Liberation ideas in works of Alash activists : Liberation ideas in works of Alash activists

Abstract

“Alash” movement which lighted up in the early 20th century in the Kazakh steppe has a special place in the history of written Kazakh literature. Although it has started in the second half of 19th century during Abay’s epoc, it became significant only prior to the 20th century. This is due to the arrival of new political power to the Kazakh liberation movement arena, which was national intelligentsia. Its aim was the enlightenment of nation, a call for self-consciousness, propaganda of political literacy and unity of the nation. Therefore, Kazakh creative intelligentsia along with socio-political work performend an educational mission. Obligation of an literature is the exaltation of universal values, through which imrpoves the knowledge, the nation develops on the way to progress. In the beginning of the 20th century invaluable contribution to this progress was made by Alash activists. In this article we will separately analyze Alash activists’ works, in which the authors openly criticized the colonial policy towards Kazakhs of the tsar’s regime, and propagated liberation ideas. We will make a conclusion about the modern points of views in these works.