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Chokan ValihanovScientist-historian
Date of Birth: 11.1835Год
Country:  Kazakhstan |
Content:
Biography of Chokan Valikhanov
Early Life and EducationChokan Valikhanov was born in November 1835 into a family with a strong pro-Russian orientation. His grandfather, Vali, was the grandson of Khan Ablai, the last khan of the Middle Zhuz, and his grandmother was Ayganym. Even before Chokan's birth, there was a desire in the steppe to preserve independence and defend their own statehood, represented by Kenesary Kasymov, who led the national liberation movement of the Kazakh people. Chokan's father, Chingis, had a favorable relationship with the Russian administration, evident from his appointment as the senior sultan of one of the districts and his rank as a colonel. However, he was also an educated man and assisted Russian scholars in studying folklore and way of life. Chokan's full name was Muhammad-Khanafiya, but he was given the nickname Chokan by his mother.
Chokan spent his childhood in the steppe, among the people. He received his initial education in his hometown of Kushmurun, where he learned Arabic, gained knowledge of Eastern poetry, and learned to draw. Drawing became his passion, and his sketches revealed his extraordinary talent as an artist. From a young age, his father involved Chokan in collecting materials related to legends and folk traditions and introduced him to educated Russian scholars, engineers, and officers.
The years spent in the Omsk Cadet Corps were crucial for Chokan's intellectual development. He formed connections with his mentors and peers, including orientalist N. F. Kostyletskii, historian P. V. Gontsevskii, researcher of the history of Siberia and Kazakhstan N. M. Yadrintsev, prominent geographer G. N. Potanin, and others. Influential figures such as the revolutionary S. V. Durov, P. P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky, E. P. Kovalevsky, and F. M. Dostoevsky also entered Chokan's circle. Dostoevsky even expressed his love for Chokan in a letter, stating that he thought of him and his destiny all day long. The education Chokan received in the cadet corps planted the seeds of Russian and contemporary culture, science, and art within him.
Career
Chokan's subsequent career was predetermined by his family tradition and acquired education. He became a Russian officer, scout, diplomat, and official carrying out various assignments for the tsarist administration. However, he couldn't ignore the fact that he remained an "outsider" due to his lower class in the cadet corps. He witnessed the oppression and humiliation experienced by his fellow Kazakhs at the hands of Russian officials and their local accomplices. His only hope to retain his humanity was to dedicate himself to the "neutral cause" of science and literary creativity. Even in the cadet corps, Chokan developed a passion for travel and dreamed of "discovering unexplored Asia" for the world. While he achieved his dream, he went beyond his initial expectations. He not only explored and described "unexplored" places as a geographer and traveler but also revealed the essence of Central Asia - its people, history, and way of thinking and feeling. Whether it was his famous Kashgar expedition, which brought him worldwide recognition as a brave traveler, his Issyk-Kul expedition, or his trips to Kulja, Chokan didn't present himself solely as a geographer, economist, ethnographer, or a tsarist agent. He demonstrated his ability to see what he observed from both inside and outside perspectives, through the eyes of an educated European. He recorded a brilliant excerpt from "Manas" - "The Death of Kukotai-khan and His Memorial" - making a significant contribution to world science. His research shed light on the ancient and enduring roots of Kazakh mentality, including studies on "Traces of Shamanism among Kyrgyz (Kazakhs)" and "Islam in the Steppe." He held an unparalleled primacy in exploring the Zoroastrian nature of shamanism.
Legacy
Chokan Valikhanov's contribution to the study of Kazakh culture and history is invaluable. His works on the history and culture of Central Asia and the Far East were published by the Russian Geographical Society. He published articles on the Kazakhs, traces of shamanism among the Kyrgyz, Kazakh genealogy, and nomadic Kazakhs' way of life and customs. He also dedicated his research to Kazakh folklore and epic poetry. Valikhanov emphasized the poetic and musical soul of the Kazakh people, highlighting their unique musical talent. He collected and recorded the epic poem "Kozy-Korpesh and Bayan-Sulu." Valikhanov's research provided a comprehensive picture of the historical and spiritual life of the Kazakh people.
Chokan Valikhanov passed away in 1865, and a memorial complex was erected in Altyn-Emel in honor of the 150th anniversary of his birth in 1985. A.X. Margulan made a significant contribution to the study of Valikhanov's work, publishing his collected works in five volumes between 1961 and 1972. Valikhanov's tradition of preserving the spiritual heritage of the Kazakh people continues with individuals like Zataevich, who has preserved Kazakh songs for global musical culture. Valikhanov's ideas about the cultural and historical connection between the Kazakh and Russian people were further developed by L. I. Gumilev in his concept of Eurasianism.
