Foreword

The great poet, thinker, educator and public figure of the Kazakh people, Abai Kunanbaiuly (1845–1904), is recognized as the founder of national spiritual consciousness, culture, literature, and civic thought. His legacy has become the spiritual foundation of modern Kazakh society and serves as both an intellectual and historical basis of the nation’s independence. The historical and documentary exhibition “Chronicle of the Archive: Honoring Abai”, dedicated to the 180th anniversary of Abai Kunanbaiuly, has been prepared on the basis of unique documents and materials preserved in the holdings of the Archive of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Its purpose is to present Abai’s personality and spiritual heritage, emphasizing his historical role in the renewal of national culture and public consciousness through archival sources. The documents preserved in the Archive are a priceless treasure, reflecting the state’s recognition of Abai’s work, the level of its study during both the Soviet and independence periods, as well as the revival of his name in the cultural and spiritual life of the country. The exhibition highlights Abai’s views on his era and society, supported by documentary evidence. It demonstrates the importance of his creative heritage in preserving national identity and shaping spiritual unity, while also showing the resonance of his ideas with the ideology of independent Kazakhstan. Special attention is given to how Abai’s works were valued in his own time, the influence of his ideas on the Kazakh intelligentsia of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and his role as the founder of written Kazakh poetry and as an innovator of literary language and artistic expression. The exhibition also includes official reports, programmatic articles, and scholarly works of the independence period, where Abai’s legacy is reinterpreted in the context of national revival, along with academic studies and conference materials dedicated to his works. On display are archival photographs, conference and meeting protocols, official information notes, as well as articles and reviews from the press. Together, these materials provide a comprehensive picture of the revival of Abai’s legacy and his contribution to the spiritual development of the nation. Abai’s Concept of the Perfect Human and his idea of progress through science and education remain highly relevant for today’s society. The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in his article “Abai and Kazakhstan in the 21st Century”, emphasized: “Abai is the symbol of our national idea.” This exhibition seeks to introduce the modern generation to Abai’s spiritual and cultural heritage, to foster a renewed perspective on the past through national historical sources, and to strengthen national consciousness and identity on the basis of archival documents preserved in the Archive.

Go to virtual exhibition