THE IMAGE OF THE MOTHERLAND AS A LEADING SPATIAL IMAGE IN RASUL GAMZATOV’S BOOK “MY DAGESTAN”

Abstract

Gamzatov’s book became a kind of declaration of the poet and the writer’s love for Dagestan and the Dagestani. This author has always portrayed his homeland in the light of spirituality and mental, cultural, historical identity. The book “My Dagestan”, which Kazbek Sultanov defined as a lyrical and philosophical encyclopedia of the small people, was no exception. Thanks to it, the entire world community had the opportunity to get acquainted with Dagestan, to appreciate the uniqueness of this region and its inhabitants. In his work, the poet casually, sometimes in a fabulous manner, sometimes with elements of good humor, sometimes with admiration and reverence tells about his people, their cultural and social traditions, lifestyle, moral foundations. The book “My Dagestan” presents a rich historical and cultural material in the artistic language from ancient times to the present day. The narrative here goes far beyond the borders of the author’s homeland (England, Africa, Egypt, Italy, Spain, Iran, Iraq, Canada, France, Japan, etc.), introducing the reader to the space of western, eastern and other cultures and at the same time comparing them with elements of the Dagestan (Caucasian) world.