Ahmet Baitursynuly is a Kazakh poet, literary scholar, turkologist, publicist, teacher, translator, public figure. One of the leaders of the national liberation movement of the Kazakh people at the beginning of the 20th century, the founder of Kazakh linguistics and literary criticism, reformer of the national writing system, educator, member of the government of Alash-Orda. Ahmet Baitursynuly was born in 5th of September 1872 in the Akkol village of Zhangeldi region.
The main idea of his works as “Qyryq mysal” (Forty fables), “Masa” (Mosquito) was encouraging all his people to receive knowledge and art, integrating culture and also encouraging to diligence. He translated into Kazakh many works of Russian poets as A.S. Pushkin, M.U. Lermontov, S. Y. Nadson and also French poet F. Voltaire.
The founder of the science of Kazakh linguistics and literary criticism,
national writing reformer wrote first manual “Til qural” (Language toolkit). It is the scientific basis of research, systematizing the structure of the branches of Kazakh linguistics.
Research work «Adebiet tanytqysh» (Literature guide) is the first fundamental scientific and theoretical work in Kazakh language.
A.Baitursynuly was the first scientist who gave a detailed definition of history, theory and criticism, methodology of literature and created a system of Kazakh literary criticism. He was a member of “Alash” Party, and one of the creators of party’s program;
At the First Congress of Kazakh Scientists (Orenburg, 1924), Kurultai (Baku, 1926) Akhmet Baitursynuly made a scientific report where he proved the necessity and value of the Arabic alphabet. Alphabet of Baitursynuly was based on the Arabic script adapted to the nature of the Kazakh language. That alphabet was a major cultural achievement in the formation of the national writing system.
In the "Literary Encyclopedia", published in Moscow in 1929, A. Baitursynuly was rated as "an outstanding Kazakh poet, journalist and teacher" and also the reformer of the spelling of the Kazakh language and the founder of the theory of Kazakh literature. In the book published in 1933 "Essays on Kazakh folklore and Kazakh literature" scientists M. Batalov and M. S. Silchenko, summed up the social activities of Baitursynuly by writing: "His main direction was to promote the socio-cultural awakening of the Kazakh people."
The well-known Turkologist, Academician A. N. Kononov, in his work "Biobibliographic Dictionary of Domestic Turkologists" (1974), gave a complete biography of Baitursynuly, described in detail his social activities and main works.
Now scientists from Turkey, Iran and China are studying the work of Akhmet Baitursynuly on the reform of writing and applying his scientific discoveries in their work.
In honor of Akhmet Baitursynuly, the "day of languages of the people of Kazakhstan" will be celebrated on September 5, 2017 in accordance with the decree of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan.