THE SOVIET HISTORIOGRAPHY AND THE QUESTION OF KAZAKHSTAN’S HISTORY

THE QUESTION OF KAZAKHSTAN’S HISTORY 79
köl (Issyk-kul’), they were captured by the Kyrgyzs and were killed a
few days later. Kenesary’s head was sent to the Russian Empire, and
in return, the Kyrgyz manaps and soldiers were rewarded with the
medals and the robes.
As the tragic end of Kenesary’s life is related to the Kyrgyzs, it is
also useful to look at the Kyrgyz historiography. In Kyrgyz historiography,
by one view, Kenesary is seen as an enemy, and by another
opinion, he is evaluated as a person that should be assessed in accordance
with the conditions of his period. According to the latter
view, it is necessary to do profound research keeping in mind the
political environment of that period, and to conclude as a result of
this in-depth research.
Belek Soltonoyev 110 , Kyrgyz historian, in his book Kyzyl Kyrgyz
Taryhy 111 (Red History of the Kyrgyzs) written in the years 1895-1934,
provided the readers with plenty of historical details. The book contains
some valuable information, though some should be used with caution.
Soltonoyev expressed that Kenesary’s father Kasym sent messengers to
Ormon, the Kyrgyz khan, in order to be in solidarity. Later on, Kenesary
also sent an ambassador. Besides, Nauryzbai’s (Kenesary’s brother) last
words before he was killed were mentioned in the book. 112
Another famous Kyrgyz historian Begimaly Jamgerchinov in his article
“Kirghizia v epohkhu Ormon hana” (Kirghizia during Ormon Han Period),
published in 1944, indicated that “Ormon Khan, just like Kenesary, was
not far beyond from the influence of the feudal environment in which
they lived and acted”. 113 In this work written as early as the 1940s by
Jamgerchinov, the geopolitical conditions of the time were examined
from various angles. 114 The author stated that in order to make an
analysis, it is necessary to take into consideration the circumstances
of the period. Unfortunately, this broad vision sometimes cannot be
110 Belek Soltonoyev was one of the first Kyrgyz historianp. During the Stalinist repressions
that were especially addressed towards the intellectuals, he was also arrested and shot
in 1938. The writer was accused of being against the Socialist and Stalinist order, and was
purged. The author’s works and writings were prohibited. The above-mentioned work was
written between the years 1895 and 1934; however, it was first published in 1993, after the dissolution
of the Soviet Union (Soltonoyev, 1993:2, inner cover).
111 Another title of this book was Kyrgyz-Kazak Taryhy (History of the Kyrgyzs and the Kazaks)
(K.T. Abdrahmanov-K.K. Kerimov, 2003:48).
112 Soltonoyev, Belek. Kyzyl Kyrgyz Taryhy (Red History of the Kyrgyzs), Bishkek, 1993, volp. 1-2.
113 Jamgerchinov, Begimaly. Kirgizy v epohu Ormon-Hana (The Kyrgyzs during Ormon
Khan Era). Frunze, 1944, p. 120.
114 Jamgerchinov, Begimaly. Kirgizy v epohu Ormon-Hana (The Kyrgyzs during Ormon
Khan Era). Frunze, 1944.