A presentation of Abay Kunanbayev’s book “Words of wisdom” in Dutch was held in The Hague
July 7, 2020, the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Kingdom of the Netherlands with Leiden University and the Institute of Literature and Art of the Republic of Kazakhstan hosted an online launching of Abay Kunanbayev’s “Boek van Overdenkingen” reissued recently in Dutch. Despite distances between countries, an online event dedicated to the 175th anniversary of the Kazakh philosopher could bring together guests from Kazakhstan and the Netherlands, among whom were Ambassadors of Kazakhstan and the Netherlands, representatives of academic circles, Parliament as well as scholars and Abay researchers from Kazakhstan.
While opening the event, Ambassador of Kazakhstan Magzhan Ilyasov pointed that Abay’s Dutch edition is an important event in the history of Dutch-Kazakh cultural relations, which can serve as a guide to the Kazakh spiritual world and fully opens philosophical depth and beauty of Abay's tractate.
One of the authors of preface word to the new book, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Kazakhstan Andre Carstens, noted in his speech that Abay is a brilliant creator of incredibly beautiful and rich poetry, in which his encyclopedic knowledge is skillfully laced with almost unlimited life wisdom. “I believe this new translation of Abay’s heritage will make a significant contribution to further develop cultural ties between the Netherlands and Kazakhstan.”
The granddaughter of Mukhtar Auezov who is an author of the famous four-volume historical novel about Abai, Professor of Leiden University Zifa Auezova has made her significant contribution to the republishing of “Boek van Overdenkingen”. According to the professor, “Abay in his philosophical works shows a synthesis of enlightenment and morality, he raises in Book problems of moral improvement, upbringing, and development of man, including through education and enlightenment. He conveys sincere empathy for his people, to whom Abay wishes a better life. His true and simple philosophy has a universal sound and continues to be relevant in modern times, - shared Z. Auezova.
The event was attended by an academic researcher of Abay’s heritage from Kazakhstan, director of Mukhtar Auezov’s museum in Almaty Diyar Kunaev, who told about European and Kazakh literature ties and Abay’s role therein, noting that Abay was familiar with works of Spinoza, Socrates, Aristotle, Spencer, Goethe, Byron, and Schiller.
One of the highlights of the session was a live acapella performance of Kudaibergen Abildin, a graduate master of the Maastricht Conservatorium Academy. Tenor presented guests Abay’s one of the most lyric song Apple of my eyes – Көзімнің қарасы.
By the end of the presentation guests and participants were offered to receive by post “Boek van Overdenkingen” as a memorable gift from its launching event. Beyond that several copies of books will be delivered to university libraries and city libraries of The Hague, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam.