News

The “Faculty of Humanities Book Promotion Day” held at Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University (KTMU) evolved into a significant celebration of culture and science, making academic production visible while bringing authors and readers together under one place.

Organized by the Faculty of Humanities of Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University in cooperation with TÜRKSOY, the event brought together students and academicians, hosting an important scientific and cultural gathering for the Turkestan region within the university. At the event, where academic knowledge was embodied through books, scholarly works produced at the university were introduced to a wide audience.

At the book exhibition held in the Faculty of Humanities foyer, books authored by KTMU faculty members and published through the university’s Publishing Office, along with academic journals, were presented to readers. Within the scope of the event, the work of Prof. Dr. Abdulvahap Kara—who translated into Turkish selected French articles titled “The Soviet Union’s Policy Toward the Turkic World,” reflecting the intellectual world of Mustafa Chokay, one of the prominent thinkers of Turkestan—attracted considerable attention. The event was attended by KTMU Rector Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Ceylan, Minister-Counsellor of the Embassy of Kazakhstan Gülmira Tursunali, TÜRKSOY Deputy Secretary-General Sayit Yusuf, authors, academicians, and students.

Rector Ceylan: “The Book Is the Most Strategic Value Representing the Unity and Knowledge Power of the Turkic World”

Rector Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Ceylan emphasized their determination to strengthen the scientific potential of Manas University and enrich its library resources, noting that Manas University Press has become a well-recognized academic institution at the international level. Highlighting the importance of the library donation campaign, Rector Ceylan stated that each academic donating at least 20 books carries great significance. Setting a personal example, he shared that he had donated 5,000 books to the university library. He also noted that, together with digital databases, the number of accessible resources at the university has reached 2 million, emphasizing that access to knowledge is supported through both printed and digital means.

Prof. Dr. Ceylan further underlined that compiling articles written about Mustafa Chokay—one of Kazakhstan’s prominent intellectuals—into a work in Kyrgyz Turkish is highly valuable for preserving and transmitting shared intellectual heritage to future generations. He stated that, through such qualified publications, the university continues to contribute to the enduring memory of the Turkic world. Referring to Safahat, one of the most important works of Mehmet Akif Ersoy, being translated into Kyrgyz Turkish, Rector Ceylan described this as a meaningful step that deepens cultural interaction within the Turkic world. He also noted that Manas University serves as a “golden bridge” among Turkic communities. Emphasizing that youth who read and write books will become future leaders and bureaucrats, Prof. Dr. Ceylan defined books as one of the most strategic values strengthening unity in the Turkic world and representing the university’s intellectual productivity.

Tursunali: “Mustafa Chokay Is a Symbol of the Turkic World’s Struggle for Independence”

Gülmira Tursunali, Minister-Counsellor of the Embassy of Kazakhstan, highlighted the significance of Mustafa Chokay for the Kazakh people and the Turkic world. She stated: “Mustafa Chokay holds an exceptional place within the Kazakh people and the Turkic world. He is a distinguished figure who prioritized the freedom of his people above all, aimed to position them equally among democratic states, and struggled with great determination for their political and economic development.” Emphasizing that Chokay devoted his life to the independence and freedom of the Turkic world, Tursunali noted that he was not only a thinker but also a dedicated leader who fought for his ideals. She also expressed her gratitude to Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University and Rector Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Ceylan for bringing works about Mustafa Chokay into Kyrgyz Turkish and presenting them to the academic world.

“We Are Determined to Pass On the Cultural Heritage of the Turkic World to Future Generations”

TÜRKSOY Deputy Secretary General Sayit Yusuf stated that they are determined to continue promoting literary and cultural works of the Turkic world within the framework of shared values and to pass this rich heritage on to future generations. Emphasizing the importance of such events in preserving and disseminating common cultural heritage, Yusuf expressed his hope that similar academic and cultural collaborations will continue to grow. He also underlined that Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University is one of their key partners, noting: “For nearly 30 years, our cooperation with KTMU has significantly contributed to strengthening the shared awareness of language, culture, and history in the Turkic world. Beyond being a higher education institution, Manas University is a strategic center that sustains the collective memory of the Turkic world and supports cultural continuity through academic production. As TÜRKSOY, we always feel KTMU’s contribution and support in many of our cultural and scientific activities.”

“Books Are Powerful Bridges Between Cultures”

Dean of the Faculty of Humanities Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Aşık stated that as of 2025, a total of 14 book chapters have been published within the faculty, emphasizing that producing these works in Kyrgyz, English, and Turkish demonstrates the faculty’s international academic capacity. Addressing the perception that books sometimes fall behind in the digital age, especially among youth, Aşık stressed that books remain the deepest, most reliable, and most enduring sources of knowledge. He added that they are pleased to make academic production visible and bring valuable works together with readers through such events, emphasizing that books are not only carriers of knowledge but also powerful cultural bridges.

The Legacy of Mustafa Chokay Presented at Manas

As part of the event, the “Talk with Authors” session introduced an important work supported by TÜRKSOY. Prof. Dr. Abdulvahap Kara presented his Turkish translation of selected French articles by Kazakh politician and intellectual Mustafa Chokay, published under the title “The Soviet Union’s Policy Toward the Turkic World.” The Kyrgyz Turkish edition of the work was prepared under the editorship of Assist. Prof. Dr. Zuhra Altımışova, a faculty member of the Department of History at the Faculty of Humanities, and translated by Sabırbek Börübayev, Advisor to the TÜRKSOY Secretary General and a graduate of KTMU’s Department of Turkology. In his talk, 

Prof. Dr. Kara discussed the preparation process and academic significance of the work, noting that Chokay critically and historically analyzed Soviet policies toward the Turkic world. The session comprehensively addressed Chokay’s life, political struggle, intellectual world, and the ideas reflected in his writings. Participants had the opportunity to gain deeper insight into his views on independence, national identity, and freedom in the Turkic world, as well as their continuing relevance today.

Authors Introduced Their Works at the Book Promotion Day

Prof. Dr. Layli Ükübaeva provided information on the project titled “The History of Kyrgyz, Kazakh, Uzbek, Turkmen, and Azerbaijani Literatures in the Period of Independence,” prepared to mark the 30th anniversary of the independence of these countries. She explained that the work offers a comprehensive analysis of the transformation of Turkic world literatures during the independence period, covering poetry, prose, novels, children’s literature, and literary studies in detail. Prof. Dr. Ükübaeva emphasized that the study is an important resource for understanding the shared heritage, aesthetic pursuits, and new literary trends that emerged during this period.

Cyldyzbek Tursunbaev and Altynbek Ismailov introduced their work translating selected pieces from Mehmet Akif Ersoy’s poetic collection Safahat into Kyrgyz Turkish. They noted that they approached this important classic of Turkish literature from an academic perspective and aimed to convey its spirit and aesthetic depth accurately to Kyrgyz readers. As part of the event, Tursunbaev recited selected poems by Mehmet Akif Ersoy, adding a special dimension to the program.

Manas TV'nin Haberi: https://youtu.be/eCZS14jP3Ys