On September 13, 2022, the presentation of the book “The Wisdom of the Great Steppe – Abai Kunanbaiuly” and the 2-volume work “Abai Kunanbaiuly: a descriptive bibliographic index” prepared by the Eurasian Research Institute of the Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University was held.

At the opening ceremony, Dr. Suat Beylur, Director of the Eurasian Research Institute of the Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University, Chairman of the Board of Trustees  of Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University, Professor, Dr. Muhittin Şimşek, Rector of Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University, Dr. Zhanar Temirbekova, Consul General of the Republic of Turkie in Almaty Ali Ryza Akıncı, Consul of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Almaty Anar Huseynzade, Director of the M. Auezov Institute of Literature and Art, professor, Ph.D., Kenjekhan Matyzhanov, director of the research institute “Abai Academy” Zhandos Aubakir and director of the research center “Hakim Abai” of the Kazakh National Pedagogical University, professor, Dr. Jabal Shoyinbet gave a speech.

In his speech, the chairman of the Board of Trustees, professor Dr. Muhittin Şimşek said that Abay Kunanbayuly has an important value not only for Kazakhstan, but for the whole Turkic world, and Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University has taken this initiative to recognize, learn, and study Abai in countries outside of Kazakhstan and Turkie. He said that he attaches great importance to the production of these valuable works. Noting the contribution of these publications to the related literature, Professor Dr. Muhittin Şimşek expressed his gratitude to the researchers who contributed to the presented works, including the employees of the institute.

After the opening speech, professor of Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, Ph.D. Islamia Khalitova, lecturer of the Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory, associate professor Aliya Sabirova, deputy director of the Auezov Institute of Literature and Art, docent, Ph.D. Toreali Kydyr, chief researcher of the Auezov Institute of Literature and Art, professor, Ph.D. Serikkazy Korabay, and senior researcher of the Eurasian Research Institute Almas Zhunisbaev fully explained the work process of the prepared works. The presenters shared their opinions on a number of important issues in modern Abai studies, emphasising that the proposed work is full of scientific innovations and will give a fresh impetus to the further development of Abai science.

Dr. Suat Beylur noted that the book “The Wisdom of the Great Steppe – Abai Kunanbaiuly” is a collective monograph that presents Abai’s life and work from different angles. It includes chapters such as “The life and family of Abai Kunanbaiuly”, “Abai Kunanbaiuly’s growing environment and times and influences of personalities on him”, “Abai and spiritual movements of the 20th century”, “Hakim Abai”, “Abay’s character”, “Abai’s literary school”, “Comparison of manuscripts of Abai’s works”, “Linguistic analysis of Abai’s works”, “Problems of translating Abai’s works into foreign languages”, “Satire in Abai’s works”, “Woman-mother in Abai’s works”, “Abai and music”, “Religious foundations of Abai’s views”, “Historical views of Abai”, “Pedagogical views of Abai”, “Opposition of the Soviet totalitarian system to Abai’s works”, ” Traces of Soviet ideology in the novel “Abai Zholy” and “Manifestations of Abai’s philosophy in the foreign policy of Kazakhstan”.

Almas Zhunisbayev gave detailed information about the two-volume work “Abai Kunanbaiuly: descriptive bibliographic index,” which indexes Abai’s works, monographs, textbooks, teaching-methodical tools, bibliographic indexes, dissertations (doctoral, candidate, and PhD), newspapers, and magazine articles. Over 12,000 records have been collected. In this context, Almas Zhunisbaev notes that in volume I of the bibliography, a total of 1069 pieces of work on Abai studies published in the country and abroad in Kazakh and foreign languages were indexed, and in volume II, the bibliography includes all editions of the novel “Abai Zholy” and book chapters about Abai, a total of more than 10,600 publications, including domestic and foreign newspaper and magazine articles, scientific conferences, and symposium reports. He pointed out that this work is the first descriptive and most complete bibliography in its field.

After the presentation, all participants were given two books and publications from the institute.