― 6 января 2021 г.

Presentation of the Art Album "Reading Abai" and Award Ceremony of the "Medal of Abai" held in TURKSOY Headquarters

On January 6th, 2021, Secretary General Kasseinov hosted a  ceremony in TURKSOY Headquarters during which,  in recognition of their contribution to the promotion of the famous Kazak scholar Abai Kunanbaiev, various personalities and organizations were handed over the Medal of Abai along with the art album published by TURKSOY on the occasion of the 175th anniversary of his birthday and featuring paintings of artists of the Turkic World inspired by Abai’s works along with maxims of Abai.

In the opening speech he delivered at the event, TURKSOY Secretary General Dusen Kasseinov said that on the occasion of the 175th anniversary of the birthday of Abai Kunanbai commemorated throughout the year 2020, many events were carried out and that with the inspiration they gave, the legacy of Abai will be kept alive beyond 2020.

Mr. Kasseinov further said: “Abai, the wiseman, philosopher, teacher, founder of Kazak national literature, composer and translator has left indelible traces in Kazak  history. His poems and wise words depict the national identity of the Kazak people and their lifestyles as well as their language, religion and spirit. The legacy of Abai is an extremely rich source of inspiration and information and everybody agrees upon this fact. Indeed, works by this great wiseman are still of actuality today. Abay’s ideas will always be a spiritual treasure for all of us. Therefore it is of great importance that his works are taken as a basis for the modernization of the nation  and that his ideas are being put into practice.”

Secretary General Kasseinov who also said that TURKSOY therefore presents the Medal of Abai to various personalities and institutions in recognition of their contribution to the promotion of Abai and his legacy in various events dedicated to the 175th anniversary of his birthday further added:  “My wish is that you accept this medal as a sign of the gratitude of TURKSOY to you for your valuable efforts and contribution.”

Mr. Kasseinov who further said that various events have been and are being carried out in many countries of the world within the framework of the Year of Abai expressed his gratitude to the Republic of Turkey which has not only supported and contributed to the commemoration of Abai throughout the year with its official institutions and people but also openheartedly showed its commitment to the Turkic World.

The Chief Advisor to the President of the Republic of Turkey  Yalçın Topçu who also delivered a speech at the event reminded of the words once said by the Wiseman of the Turkic World and founding President of the Republic of Turkey Nursultan  Nazarbayev to the Kazak people: “Every citizen who wants our people to be strong and evolve should read Abai  and his wise words.” Mr. Topçu further said: “Our ancestor Abai has criticized injustice, failure and unfairness throughout his life. He even treated of his own father’s mistakes in his works. Hence, I do think that in line with this call of Nazarbayev upon all of us, Turkic peoples and humanity as a whole should read Abai.” Mr. Topçu who further said that with its declaration of the year 2020 as Year of Abai Kunanbai, TURKSOY contributed to the promotion of this great poet and wiseman extended his gratitude to TURKSOY for offering him   the Medal of Abai.

In his speech, the Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Ankara H. E. Saparbekuly stressed that common history, culture, language and religion play a key role in the rapprochement of Turkic peoples who were set apart from one another for centuries and said that besides all this the commemoration of illustrious personalities of the Turkic World also is a strong contribution to the unity and solidarity among Turkic peoples in the Turkic World. Ambassador Saparbekuly who also touched upon the fact that the year 2020 was dedicated to the commemoration of the 175th anniversary of the birthday of Abai Kunanbaiev in Kazakhstan and in the Turkic World  said that: “Abai is a symbol of Kaak national identity. That is to say, getting to know Abai means getting to know ourselves  and preserving our national identity.”

The Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey Serdar Cam who extended his gratitude to TURKSOY for having been deemed worthy of the Medal of Abai  and said: “It is the duty of us all to to get to know our ancestors and illustrious personalities who left indelible traces in our history. We must preserve their legacy and transmit it to future generations”. Mr Serdar Çam who stressed that official institutions and the state are carrying out activities in this respect, further said that everyone has to make his contribution to these activities to transmit Abai’s legacy to future generations. Mr. Çam  who also expressed his gratitude to those who published the book presented in the event stressed the importance of the worldwide promotion of illustrious personalities of the Turkic World and the declaration of the year 1995 as Year of Abai by UNESCO. Mr. Çam added that Yunus Emre, Hacı Bektaş Veli and Ahi Evran were also included in the schedule of commemorations by UNESCO for 2021 concluded his speech saying that all these personalities are or ancestors and common heritage and that we must therefore consider it our highest duty to claim ownership of their legacy and introduce it to the world.

The speeches were followed by the presentation of the album entitled “Reading Abai” featuring maxims of the famous Kazak scholar Abai Kunanbai along with works by painters of the Turkic World inspired by these wise words of Abai. The presentation of the album ended with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The Medal of Abai was handed over to the Chief Advisor to the President of the Republic of Turkey Yalçın Topçu, the Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey Serdar Çam,the Ambassador of the Republic of  Kazakhstan to Ankara H. E.  Abzal Saparbekuly, the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Kazakhstan  in Nevşehir Mr. Halil Uluer, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the  Akhmet Yassawi University Mr. Muhittin Şimşek, the Chairman of the Eurasian Authors’ Union Mr. Yakup Ömeroğlu, the Coordinator of the TRT Avaz Channel Sedat Sağırkaya, the Mayor of Municipality of Keçiören Mr. Turgut Altınok, te Mayor of  Municipality of Gölbaşı  Mr. Ramazan Şimşek and the Mayor of the Municipality of Muratpaşa in Antalya Mr. Ümit Uysal along with the Mayor of the Municipality of Iskilip Ali Sülük as well as the sculptors Mr. Murat Mansurov and Mr. Kambar Omarov.

The event ended with a group photograph taken as a remembrance of the day.