On 19 August 2025, a round table dedicated to the 180th anniversary of the great Kazakh thinker, poet and educator Abai Kunanbayev was held in Samarkand at the Abai Scientific and Cultural Centre, located at the Sh. Rashidov Samarkand State University.

The event was organised by the Consulate General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Samarkand in conjunction with Sh. Rashidov Samarkand State University.

Among the participants were the Rector of Sh. Rashidov Samarkand State University, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Rustam Kalmuradov, Director of the International Institute for Central Asian Studies (MICAI), Evren Rutbil, professors and researchers from the Institute of Turkology, the Department of Uzbek Language and Literature, the Department of Classical Literature, the Department of Russian and Foreign Literature, the Department of Literature of the Independence Period and Literary Theory, and the Department of Tajik Philosophy and Oriental Languages.

The participants of the round table emphasised that Abai Kunanbayev's spiritual legacy consists of the values of humanism, the pursuit of knowledge, tolerance and peace, which unite the peoples of our region. It was particularly noted that Abai was a master translator and a profound interpreter of world literature. He translated into Kazakh the works of Pushkin, Lermontov, Goethe, Byron, Schiller, as well as the great Eastern poets Alisher Navoi, Firdausi, Nizami, Saadi and Hafiz. Abai Kunanbayev managed to combine Islamic-Eastern and Russian-European philosophy into a single humanistic concept. Along with this, it was emphasised that Abai Kunanbayev was the first to introduce the genre of romance into Kazakh culture, laying the foundations for a new form of poetry in Central Asia. Works such as ‘Közimniң karasy,’ ‘Zhelsiz tunde zaryk ay,’ and others are now performed on leading world stages by famous pop and opera singers.

The round table served as a platform for the exchange of scientific views and cultural interpretations, discussion of Kazakh-Uzbek linguistic and literary ties, and the development of practical initiatives aimed at promoting Abay's ideas among young people, research communities and the general public.

In addition, the event featured the presentation of a book by Bahodir Karimov, an Uzbek researcher of Abai Kunanbayev's work and professor at the Department of Uzbek Language and Literature at Tashkent State University named after A. Navoi, entitled Abai Ma'rifati (‘The Enlightenment of Abai’), published with the support of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Uzbekistan.

During the round table discussion, Talgat Sharipov, Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Samarkand, delivered a welcoming speech. Talgat Sharipov, who expressed his sincere gratitude to Sharaf Rashidov Samarkand State University and personally to the Rector of the University, Rustam Ibragimovich Kalmuradov, for the excellent organisation of this event and for their comprehensive assistance in strengthening Kazakh-Uzbek intercultural ties.

The Consul General also emphasised that Abai's works are immortal, becoming increasingly relevant over time and setting the tone for social, cultural and spiritual life.

The event served to strengthen cultural and humanitarian ties between our brotherly peoples, broadening the horizons of intercultural dialogue and demonstrating the legacy of the great personality of Abai, which will become a solid bridge between the past and the future of the countries of Central Asia. Today's interaction will open new horizons in strengthening humanitarian ties between peoples.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-samarkand/press/news/details/1054162?lang=kk