseminated by Ismail Gasprinsky (1851-1914), a leader of the Russian Tatar Jaditism Movement (Muslim reform movement), in his periodical <i>Terjuman</i>. <i>The Independence</i> anthology was published in Kashgar during the month of Ramadan in the Islamic year 1352 (November-December 1933 AD). Its editor-in-chief, Muhammed Emin Sufizade, had studied in Tashkent and Bukhara (present-day Uzbekistan), Istanbul (Turkey), and Cairo (Egypt) in the early 20th century. In the 1920s, he participated in the Basmachi movement against Bolshevik rule in Western Turkestan (Russian Central Asia). In the early 1930s, he dedicated himself to propaganda and publishing efforts for the East Turkestan independence movement, founding modern national education schools in Kashgar and Aksu. Following the failure of the East Turkestan independence movement in 1937, he was arrested by the warlord Sheng Shicai and executed in a prison in Urumqi. The language of the publication largely reflects the transitional form of classical Turkic Chagatay literature into modern Uyghur, using a common written language comprehensible to readers across the Turkic language world. More specifically, the vocabulary, orthography, grammatical structure, and style of expression in the anthology embody the characteristics of early 20th-century Uyghur written language. It should be noted that the content of this anthology has not yet been translated into Chinese, English, or other languages.

(English follows) “Men kechken kéchikler” namliq bu kitab 20-esir Uyghur tarixidiki meshhur herbiy qomandan, 1940-yillardiki Sherqiy Türkistan Milliy Inqilabining ishtirakchisi we “urush qehrimani”, Uyghur xelqi arisida riwayetlik shexs bolup tonulghan polkownik Sopaxun Süwürofning eslimisidur. Bu eslime yézilip 30 yildin artuq waqit ötkende, yeni aptorning wapatin 10 yil kéyin esli qolyazmidiki bezi sezgür téma we mezmunlarni qisqartish, shallash, qayta-qayta tehrirlik we siyasiy sénzordin ötküzüsh arqiliq, 2011-yili Béyjingdiki Milletler Neshriyati teripidin neshir qilin’ghan. Melumki, 20-esirning aldinqi yérimida Uyghurlarning siyasiy tarixida yüz bergen ikki qétimliq zor milliy inqilab we uning netijiside Qeshqerde qurulghan Sherqiy Türkistan Islam Jumhuriyiti (1933-1934) bilen Ghuljada qurulghan Sherqiy Türkistan Jumhuriyiti (1944-1949) Kommunist Xitay hakimiyiti tiklen’gendin buyanqi hökümet tarixshunasliqi éytimida siyasiy sezgürliki intayin küchlük, hetta cheklen’gen téma bolup keldi. Bu heqte yézilghan mutleq köp qisim kitab we maqalilar Xitay hökümitining teshwiqat organliri tiklep bergen ramka we éytimda bayan qilindi. Tarixiy shahitlarning siyasiy cheklimilerdin xali eslime we xatiriliri, shundaqla Sherqiy Türkistandiki yerlik xelqning öz tarixiy kechürmishliri toghrisidiki éytimlirining neshir qilinishigha héchqandaq imkaniyet bérilmidi. Undaqta, 1931-yili Qomuldin bashlinip uzun ötleyla pütkül Uyghur Rayonigha kéngeygen Sherqiy Türkistan milliy inqilabi hemde uning netijiside 1933-yili Qeshqerde qurulghan Sherqiy Türkistan Islam Jumhuriyiti toghrisida shahitlar néme deydu? 