"Historical Memory" Conference Dedicated to the 81st Anniversary of Victory Held at KTMU
A commemorative program and scientific conference titled "Historical Memory: War and the Home Front" was held at the Faculty of Communication of the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University (KTMU), marking the 81st anniversary of the Great Victory. The event, attended by academics, students, and invited guests, addressed the historical role of the Kyrgyz people during the war years, social solidarity on the home front, and the importance of transferring collective memory to future generations.
The event began with a moment of silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the wars. As part of the program, the screening of the documentary film "Memory of the Future" brought the human dimension of the war years and the social sacrifice behind the victory back to the fore. Directed by Artykpai Suyundukov, a filmmaker and faculty member of the KTMU Department of Radio, Television, and Cinema, the documentary contributed to the rethinking of historical memory through the language of cinema.
The Impact of War on Social Memory Addressed
During the scientific session of the conference, Muratbek Kojobekov delivered a presentation titled "Examination of the Ethnic History of Kyrgyz People During the Great Patriotic War." He evaluated the effects of the war on the demographic structure, social fabric, and historical memory of Kyrgyz society. Touching upon the current findings of modern historiography, Kojobekov pointed out that the war was not merely a military struggle, but a global breaking point that transformed the cultural and sociological structures of societies.
Kojobekov stated that approximately 380,000 people from Kyrgyzstan joined the front lines during the Great Patriotic War, demonstrating the level of social mobilization of the period, and noted that the war left deep traces in the collective memory of the Kyrgyz people.
"Historical Memory is One of the Fundamental Elements of Social Identity"
In the continuation of the program, Kishimjan Eshenkulova presented a paper titled "Historical Memory: War and the Home Front" evaluating the effects of war periods on social consciousness from philosophical and sociological perspectives.
Noting that historical memory plays a decisive role in the identity construction of societies, Eshenkulova emphasized that the relationship established with the past is of great importance for the preservation of national values. It was pointed out that the integration between the soldiers fighting at the front and the segments of society maintaining production and solidarity on the home front was one of the most fundamental elements of victory.
Focus on Historical Consciousness and Social Responsibility
In the closing section of the event, attention was drawn to the historical value that the sacrifices made during wartime hold for today's social peace and understanding of independence. It was noted that the program provided a significant academic and social contribution to developing students' historical consciousness and enabling a more in-depth evaluation of the shared cultural memory.
As part of the program, Aizirek Karazakova, a student of the KTMU Department of Radio, Television, and Cinema, performed a mini-concert consisting of musical works dedicated to the war heroes of Kyrgyzstan. The performed pieces made the traces of the war years in social memory and the narratives of heroism visible through an artistic interpretation, and the concert was followed with great interest by the guests.
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