A Book Translated After a Century: Mukhametzhan Tynyshbayuly's History of the Kazakh People Presented in Almaty, DKnews.kz reports.
In Almaty, a long-awaited event took place — the presentation of Mukhametzhan Tynyshbayuly's book History of the Kazakh People, originally written in Russian in 1925. The new edition is unique in that this scholarly work is now available in the Kazakh language. Choco Holding was the primary initiator and supportive force for the project, providing financial and organizational assistance for the translation and publication.
Publication of the Book and Project Support
The book was first published exactly 100 years ago, and last year, AmalBooks published History of the Kazakh People in its original language. However, such a significant work deserved to be presented to the Kazakh-speaking audience. For this reason, thanks to the joint efforts of AmalBooks and Choco Holding, a Kazakh version was created, aimed at revealing Tynyshbayuly's work to an even wider circle of readers.
Bakytzhan Bukarbay, head of AmalBooks, emphasized the importance of this translation for the cultural development of the entire country:
"Translating Mukhametzhan Tynyshbayuly's works into Kazakh is a very important event for our country. Mukhametzhan Tynyshbayuly was a historian and scholar who wrote a scholarly work proving the importance of our country's history a hundred years ago, during the time of the tsarist government. He was an extraordinary person, fluent in eight languages. He first worked as a civil engineer and then became the first deputy of the Duma. AmalBooks took the initiative to translate this book into Kazakh, and I am extremely grateful to Mr. Ramil Mukhoryapov, the head of Choco Holding, and the other specialists who helped bring this significant project to life."
Ramil Mukhoryapov, a representative of Choco Holding, underlined how important it is to preserve national traditions and culture:
"Translating this book into the Kazakh language will help us better understand the history of our country and ourselves. Mukhametzhan Tynyshbayuly was a major figure of his era, a versatile scholar who studied history and technology. It is through such works that we come to know who we are. I believe that in every home, alongside sacred texts, there should be works like Mukhametzhan Tynyshbayuly's — a book that tells the story of the country and its people".
Presentation Participants
Researchers, historians, media representatives, and people directly connected to the author's name gathered for the book's presentation. Among them was Nurshaken Zhunisova, the author's niece and the head of the M. Tynyshbayuly Foundation, who held a special place in the event. The participants exchanged views on the crucial role translation plays in preserving cultural heritage and noted that the new version of the book in the state language will be more accessible to the younger generation and will take a worthy place in the libraries of our country.
Mukhametzhan Tynyshbayuly: Historian and Public Figure
Mukhametzhan Tynyshbayuly (1879–1937) was a prominent representative of the Kazakh intelligentsia. His life and work encompassed several areas:
1. Engineering Career: He worked in railway engineering, making a significant contribution to infrastructure development.
2. Political Activities: He served as a deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Empire, highlighting his recognized authority.
3. Academic Research: History of the Kazakh People was the result of many years of study. This work is considered one of the earliest and most fundamental investigations into the origins and formation of the Kazakh ethnicity.
The challenges of writing such research under tsarist censorship greatly increased the value of his work. Essentially, Mukhametzhan Tynyshbayuly laid a solid foundation for further analysis of the genealogy and cultural heritage of the Kazakhs, having systematized the Kazakh genealogy in the form of a chart.
What History of the Kazakh People Is About
This scholarly work offers a comprehensive view of how the Kazakh people came into being and covers:
· Origins of the Tribes: The author provides a detailed account of the roots, clan ties, and developmental features of Kazakh tribal groups.
· Historical and Social Aspects: It thoroughly examines how political and social circumstances influenced the formation of the Kazakh people.
· Genealogical Diagram: The book features a visual table illustrating the interconnections among various clans, providing a more complete understanding of genealogical lines.
Participants of the event noted that publishing this fundamental work in the state language is a gesture of respect for our past, emphasizing that initiatives like releasing History of the Kazakh People in the state language should receive constant support from government and private institutions. After all, it is precisely through such books that we cultivate genuine continuity across generations and develop a more complete national self-consciousness that will inspire the further growth of our culture and science.
Publishing fundamental works in the Kazakh language is vital for passing on history, traditions, and customs to future generations. It also strengthens the status of the Kazakh language as a language of science and education.
Mukhametzhan Tynyshbayuly's History of the Kazakh People in Kazakh will go on sale in January 2025.