1944-yili 9-ayda Ilida partlighan Uyghur we Qazaq xelqining Gomindang hökümranliqigha qarshi milliy inqilabi we uning netijiside 1944-yili 11-ayning 12-küni Ghuljada qurulghan Sherqiy Türkistan Jumhuriyiti toghrisida shu inqilabqa qatnashqan we muhim rol oynighan shexslerning éytimi zadi qandaq? Ikki qetimliq Sherqiy Türkistan milliy inqilabining qatnashchiliri we inqilab shahitliri 1949-yilidin kéyinki Kommunist Xitay istilasidin kéyin qandaq qismetlerge duch keldi, ularning teqdiri qandaq boldi? Tarixiy shahit we herbiy qomandan Sopaxun Süwürofning bu kitabi yoqiriqi soallargha hökümet meydanidin emes, belki shahitlarning közidin qismen bolsimu jawab béreligen eslimidur. Mezkur eslimining qimmetlik yéri shuki, aptor öz dewrining guwahchisi bolupla qalmastin, belki téximu muhimi 20-esir Uyghur tarixidiki ikki qétimliq Sherqiy Türkistan milliy inqilabining qatnashchisi we shahitidur. Aptor 1939-yilidin kéyin izchil türde herbiy septe xizmet qilghan, jenub we shimalda yüz bergen köpligen urushlarni béshidin kechürgen, shundaqla 1945-yilining bashliridin bashlap, Ilidiki Sherqiy Türkistan Jumhuriyiti milliy armiyeside yoqiri derijilik herbiy wezipe ötigen shexstur. Shundaq bolghachqa, bu eslime bir tarixiy shahitning ré’al kechürmishliri we körgen-bilgenlirining emeliy xatirisi bolush süpiti bilen 1940-yillardiki Sherqiy Türkistan milliy inqilabining ichkiy jeryanliri hemde Xitay-Sowet munasiwitining chégra rayonlardiki murekkep ich yüzini chüshinishte muhim ehmiyetke ige. Mezkur eslime aptorning baliliq kechürmishliridin bashlan’ghan. Eslimining aldinqi yérimida aptor asasliqi 1931-yili yurti Qomulda partlighan milliy inqilab we uning kélip chiqish sewebliri; inqilabning murekkep we egri-toqay jeryanliri; “Shinjang ölkisi”ning re’isi, militarist Jin Shurénning esker ewetip qozghilangchi yerlik xelqni basturushqa urunushi; militarist Shéng Shiseyning esker bashlap bérip Qomul we Turpanda yerlik xelqlerni qirghin qilghanliqi; Sowét Ittipaqining Mongghuliye arqiliq Xojaniyaz Haji rehberlikidiki milliy inqilab yétekchilirini özige tartmaqchi bolghanliqi; milliy inqilabning kéyinche jenubqa kéngiyip, 1933-yili Qeshqerde Sherqiy Türkistan Islam Jumhuriyiti qurulghanliqi; 1937-yiligha barghanda militarist Shéng Shiseyning Sowét Ittipaqining herbiy küchige tayinip milliy inqilabni qanliq basturghanliqi qatarliq weqeler tepsiliy bayan qilinghan. Eslimining ottura qismida aptor Sopaxunning 1936-yili Xuangpu Herbiy Mektipining Ürümchi shöbisige oqushqa kirgenliki, 1939-yili mezkur mektep püttürüp Qeshqerde turushluq atliq 31-polkqa teqsim qilin’ghanliqi, shuningdin kéyin izchil halda herbiy septe ofitsérliq wezipisini ötep, nurghun urushlargha qatnashqanliqi, 1945-yili 2-ayda qol astidiki milliy eskerlerni qozghap, Gomindang hökümranliqigha qarshi isyan kötürgenliki we axirida Ilidiki Sherqiy Türkistan milliy armiyesige qoshulghanliqi toghridiki weqeler bayan qilin’ghan. Eslimining axiriqi qismida asasliqi 1944-yili 9-ayda Ilida partlighan Uyghur we Qazaq xelqining Gomindang hökümranliqigha qarshi milliy inqilabi we uning netijiside Ghuljada qurulghan Sherqiy Türkistan Jumhuriyiti toghriliq inchike bayanlar bérilgen. Aptor eslimide özining qandaq qilip Gomindang armiyesining bir rota komandiridin Sherqiy Türkistan Jumhuriyiti milliy armiyesining polkownik derijilik qomandanigha aylan’ghanliqi; 1945-yili 7-aydin 10-ayghiche milliy armiyening jenubiy yönilish qismigha komandir bolup, Aqsuni azad qilish urushigha qomandanliq qilghanliqi; Kéyinche Iligha qaytip, milliy armiye bash qomandanliq shitabida muhim wezipilerde bolghanliqi; kommunist Xitay istilasidin kéyin milliy armiyening qandaq jeryanlar bilen tarqitiwétilgenliki we özining herbiy septin mejburiy chékindürülgenliki; 1950-yillardin 1980-yillarghiche bolghan jeryanda özi duch kelgen siyasiy bésim we éghir teqipler heqqide inchike melumatlar bergen. Sopaxun Süwürofning “Men kechken kéchikler” namliq eslime kitabi 1980-yillarning bashliridin bashlap yézilishqa bashlighan we zor sehipilik bir kitab bolghan