THE SOVIET HISTORIOGRAPHY AND THE QUESTION OF KAZAKHSTAN’S HISTORY

THE QUESTION OF KAZAKHSTAN’S HISTORY 107
He established the Khanate committee. He also emphasized the
roles of several prominent beys, such as Navryzbai, Aghybai, Iman
Batur, Chukmar Baktybayev, and Saydak Hozha Ospanov.
He introduced certain limits against the infinite rights of beys
within a reformed judicial system with the help of Aryngazi Sultan,
oriented in accordance with the Sharia law. He regulated the cases
himself. He also appointed himself and other mullahs to the cases
regarding horse theft among the Kazakh clans.
In order to handle diplomatic affairs, he appointed experienced
Kyrgyz staff, such as Chukmar Baktybayev, Saydak Hozha Ospanov,
Alim Yagudin, and Esengeldi Sarzhanov, who had the potential to
arrange and negotiate treaties with China and Russia and he created
a national diplomacy protocol.
He introduced new reforms through consolidating the state’s administrative
system.
He pioneered new reforms on the economy and trade.
All these activities undoubtedly contributed to the Kazakh nation’s
state formation, formed the basis of our country’s state administration,
and determined the ideological stance of today’s independent Kazakhstan.
Bekmakhanov commented: “Kenessary accomplished great progressive
reforms. These reforms soon contributed to the unification of Kazakh
people and consolidation of Kazakh state. However, we should also
assert that these reforms were introduced in order to empower the
feudal state. A Kazakh state would not survive under the circumstances
of the era.” 166
Nowadays, Kenessary’s statue on a horse and a street named after
him in Astana encourages younger generations for the future. Thus,
Bekmakhanov’s observation that “I told that the Kazakh nation had
had a state and homeland” during the most troubled times by successfully
articulating the historical role of Kenessary has a special
meaning. 167 We should strive to understand him.
Unfortunately, it is a truth that a person like him who loved his
people and produced beneficial works for the people was hindered by
the “envy” of our citizens as cited by our ancestor Abay. It is pity that
he left us too early.
Today here in Turkey, your interest in Kazakh history and the academic
legacy of a prominent scholar of the Kazakh nation deserves
applause. For this purpose, I re-iterate my gratitude.
166 Bekmakhanov, E., Kazahstan v 20-40-e Gody XIX veka, A-Ata, 1992.
167 Bekmakhanov, E., Jeti Tomdıq Şıgarmalar Jinagı, cilt 6 (Stenogarmma E. B. Bekmakhanovtın
“XIX. Gazırdın 20-40 jj. Qazaqstan” kitabının diskussyası”, 2005, p. 360.