― 10 июня 2025 г.
Forum on ‘Chingis Aitmatov: The Future of the Turkic World’ held in Kyrgyzstan
Chingis Aitmatov was commemorated at his grave on the 17th anniversary of his passing
Chingis Aitmatov, one of the greatest writers of the Turkic World and a symbol of Kyrgyz literature, was commemorated at a ceremony held at his grave in his homeland on the 17th anniversary of his death.
The commemorative event held at the Ata-Beyit National History and Monument Complex near Bishkek, the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic, was attended by the author's family, colleagues, admirers, and a delegation participating in the ‘Chingis Aitmatov – The Future of the Turkic World Forum’ in Bishkek.
The commemorative ceremony was attended by Marat Imankulov, State Secretary of the Kyrgyz Republic; Sultan Raev, Secretary General of TURKSOY; Prof. Dr. Ilyas Topsakal, President of the Chingis Aitmatov Institute and Member of Parliament from Samsun; Prof. Dr. Akmal Saidov, President of the Kazakh Writers' Union Mereke Kulkenov, Rector of the Kyrgyzstan-Turkey Manas University Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Ceylan, Rector of the North Macedonia Vision University Prof. Dr. Ahmet Vecdi Can, TÜRKSOY Deputy General Secretary Sayit Yusuf, and painter Dr. Sakit Mammadov from Azerbaijan.
The participants made prayers at the site where the graves of 138 intellectuals who were secretly executed in 1938 are located and laid flowers at the grave of Chingis Aitmatov's father, Törekul Aytmatov, who was the Minister of Industry and Trade at the time. Additionally, a wreath was laid at the Ürkün Monument, which symbolises the Kyrgyz people's resistance against Tsarist Russia in 1916 and means ‘Great Resistance.’
The commemorative ceremony ended with a reading of the Quran and prayers at the grave of Chingis Aitmatov.
Organised under the auspices of the Chingis Aitmatov Institute based in Ankara and hosted by the Kyrgyz National Academy of Sciences, the forum was attended by staff members of the International Organisation for Turkic Culture TURKSOY, the Chingis Aitmatov Institute of Language and Literature of the Kyrgyz Academy of Sciences, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), the Presidency for Turks Abroad (YTB), and the Yunus Emre Institute (YEE).
The forum, attended by the author's admirers, scholars, statesmen and university students, began with a reading from the Manas Epic by the Manaschy Rısbay Isakov.
Prof. Dr. Kanatbek Abdrahmatov, the President of the Kyrgyz National Academy of Sciences and moderator of the forum, expressed his pleasure to host the forum on ‘Chingis Aitmatov: the Future of the Turkic World.’
‘Türkiye has supported us in every field as a strategic partner.’
Speaking at the forum, the Secretary of State of the Kyrgyz Republic Mr. Marat Imankulov mentioned the government's plans for the 100th anniversary of Chingis Aitmatov's birthday, and said: “Aitmatov was one of the geniuses of the 20th century. His timeless works are an excellent description of today's world. He pointed at what needs to be done to avoid the crises we are experiencing today and stressed the importance of environmental protection as well as of human relations and how they should be fostered.” Secretary of State Imankulov recalled that the Republic of Türkiye was the first country to recognise the independence of the Kyrgyz Republic and drew attention to the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Expressing his satisfaction with the interest shown by member countries of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) in Kyrgyzstan, Imankulov noted that the first International Forum on Chingis Aitmatov held in Issyk-Kul was first held in 1986 by Chingis Aitmatov himself and that it should be revived with the support of international organisations.
Gratitude expressed to the Chairman of the Republican Movement Party Mr. Devlet Bahçeli
TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev stated that the first activity of the Chingis Aitmatov Institute established in Türkiye was carried out in Aitmatov's homeland, Kyrgyzstan.