bolsimu, emma Xitay hökümiti izchil halda neshir qilishqa ruxset qilmighan. Aridin 30 yildek waqit ötkende, yeni aptorning wapatigha 10 yil bolghanda, andin bu eslimining yérimidin köprek qismi neshriyat we teshwiqat bölümining qatmu-qat senzor qilishidin ötüp, 2011-yili Béyjingdiki Milletler neshriyati teripidin axiri neshir qilin’ghan. Neshirge teyyarlighuchining kitab béshigha yazghan kirish sözige qarighanda, eslide 11 bab qilip yezilghan kitab originalidin 6 bapqa yeqin qismi qisqartilip, nechche yüz betlik mezmun chiqiriwétilgen. Kitabtiki bezi bap-paragraflar Xitay hökümitining “üch wilayat inqilabi” toghrisidiki hökümet éytimigha maslashturulghgan. Bu ehwallar mezkur eslimining esli originaligha, shahitlarning öz béshidin ötküzgen tarixiy kechürmishlirini bayan qilishtiki semimiyiti we chinliqigha dagh chüshürsimu, emma milliy inqilab shahiti we herbiy qomandan Sopaxunning hayat musapisi hemde 20-esirdiki Uyghur siyasiy tarixini chüshünishte melum qimmetke igidur. This is the memoir of Sopakhun Süwüroff, a renowned military commander in 20th-century Uyghur history, a participant in the East Turkestan National Revolution of the 1940s, and a legendary figure widely known among the Uyghur people. The manuscript, completed over thirty years ago, was finally published in 2011 by the Ethnic Publishing House in Beijing, a decade after the author’s death, following editorial revisions to certain sensitive content in the original text. In the first half of the 20th century, two significant national revolutions in Uyghur political history and their outcomes—the establishment of the East Turkestan Islamic Republic (ETIR) in Kashgar in 1933-1934, and the East Turkestan Republic (ETR) in Ili in 1944-1949—have remained highly politically sensitive topics in official Chinese historiography since the establishment of the PRC. Discussion of these events has often been prohibited. Most publications on this history are confined to the official narrative framework and discourse set by Chinese government propaganda institutions. Original records, memoirs by historical witnesses, and accounts by local people about their own historical experiences have consistently been denied opportunities for publication. So, how do historical witnesses describe the East Turkestan National Revolution? It began in Qomul (Hami) in 1931 and rapidly spread across the entire Uyghur region, leading to the establishment of the East Turkestan Islamic Republic in Kashgar in 1933. What are the accounts of key figures who participated in and played significant roles in the Ili Rebellion in September 1944, and the subsequent establishment of the East Turkestan Republic (ETR) in Ili on November 12 of the same year? What fate did the participants and witnesses of these two East Turkestan national revolutions face after the CCP took control of Xinjiang in 1949? Sopakhun Süwüroff’s <i>The Rivers I Have Crossed</i> is a rare and valuable primary record that partially answers these questions from the perspective of a witness, rather than the official perspective. The unique value of this memoir lies in the fact that the author is not only a direct participant in history, but also a witness to both East Turkestan national revolutions in 20th-century Uyghur history. From 1939 onward, the author served in the military, experiencing numerous battles across northern and southern Xinjiang. Notably, from the middle of 1945, he held a senior officer position in the National Army of the East Turkestan Republic in Ili. As a result, this memoir, as