Today, Abai University hosted a republican scientific-practical conference titled “National History in the Works of Mukhtar Kazybek: Source, Translation, and Personology,” dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Mukhtar Kazybek — an alumnus of the university, Honored Writer of Kazakhstan, scholar, historian, translator, publisher, publicist, and public figure. The event, focused on issues of national history and spirituality, brought together prominent scholars, literary critics, archivists, writers, and public figures.

The conference was opened and moderated by Ertai Sultan, Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation at the university. At the beginning of the event, he read a congratulatory letter from the Chairman of the Board – Rector Bolat Tilep, which highly praised Mukhtar Kazybek’s contribution to the study of national history and the development of Kazakh spirituality. Representatives of the intelligentsia provided a comprehensive overview of the honoree’s creative and scholarly legacy, and congratulatory letters from the Union of Writers of Kazakhstan, as well as the akimats of Almaty city and Tulkibas district, were presented.

Speakers highlighted M. Kazybek’s contribution to Dulatist studies as one of the significant achievements in national spirituality. In particular, the translation of the valuable work “Tarikh-i Rashidi” into Kazakh and its introduction into academic circulation marked an important milestone in national historical studies. This translation allowed Kazakh readers to become more deeply acquainted with Dulat’s historical heritage in their native language. His work “M.Kh. Dulati: Cognition and Taste” is also recognized as a valuable study analyzing the scholar’s intellectual world and historical worldview.

During the conference, Academician Bereket Karibaev (National Academy of Sciences under the President of Kazakhstan), Sabit Shildebay (Director of the Central State Archive), Kanipash Madibaeva (Chief Researcher at the Mukhtar Auezov Institute of Literature and Art), and Serik Asylbekov (Professor at Abai KazNPU) delivered presentations analyzing Mukhtar Kazybek’s contribution to national science. In addition, specialists from various fields—historians, literary scholars, archivists, and public figures—spoke about his role in the development of national history and the publishing industry.

Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Marat Tokashbayev described the honoree as a writer, scholar, and translator shaped by the wisdom of Abai’s school, who never deviates from the truth. He fondly recalled the struggle to open Kazakh-language schools and kindergartens in Almaty during the Soviet era.

— In those years, together with Shona Smahanuly, we fought for the opening of Kazakh schools. Mukhtar Kazybek was also among us. His organizational skills and determination helped many initiatives move forward. He was directly involved in the establishment of three Kazakh-language schools. He was one of the key initiators behind the opening of School No. 137 in Almaty, finding solutions and common ground with the authorities. This is a clear reflection of his fighting spirit, — said Marat Tokashbayev.

As part of the ceremony, new books were presented: the Kazakh translation of Bauyrzhan Momyshuly’s “Psychology of War,” titled “The Book Written in Blood,” translated by Mukhtar Kazybek, as well as the book “Stars of the Era,” which have now been made available to readers.

Media Center of Abai University