THE SOVIET HISTORIOGRAPHY AND THE QUESTION OF KAZAKHSTAN’S HISTORY

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THE SOVIET HISTORIOGRAPHY AND
immigrants and Kazakhs who accepted Orthodox religion. On contrary
Kazakh sultans, mullahs and tribal leaders, who lost prerogatives as
a result of these progressive developments, felt annoyed and started
provocations against Russia. “This reactionary way of rebellion incidents
was explained as follows: “The Kazakh people, who were tried
to get rid of Russia by Kazakh chieftains’ incitements, were turned
into a victim that could easily be fallen into hands of the imperialists
like Englishmen.” According to Soviet propaganda, Turkestan people’s
participation with Russia was not always non-resistant. Even if resistance
happened it came from feudal chieftains, but people always
behaved friendly to Russian people. 261
After 1950s start publication of history book representing Tsardom
Russia occupations as a progressive movement. Among these works is
A. Nurkanav’s “Kazakhs with Great Russia until infinity” published in
Almaty in 1957 and T. Shoinbayev’s “The progressive ways of Russia’s
annexation of Kazakhstan” published also in Almaty in 1963. 262
Kazakh historians, who at that time had to support new Soviet
thesis, tried to base Russia’s annexation of Kazakhstan with these
facts: Russia taking Kazakhstan under its dominance protected Kazakh
people form Tatar-Mongols attacks, Kazakh people found peace by bein
protected from inside and outside attacks, and in peace Kazakhstan
production, trade and agriculture increased.
Article published in 1958 in magazine called “Jas Muallim” (Young
teacher) is guiding history teachers as follows: “In gaining a new
generations’ socialist point of view in Kazakhstan history classes are
very important. New generations learning Kazakh history will notice
the progression of Kazakhstan’s participation to Russia. With this
participation in Kazakhstan grew Kazakhs self-esteem, as a result
of it facilities of production in Kazakh steppes increased and raised
persons like Abay Kunanbayev, Chokan Velikhanov ve Ibıray (İbrahim)
Altınsarin. As one another important result of this annexation, Kazakhs
who met with bright Russian civilization had a chance to escape from
being in regressive Muslim East World.” 263
The progressive way of Russian occupation was taken in a curriculum
of secondary education, too. Teachers were suggested to present
occupations progressive quality on history classes as follows:
“Russian help to Kazakhstan against Dzungars’ attacks should be in
forefront using historical material. Social and economical progress of
261 Ibid, pp. 12-14.
262 Urban, P., “Sovyet Milli Siyasetinin Bugünkü Eğilimleri”, Dergi, No: 34, 1964, p. 79.
263 Jas Muallim, No: 7, 1958, p. 32