a firsthand account of historical experiences and observations, holds significant importance for understanding the internal dynamics of the East Turkistan National Revolution in the 1940s and the complex situation of Sino-Soviet relations in the border regions. The memoir begins with the author’s childhood experiences. The first half provides a detailed account of the national revolution that erupted in Qomul (Hami) in 1931 and its origins; the complex and tortuous development of the revolution; the attempts by Xinjiang warlord ruler Jin Shuren to suppress local uprisings with military force; the massacres of local people in Qomul and Turpan by warlord Sheng Shicai’s troops; Soviet efforts to influence and recruit national revolutionary leaders such as Khojaniyaz Haji through Mongolia; the southward expansion of the national revolution and the establishment of the East Turkestan Islamic Republic in Kashgar in 1933; and the brutal suppression of the national revolution by warlord Sheng Shicai with Soviet military support in 1937, among other major events. The middle section of the memoir primarily recounts Sopakhun’s enrollment in the Urumqi branch of the Whampoa Military Academy in 1936, his graduation in 1939, and his subsequent assignment to the 31st Cavalry Regiment in Kashgar, where he served as an officer for an extended period and participated in numerous battles. In February 1945, he led his unit in an uprising against Chinese Nationalist (Kuomintang) rule and eventually joined the National Army of the East Turkestan Republic in Ili. The final section of the memoir focuses on the national revolution of Uyghur and Kazakh peoples against Kuomintang’s rule that broke out in Ili in September 1944, as well as detailed accounts of the subsequent establishment of the East Turkestan Republic in Ili. The author specifically describes his transformation from a company commander in the Kuomintang army to a colonel-level commander in the East Turkestan National Army; his role as the southern front commander of the National Army from July to October 1945, during which he led the liberation campaign in Aksu; his later return to Ili to serve in a key position at the ETR National Army headquarters; the disbandment of the National Army after the CCP’s occupation of Xinjiang and his own forced retirement; and the political oppression and hardships he endured from the 1950s to the 1980s. Although this is a work of significant historical value, the Chinese government has never permitted its complete publication. He started writing it in the early 1980s but it was only more than thirty years later, on the tenth anniversary of the author’s death, that the memoir was published in an abridged version by the Nationalities Publishing House in Beijing, after undergoing multiple layers of review by the publisher and propaganda authorities. According to the publisher’s note, the original manuscript, which spanned 11 chapters, was reduced to approximately 6 chapters, with hundreds of pages of original handwritten manuscripts removed. Certain sections and paragraphs were adjusted to align with the Chinese government’s official narrative of the "Three Districts Revolution." While these editorial interventions have, to some extent, compromised the integrity of the original manuscript and the authenticity of the witness’s account, this memoir remains an irreplaceable resource for understanding 20th-century Uyghur political history as a record of the life of a historical witness and military commander.

