The role of Jadid theater in the development of youth spirituality

https://doi.org/10.35912/gams.v1i4.3548
Published: Oct 13, 2025

Abstract:

Purpose: This study analyzes the role of Jadid theater in nurturing spirituality and moral awareness among youth in late 19th to early 20th century Central Asia. It seeks to show how theater became a medium for education, reform, and national awakening through cultural innovation.

Research methodology: The study applies a qualitative historical approach using document and literature analysis of primary and secondary sources, including plays, newspapers, and writings of Jadid intellectuals such as Behbudi, Niyozi, Avloniy, and Fitrat. Descriptive analysis is used to interpret the ideological and structural elements of their works within socio-cultural contexts.

Results: The Jadid movement transformed traditional storytelling into modern theater that addressed social issues, promoted literacy, and inspired youth spirituality. Despite censorship and scarce resources, amateur and professional groups sustained the movement, gradually expanding participation, including women. Theater became a powerful cultural tool that left a lasting legacy in Central Asian society.

Conclusions: Jadid theater functioned not merely as art but as a cultural instrument combining education, morality, and national identity. By integrating traditional and modern forms, it fostered youth engagement, advanced literacy, and mobilized society toward reform, underscoring the importance of cultural platforms for social and spiritual development.

Limitations: This research is limited to historical and document-based analysis, without empirical data such as interviews or reception studies that could provide contemporary perspectives.

Contribution: The study enriches understanding of how Jadid theater became a strategic platform for youth spiritual development and national awakening in Central Asia.

Keywords:
1. Central Asia
2. Jadidism
3. Spirituality
4. Theater
Authors:
Samadova Sarvinoz Samad Qizi
Bukhara State Pedagogical Institute, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
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How to Cite
Qizi, S. S. S. . (2025). The role of Jadid theater in the development of youth spirituality. Global Academy of Multidisciplinary Studies, 1(4), 227–237. https://doi.org/10.35912/gams.v1i4.3548
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Vol. 1 No. 4 (2025): May
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References

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    Alijonova, N. (2019). The Place of Theatrical Art in the Development of the Spiritual Potential of Youth. European Journal of Research and Reflection in Educational Sciences, 7(11), 115-117.

    Allen, D., & Laine, E. (2018). The Integrated Spectator: Theatre Audiences and Pedagogy. Research in Drama Education, 23, 1-15. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13569783.2018.1494556

    Badan, P. (2016). Socio-Cultural Reform Movement In Central Asia. Journal of Central Asian Studies, 23(1), 1-16.

    Corsa, A. J. (2021). Empathy and moral education, Theatre of the Oppressed, and The Laramie Project. Journal of Moral Education, 50(2), 219-232. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2019.1703658

    Fagan, J., & Tyler, T. R. (2005). Legal socialization of children and adolescents. Social justice research, 18(3), 217-241. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11211-005-6823-3

    Feng, M. (2022). The use of drama pedagogy in teaching morality in a Chinese primary school. ECNU Review of Education, 5(2), 219-241. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/20965311221089674

    Gilbert, K. L., Baker, E. A., Bain, K., Flood, J., & Wolbers, J. (2023). Say Something, Do Something: Evaluating a Forum Theater Production to Activate Youth Violence Prevention Strategies in Schools. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(1), 1-13. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21010039

    Gulkhara, A., & Farzaliyeva, E. (2025). Theatre as a Reflection of Social Change: How Dramatic Arts Capture Cultural Shifts and Historical Transformations. Acta Globalis Humanitatis et Linguarum, 2(1), 254-261. doi:https://doi.org/10.69760/aghel.02500133

    Kaldybekovich, B. K., Hazret, T., & Raikhan, S. (2013). Jadidism as an Educational System and a Political Movement in Turkestan (Central Asia). International education studies, 6(1), 85-94.

    Kholbutaevich, S. Z., & Shamsiyevich, Z. A. (2024). The Jadidism Movement in Central Asia Regarding Development Trends. ResearchJet Journal of Analysis and Inventions, 5(2), 8-16.

    Kizi, S. S. S. (2025a). The Issue of Education and Upbringing in the Spiritual Heritage of the Jadids of Turkestan. Cognizance Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 5(1), 408-415. doi:https://doi.org/10.47760/cognizance.2025.v05i01.031

    Kizi, S. S. S. (2025b). The Significance of the Jadids’ Scientific Heritage in Developing the Spirituality of Youth in New Uzbekistan. Intelektualitas Jurnal Penelitian Lintas Keilmuan, 1(4), 1-6. doi:https://doi.org/10.47134/intelektualitas.v1i4.3642

    Muzaffarovna, N. (2020). The socio-historical genesis of the educational philosophy formulated in turkestan, and its implications. International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 24(4), 3208-3214. doi:DOI: 10.37200/IJPR/V24I4/PR201431

    Nurmatov, Z., Abdrassilov, T., & Soon, H. (2022). An Analysis on the Formation of Jadidism in Central Asia in the Late 19th and Early 20th Century (1870-1917). Religion in Socio-Cultural Contexts of the Past and Present, 78(2), 149-166. doi:https://doi.org/10.48010/2022.2/1999-5911.11

    Peters, S. (2017). The Impact of Participating in a Verbatim Theatre Process. Social Alternatives, 36(2), 32-39.

