IRCICA Newsletter, issue 82-83

Workshop 3. Islamic civilization legacy in the material culture
of the region (23 presentations)
Workshop 4. Jadidism: history, philosophy, educational
paradigms (15 presentations)
Workshop 5. Problems and prospects of studying Islamic
civilization influence on the peoples of Volga-Ural region (17
presentations).
Parallel to these sessions, a “Conference Dedicated to Ahmed
Zek Validi’s 120th Anniversary” was organized, on 22 October.
Twenty papers were presented highlighting Ahmed Zeki
Validi Togan’s activities and different aspects of his works and
scholarship. Studies on the history of the region had gained
impulse after the travel book of the Abbasid diplomat Ibn Fadlan
dating from 921 became available thanks to the discovery of its
copy by Zeki Velidi Togan. After its first publication in 1939
in German the book was translated into various languages,
among them its Turkish translation by Professor Ramazan
Şeşen (IRCICA) which was first published in 1975. Togan, who
was of Bashkir origin, immigrated to Turkey in 1925.
16
Prof. Ilshat Gafurov, Rector of Kazan Federal University,
presented te honorary doctorate cerficate to Dr. Halit Eren
Newsletter May-August, No: 82 / September-December 2010, No: 83
Launching of the book
Tatar Histor and
Civilisation
The book titled Tatar History
and Civilisation resulted from
a joint project of the Tatarstan
Academy of Sciences of
Tatarstan and IRCICA, and
was published by the latter
in Istanbul earlier this year.
It is the first large-scale work
on Tatars and Tatarstan to be
published in English.
The ceremony was chaired by State Adviser and former President of Tatarstan H.E. Mr. Minmer Shaimiev
A book launching was
conducted in the Tatar
capital Kazan on 20 October 2010 under the chairmanship
of the State Adviser and former President of Tatarstan Mr.
Mintimer Shaimiev. Among those present were the Vice
Premier and Minister of Culture of Tatarstan Ms. Zilya
Valeyeva, OIC Secretary General Prof. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu,
the Ambassador of Turkey in Moscow Mr. Aydın Sezgin, the
Consul General of Turkey in Kazan Mr. Ahmet Ergin, and a
number of faculty, historians and guests.
H.E. Mr. Shaimiev pointed out that this publication was an
expression of the process of Tatar people’s assuming their
history and assimilating their authentic identity. Mr. Shaimiev
expressed the hope that publication of the book in the English
language will contribute in making known Tatar history and
ethnos on the eve of the World University Games to be hosted
by Kazan in 2013 (for more information and outlines of the
addresses: www.ksu.ru).
While presenting the book, Shaimiev paid tribute to the
outstanding historian, turkologist, prominent public figure,
professor of Kazan University Mirkasim Usmanov who died
on 11 October 2010 emphasizing his life-long scholarly
achievements and his special role in the project. The participants
and guests observed a moment of silence. The late Prof.
Mirkasim Usmanov was one of
the founders, and Vice-President,
of the Academy of Sciences of
Tatarstan. Earlier he was the First
Vice-Rector and acting Rector of
Kazan State University. His work
enriched significantly both the
source base and the study of the
history, literature and culture of
the Tatar people over the period
between 13th to early 20th
centuries. He was the supervisor
and the chief editor of the sevenvolume
fundamental edition
History of Tatars Since Ancient
Times, and co-editor of the
launched book. As an expression
of his contributions to scholarhip