(English follows) Bu kitab muhajirettiki Uyghur jem’iyitide nisbeten baldur neshir qilin’ghan, shundaqla Uyghur ziyaliylirining kommunist Xitay hökümranliqi astidiki paji'elik kechürmishlirini inchike détallar bilen teswirlep bergen edebiy xatire sheklidiki eslimidur. Téximu éniqraq qilip éytqanda, bu kitabta aptorning charek esirlik ré'al kechürmishliri asasiy liniye qilinip, 1957-yilidin 1982-yilighiche bolghan 25 yil jeryanida Sherqiy Türkistan (Shinjang)diki Uyghur istudéntlarning boran-chapqunluq sergüzeshtiliri we tragédiyelik teqdiri yorutup bérilgen. 1957-Yili Séntebirde emdila 17 yashqa kirgen Söyün'gül Chanishéf (aptor) Shinjang Méditsina Inistitutigha qobul qilinidu. Bu pütün Xitay miqyasida Maw Zédung bashlatqan «échilip-sayrash» dolquni emdila axirliship, «istil tüzitish» herikiti bashlanghan, Shinjang Uyghur Aptonom Rayonida «yerlik milletchilikke qarshi heriket» élip bérishning teyyarliqi jiddiy élip bériliwatqan mezgiller idi. Söyün'gülning siyasiy dolqunlar ichide bashlanghan aliy mektep hayati uning kéyinki teqdiride oylap baqmighan qarangghu sehipilerni achidu. U Méditsina Inistitutidiki bashqa Uyghur sawaqdashliri bilen birlikte siyasiy jehette «échilip-sayrash»qa, «istil tüzitish» yighinlirigha qatniship, kompartiye heqqidiki pikir-qarashlirini ochuq otturigha qoyushqa mejbur qilinidu. Yashliq bahari urghup turghan, kelgüsige ümid bilen qarighan, emma siyasiy boran-chapqunlarda téxi pishmighan bu bir türküm sap-sebiy we qizghin oqughuchilar köz aldidiki rehmisiz siyasiy ré'alliqtin qattiq ümidsizlinidu. Sabiq Sowét Ittipaqi modélidiki ittipaqdash jumhuriyetlik aliy aptonomiye tüzümini Xitaydiki Uyghur, Tibet, Mongghul qatarliq az sanliq milletlerning aliy aptonomiye hoquqining tüp kapaliti dep bilgen bu yashlar, Xitay kompartiyesining Xitayche uslubtiki «milliy téritoriyelik aptonomiye tüzümi»din qattiq narazi bolidu. Ular, Shinjangda ölke derijilik atalmish «Shinjang Uyghur Aptonom Rayoni» emes, belki Sowét Ittipaqi modélidiki «Sherqiy Türkistan/Uyghuristan Ittipaqdash Jumhuriyiti» qurulushi kérek, dep qaraydu. Ularning «échilip-sayrash» yighinlirida dadilliq bilen otturigha qoyghan bu pikir-telepliri, kéyinche ularning siyasiy jehettiki qéchip qutulalmas éghir jinayiti bolup qalidu. Shuningdin kéyinki polat tawlash, chong sekrep ilgirilesh, yerlik milletchilikke qarshi heriket jeryanida Söyün'gülni öz ichige alghan yerlik millet oqughuchiliri qattiq tenqid we teqipke, siyasiy bésim we rohiy azablargha duch kélidu. Acharchiliq yillirining éghir riyazetlirini béshidin ötküzidu. Xitay kompartiyesining az sanliq milletlerge qaratqan aldamchiliq siyasiti we saxta aptonomiyesining mahiyitini chongqur chüshinip yétidu. Netijide ularda mexpiy teshkilat qurup, yer asti siyasiy küresh pa'aliyetliri bilen shoghullinish; kéyinche shara'it piship yétilgende yerlik xelqni qozghap keng kölemlik milliy azadliq sépi shekillendürüsh; Xitay mustemlikisidin qutulup, Sherqiy Türkistanning musteqilliqini qolgha keltürüshtek siyasiy ghaye hem pikir birliki hasil bolidu. Ular 1962-yili 2-ayning 5-küni Shinjang Méditsina Inistitutining oqughuchilar yataq binasida mexpiy yighilip, «Sherqiy Türkistan Méhnetkesh Xelq Partiyesi» namliq siyasiy teshkilat quridu. Söyün'gül Chanishéf bu teshkilatning katipliq wezipisini öz üstige alidu. Halbuki, aridin birqanche ay ötmeyla Xitay Jama'et Xewpsizlik organlirining oqughuchilar arisigha mexpiy orunlashturghan jasuslirining uchur yetküzüshi bilen bu teshkilat pash bolup qalidu. Shu yili 4-ayning 29-küni Söyün'gül Chanishéfni öz ichige alghan nechche onlighan