Explaining the mission and purpose of the Chingis Aitmatov Institute, Mr. Raev said, ‘May the Chingis Aitmatov Institute be auspicious and successful. We extend our heartfelt gratitude and respect to Mr. Devlet Bahçeli, the Chairman of the Republican Movement Party MHP, who has played an important role in Türkiye's recent history, and to his distinguished colleague and MP of the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Türkiye, Prof. Dr. Ilyas Topsakal, for their efforts in establishing the Chingis Aitmatov Institute.’
Sultan Raev: Aitmatov‘s works are the literary incarnation of the the Turkic World and its people’s feelings
Mr. Raev further said: "The Turkic World experiences deep sadness with Aytmatov's ”White Ship” but it realised the vital importance of embracing its national identity with “Farewell, My Love”. It understood the value of labour and productivity and rediscovered the greatness of love with “Jamila”; it grasped the importance of traditions and customs which are the memory of a nation through the character of “Mankurt” described by Aitmatov in hiis works which are part of world literature."
The forum discussed how Chingis Aitmatov is perceived in Türkiye
In the speech he delivered at the event, the President of the Chingis Aitmatov Institute and Deputy Chairman of the MHP , Prof. Dr. Ilyas Topsakal expressed his gratitude to the Chairman of the MHP Mr. Bahçeli and thanked institutions and individuals who contributed to the organisation of the forum.
Explaining how Chingis Aitmatov is perceived in Türkiye, Mr. Topsakal pointed out that strength comes from knowledge and said: ‘The best way to learn this is undoubtedly by getting to know our poets, authors and philosophers who put described the spirit and wisdom of the nation with words.’
Speaking highly of Chingis Aitmatov and his unique talent as an author, Mr. Topsakal said: ‘He is our great ancestor who described the Turkic World in its villages, towns, and cities in recent times. He sought our nation's glorious past and great state sometimes in an animal, sometimes in the sea and lakes, and sometimes in the vast, desolate steppes of Turkic peoples.’
Mr. Topsakal drew attention to Aytmatov's stories about the past of Turkic tribes, which he recounted in relation to birth, marriage and death, and mentioned that he described the Legend of Ergenekon with the saying, ‘A dog has an owner, but a wolf only obeys to God.’
Emphasising the importance of themes addressed in the author's works and the messages for the future conveyed in Aytmatov's novels and poems, Mr. Topsakal said, "Aytmatov, who stated that just like the inhuman idea of gladiators fighting in the West, “mankurtism” and sadism, have always existed in every era, also said that the greatest source of strength against this lies in knowing one’s own history,
Mr. Mereke Kulkenov, the President of the Authors’ Association of Kazakhstan, also emphasised that the first activity of the Chingis Aitmatov Institute in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, demonstrated the unity of Turkic peoples.
Mr. Kulkenov noted that Aytmatov wrote not only about the history of the Kyrgyz people but also about the history of the Kazakh, Uzbek and Azerbaijani peoples, and that Turkic peoples who read Aytmatov's works share the same feelings and thoughts.
Mr. Akmal Saidov, a member of the Parliament of Uzbekistan who has conducted extensive research on the author's works, stated that forums, congresses, and other events should be organised to promote awareness about Aytmatov and encourage the reading of his works.
Prof. Dr. Abdıldajan Akmataliyev, the President of the Chingis Aitmatov Language and Literature Institute of the Academy of Sciences, said that they have organised symposia on Aytmatov over the past 10 years and publish his books every year.
Honorary PhD awarded to the Deputy Chairman of the MHP Mr.Topsakal
The forum also featured the announcement of the decision regarding the etsblishment of the Chingis Aitmatov Academy Association in Kyrgyzstan.
Pursuant to this decision, Prof. Dr. Ilyas Topsakal, the President of the Chingis Aitmatov Institute and Deputy Chairman of the MHP, was awarded the title of ‘Honorary PhD handed over to him by Prof. Dr. Abdıldacan Akmataliyev the President of the Chingis Aitmatov Language and Literature Institute of the Kyrgyz Academy of Sciences along with numerous valuable works published by the Association.
At the forum, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Chingis Aitmatov Institute of Language and Literature of the Kyrgyz Academy of Sciences and the Chingis Aitmatov Institute.
