Now that Turkmenbashi is gone, I feel constrained to preserve the memory and teachings of his most amazing book, The Ruhnama. In my experience, there is no other book quite like it for range of subject matter, and reading it expresses a dedication to Central Asian affairs that is well worth remarking upon. Those of you who have read it should have no trouble with the following questions:
1. According to the Ruhnama, a virtuous wife should receive precious gems from her husband. This gem would be:
a. diamonds, because they are a girl's best friend;
b. rubies, because a virtuous wife's worth is well beyond their cost;
c. emeralds, because they light up the face;
d. lapis lazuli, because it recalls the blue of tiles in Khiva's sacred buildings.
2. “Since creation, human beings have considered themselves the only thinking, constructing creating beings, and the only intelligent rulers of the earth.”
a. Turkmenbashi believed this, because he was the most intelligent ruler;
b. Turkmenbashi believed this, because Oguz Han, the father of Turkmen, instilled his sons with great wisdom;
c. Turkmenbashi refuted this, because it left out the divine;
d. Turkmenbashi refuted this, because all living things and animals are able to perform mental processes and communicate, including plants.
3. The consolation of the South (Turkmenistan as opposed to Russia) for poisonous desert fauna is:
a. sweet melons that do not need sugar;
b. the golden century;
c. oil and gas reserves;
d. less bronchitis than they have in Siberia.
4. According to Turkmenbashi, Turkmen in history were defeated by:
a. external forces moving against them, who considered the Turkmen bandits;
b. internal forces rooted in individual egotism, disagreement, and taking things that were religiously unlawful;
c. four centuries of Turkmen diaspora;
d. both a. and b.
5. According to the Ruhnama, today's Turkmenistan does not have:
a. political prisoners;
b. disagreement;
c. slanderous comments;
d. all of the above.
If you click on the title to this entry, it will include comments. The first comment has the answer key.
For those who want to review before taking the quiz, the Ruhnama is available in English translation here. You can also order an official Ruhnama mug or t-shirt from this site. And if you pass this quiz, you might want to take the official U.S. Ruhnama quiz.
Photo: ValtionMetalli.com
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