Uyghur oqughuchilar qolgha élinidu. Shuningdin bashlap Söyün'gül we uning sawaqdashlirining uzun yilliq türme we mejburiy emgek hayati bashlinidu. Ürümchi türmisidiki 4 yilgha sozulghan qiyin-qistaq we qarangghu türme hayatidin kéyin, Söyün'gül we uning türmidishi Sajide Ürümchi etrapidiki emgek bilen özgertish lagérida mejburiy emgekke sélinidu. Bu jeryanda insan tesewwur qilghusiz teqip we qiyin-qistaqlargha, künige on nechche sa'etlik éghir emgekke, achliq we rohiy azablargha duch kélidu. Medeniyet Inqilabi bashlinishi bilen ularni téximu éghir qismetler kütiwalidu. Söyün'gül «siyasiy jinayetchi» dégen qalpaq bilen Ürümchi etrapidiki bir xelq kommunasigha yerleshtürülüp, ammining nazariti astida éghir emgek arqiliq özgertishke tapshurup bérilidu. U bu yerde türmidinmu better qiyin künlerge duch kélidu. Rohiy we jismaniy jehettin qattiq xorlinidu. Uzun yilliq türme, mejburiy emgek we qiyin-qistaq Söyün'gül Chanishéf we uning tutqundiki sawaqdashlirini öz ichige alghan bir ewlad Uyghur yashlirining yashliq baharini, arzu-armanlirini, ghaye we intilishlirini xazan qilidu. 1976-Yiligha kelgende Xitay kompartiyesining aliy rehbiri Maw ölüp, «Medeniyet Zor Inqilabi» axirlashqan, 1978-yili kommunist Xitayning milletler siyasitide «yumshash» bashlanghan bolsimu, emma Söyün'gül Chanishéf qatarliq «siyasiy jinayetchi» qalpiqi kiydürülgen bir ewlad Uyghur oqughuchilarning délosi hel bolmaydu. 1980-yillarning bashlirigha kelgende, Xitayning siyasiy atmosférasida körülgen «islahat» we «ishikni échiwétish» dolqunidimu héchqandaq siyasiy kengchilikke érishelmigen Söyün'gül pütün a'ilisi bilen birlikte tughulup ösken yurtini tashlap Awstraliyege köchmen bolup kétidu. Shundaq qilip, Söyün'gülning Sherqiy Türkistandiki 18 yilliq türme we tutqunluq hayati axirliship, erkin dunyadiki kéyinki hayati bashlinidu. Bu eslime aptor Söyün'gül chanishéfning muhajirettiki hayati dawamida eyni waqittiki kündilik xatirisi bilen türme xatirilirini retlesh, toluqlash, qayta eslep yézish arqiliq wujutqa chiqqan. Pütün kitab 700 betke yéqin uzun sehpidin teshkil tapqan bolup, tili addiy, uslubi yenggil we güzel, hékaye weqeliki jiddiy we jelp qilarliq shekilde yézilghan. Bu kitab peqet aptorning béshidin köchürgen shexsiy kechürmishlirining addiy bayani bolupla qalmastin, belki 1950-yillarning axiridin 1980-yillarning bashlirighiche bolghan bir ewlad Uyghur istudéntlirining boran-chapqunluq kolléktip hayati we Uyghur ziyaliylirining kommunist Xitay réjimi astidiki paji'elik teqdirining janliq örnikidur. Aptor kitabning bash qismigha yazghan kirish sözide, «musteqilliq arzusi bilen teshkilat qurup qolgha élin’ghan hemde türme we nazaret astida yashighan 18 yilliq hayatimdin qisqiche xatire qaldurup, yoshurun saqlap kelgen idim. Shu xatirige asasen bu kitabni yézip chiqtim. Bu kitabtiki weqelerning hemmisi béshimdin ötken, öz közüm bilen körgen hem anglighan heqiqiy ishlardur» dep yazghan. Istanbul Uniwérsitétining Uyghur proféssori Sultan Maxmut Qeshqeri bu kitabqa yazghan béghishlimisida «<köz yéshida nemlen'gen zémin> namliq bu kitabta yézilghan weqeler toqulma hékayiler we xiyaliy épizotlar bolmastin, hemmisi Söyün'gülning béshidin ötken we öz közi bilen körgen rast weqelerdur. Bu kitabta kommunist Xitay hakimiyitining Sherqiy Türkistanda yürgüzgen insan qélipidin chiqqan wehshiy siyasetliri emeliy pakitlar bilen chongqur pash qilinghan, bolupmu Maw Zédung bashlatqan <Medeniyet Inqilabi>ning dehshetlik menzirisi de dölet térori nahayiti janliq ipadilep bérilgen» dep yazghan. Bu kitab 2006-yili Istanbuldiki Teklimakan Uyghur Neshriyati teripidin birinchi qétim neshir qilin’ghan. Kitab muhajirettiki Uyghur oqurmenliri arisida zor tesir peyda qilghan we bazarliq kitabqa aylanghan. 