    Popov, A., & Karásek, M. (2021). Dramatising Cultural Diversity: Youth Theatre as a Performance of Local Memory and Identity in a Multiethnic Environment. Slovak Ethnology, 69(3), 381-398. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/se-2021-0022

    Rakhmankulova, Z., Choriev, S., Yusupova, D., & Muminov, O. (2020). The Historiography of the Relations Between Central Asian Khanates and Ottoman Empire in the 19 th and at the Beginning of the 20th Centuries. International Journal of Scientific and Technology Research, 9(2), 311-318.

    Raxmanova, M., Raximov, A., Qulmurodova, S., Jumanov, S., Pardayeva, G., Qarshiyev, J., . . . Nabiyeva, D. (2024). The Importance of Mahmudxoja Behbudi's Works and" Nashriyoti Behbudiya" in the Spiritual and Moral Education of Young People, the Reforms in the Educational System of the Past. Library of Progress-Library Science, Information Technology & Computer, 44(3), 14075-14082. doi:https://doi.org/10.48165/bapas.2024.44.2.1

    Sabriddin, A., & Bobomuratovna, M. S. (2022). Some Reflections on the Historical Significance of the Activities of Mahmudhoja Behbudi. Procedia of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2, 20-24. doi:https://doi.org/10.21070/pssh.v2i.106

    Sadriddinovna, S. S. (2024). The Role Of The Jadids In Elevating The Spirituality Of The People Of Turkestan. Jurnal ISO: Jurnal Ilmu Sosial, Politik dan Humaniora, 4(2). doi:https://doi.org/10.53697/iso.v4i2.2074

    Sangirov, B. (2025). The Jadid Theater and Ethnic Traditions. International Journal Of Literature And Languages, 5(05), 7-9. doi:https://doi.org/10.37547/ijll/Volume05Issue05-02

    Sobirovich, T. B. (2023). Basic Criteria for Building the Third Renaissance in Uzbekistan. Asian Journal of Applied Science and Technology (AJAST), 7(1), 149-157. doi:https://doi.org/10.38177/ajast.2023.7114

    Yusufjonovna, I. A. (2025). Jadid Literature: Historical Formation, Core Ideas and Literary Characteristics. Web of Teachers: Inderscience Research, 3(3), 241-247.

    Zayniddinovna, T. N. (2022). Lexico-Semantic Word Production as a Way of Forming Theater Terminology of the English Language. American Journal of Social and Humanitarian Research, 3(10), 144-150. doi:https://doi.org/10.31150/ajshr.v3i10.1559