2015-yili yuqiri tiraj bilen ikkinchi qétim bésilghan. 2018-Yili in'gilizchigha terjime qilinip, En'giliyede neshir qilinghan. <i>The Land Drenched in Tears</i> is the one of the earliest literary memoirs published in the Uyghur language within the diaspora community, detailing the experiences of Uyghur intellectuals under Chinese Communist rule. The book, written by Söyüngül Chanisheff, chronicles the turbulent experiences and tragic fate of Uyghur students in East Turkistan (Xinjiang) during the 25 years from 1957 to 1982, centered around the author’s quarter-century of real-life experiences. In September 1957, Söyüngül, who had just turned 17, was admitted to Xinjiang Medical Institute. This was a time when Mao Zedong’s Hundred Flowers Campaign had just ended nationwide, the Rectification Movement had begun, and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region was intensively preparing for the Anti-Local Nationalism Campaign. Along with other Uyghur classmates at the Medical Institute, Söyüngül was forced to participate in political “speaking out” meetings–when people were encouraged to voice criticism about the Communist Party. However, their bold views and demands expressed during these “speaking out” meetings later severe criticism, persecution, political pressure, and psychological torment during the Anti-rightist Campaign. On February 5, 1962, they secretly gathered in a student dormitory at Xinjiang Medical College and established the East Turkistan Working People’s Party, with the political ideal and common goal of freeing themselves from Chinese rule and achieving independence for East Turkestan. Söyüngül Chanisheff served as the organization’s secretary. Just months later, due to an informant placed among students by Chinese security forces, the organization was exposed. On April 29 the same year, dozens of Uyghur students, including Söyüngül, were arrested. In the subsequent years, Söyüngül went through imprisonment, as well as forced labor at labor camp and a people's commune, where she suffered severe physical and psychological damage. Although Mao died in 1976, ending the Cultural Revolution, and China’s ethnic policies began to soften in 1978, cases like Soyungül’s were never rehabilitated. By the early 1980s, even amidst China’s reform and opening political atmosphere, Söyüngül —still denied any political clemency—eventually left her homeland with her family and emigrated to Australia. This memoir was created during the author’s life in exile, based on her contemporary diaries, reorganized prison notes, and reconstructed memories. The nearly 700-page book is not merely a simple account of the author’s personal experiences, but also serves as a vivid portrayal of the turbulent collective life of a generation of Uyghur university students from the late 1950s to early 1980s, and the tragic fate of Uyghur intellectuals under the Chinese Communist regime. The book was first published in 2006 by Taklamakan Uyghur Publishing House in Istanbul. It had a significant impact among diaspora Uyghur readers and became a bestseller. A second edition with higher circulation was published in 2015, and an abbreviated English translation was published in the UK in 2018. <a href="https://www.foyles.co.uk/book/the-land-drenched-in-tears/s-y-ng-l-chanisheff/9781910886380">The English edition can be purchased here</a>.