  1. Abdullaeva, M., Gafurova, S., & Khandamian, V. (2022). Central Asian Jadids’ Efforts to Serve the Nation by Bringing Enlightenment to the Country. International Journal of Social Science Research and Review, 5(7), 224-232. doi:https://doi.org/10.47814/ijssrr.v5i7.468
  2. Alijonova, N. (2019). The Place of Theatrical Art in the Development of the Spiritual Potential of Youth. European Journal of Research and Reflection in Educational Sciences, 7(11), 115-117.
  3. Allen, D., & Laine, E. (2018). The Integrated Spectator: Theatre Audiences and Pedagogy. Research in Drama Education, 23, 1-15. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13569783.2018.1494556
  4. Badan, P. (2016). Socio-Cultural Reform Movement In Central Asia. Journal of Central Asian Studies, 23(1), 1-16.
  5. Corsa, A. J. (2021). Empathy and moral education, Theatre of the Oppressed, and The Laramie Project. Journal of Moral Education, 50(2), 219-232. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2019.1703658
  6. Fagan, J., & Tyler, T. R. (2005). Legal socialization of children and adolescents. Social justice research, 18(3), 217-241. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11211-005-6823-3
  7. Feng, M. (2022). The use of drama pedagogy in teaching morality in a Chinese primary school. ECNU Review of Education, 5(2), 219-241. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/20965311221089674
  8. Gilbert, K. L., Baker, E. A., Bain, K., Flood, J., & Wolbers, J. (2023). Say Something, Do Something: Evaluating a Forum Theater Production to Activate Youth Violence Prevention Strategies in Schools. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(1), 1-13. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21010039
  9. Gulkhara, A., & Farzaliyeva, E. (2025). Theatre as a Reflection of Social Change: How Dramatic Arts Capture Cultural Shifts and Historical Transformations. Acta Globalis Humanitatis et Linguarum, 2(1), 254-261. doi:https://doi.org/10.69760/aghel.02500133
  10. Kaldybekovich, B. K., Hazret, T., & Raikhan, S. (2013). Jadidism as an Educational System and a Political Movement in Turkestan (Central Asia). International education studies, 6(1), 85-94.
  11. Kholbutaevich, S. Z., & Shamsiyevich, Z. A. (2024). The Jadidism Movement in Central Asia Regarding Development Trends. ResearchJet Journal of Analysis and Inventions, 5(2), 8-16.
  12. Kizi, S. S. S. (2025a). The Issue of Education and Upbringing in the Spiritual Heritage of the Jadids of Turkestan. Cognizance Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 5(1), 408-415. doi:https://doi.org/10.47760/cognizance.2025.v05i01.031
  13. Kizi, S. S. S. (2025b). The Significance of the Jadids’ Scientific Heritage in Developing the Spirituality of Youth in New Uzbekistan. Intelektualitas Jurnal Penelitian Lintas Keilmuan, 1(4), 1-6. doi:https://doi.org/10.47134/intelektualitas.v1i4.3642
  14. Muzaffarovna, N. (2020). The socio-historical genesis of the educational philosophy formulated in turkestan, and its implications. International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 24(4), 3208-3214. doi:DOI: 10.37200/IJPR/V24I4/PR201431
  15. Nurmatov, Z., Abdrassilov, T., & Soon, H. (2022). An Analysis on the Formation of Jadidism in Central Asia in the Late 19th and Early 20th Century (1870-1917). Religion in Socio-Cultural Contexts of the Past and Present, 78(2), 149-166. doi:https://doi.org/10.48010/2022.2/1999-5911.11
  16. Peters, S. (2017). The Impact of Participating in a Verbatim Theatre Process. Social Alternatives, 36(2), 32-39.
  17. Popov, A., & Karásek, M. (2021). Dramatising Cultural Diversity: Youth Theatre as a Performance of Local Memory and Identity in a Multiethnic Environment. Slovak Ethnology, 69(3), 381-398. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/se-2021-0022
  18. Rakhmankulova, Z., Choriev, S., Yusupova, D., & Muminov, O. (2020). The Historiography of the Relations Between Central Asian Khanates and Ottoman Empire in the 19 th and at the Beginning of the 20th Centuries. International Journal of Scientific and Technology Research, 9(2), 311-318.
  19. Raxmanova, M., Raximov, A., Qulmurodova, S., Jumanov, S., Pardayeva, G., Qarshiyev, J., . . . Nabiyeva, D. (2024). The Importance of Mahmudxoja Behbudi's Works and" Nashriyoti Behbudiya" in the Spiritual and Moral Education of Young People, the Reforms in the Educational System of the Past. Library of Progress-Library Science, Information Technology & Computer, 44(3), 14075-14082. doi:https://doi.org/10.48165/bapas.2024.44.2.1
  20. Sabriddin, A., & Bobomuratovna, M. S. (2022). Some Reflections on the Historical Significance of the Activities of Mahmudhoja Behbudi. Procedia of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2, 20-24. doi:https://doi.org/10.21070/pssh.v2i.106
  21. Sadriddinovna, S. S. (2024). The Role Of The Jadids In Elevating The Spirituality Of The People Of Turkestan. Jurnal ISO: Jurnal Ilmu Sosial, Politik dan Humaniora, 4(2). doi:https://doi.org/10.53697/iso.v4i2.2074
  22. Sangirov, B. (2025). The Jadid Theater and Ethnic Traditions. International Journal Of Literature And Languages, 5(05), 7-9. doi:https://doi.org/10.37547/ijll/Volume05Issue05-02
  23. Sobirovich, T. B. (2023). Basic Criteria for Building the Third Renaissance in Uzbekistan. Asian Journal of Applied Science and Technology (AJAST), 7(1), 149-157. doi:https://doi.org/10.38177/ajast.2023.7114
  24. Yusufjonovna, I. A. (2025). Jadid Literature: Historical Formation, Core Ideas and Literary Characteristics. Web of Teachers: Inderscience Research, 3(3), 241-247.
  25. Zayniddinovna, T. N. (2022). Lexico-Semantic Word Production as a Way of Forming Theater Terminology of the English Language. American Journal of Social and Humanitarian Research, 3(10), 144-150. doi:https://doi.org/10.31150/ajshr.v3i10.1559