BIGGEST NEWPAPER OF THE ERASMIA DISTRICT ‘THE LAUDIUM SUN’ PUBLISHED ARTICLE ABOUT AL-FARABI’S 1150TH BIRTH ANNI-VERSARY AND SPECIAL INTERVIEW WITH THE AMBASSADOR OF KAZAKHSTAN
THE CITY OF TSHWANE
31 July 2021
This year Kazakhstan and the world community are celebrating under the UNESCO aegis the 1150th birth anniversary of Abu Nasr Al-Farabi, outstanding scientist, great philosopher, and educator.
On this occasion, the biggest newspaper of Erasmia district, the ‘Laudium Sun’, has placed on 31 July 2020 on its pages a publication, comprised of an Article, devoted to this topic, entitled, “THE JOINT DIPLOMATIC AND CULTURAL PROJECT BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICAN AND KAZAKHSTAN ON THE LEGACY OF NELSON MANDELA AND ABU NASR AL FARABI” (1 full page), and also special interview with the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to South Africa, entitled, ‘AMBASSADOR OF KAZAKHSTAN SPEAKS TO COMMUNITY’ (2 full pages).
To read this publication on the ‘Laudium Sun’s website, please follow the link below:
http://www.nismedia.co.za/ls31jul19.html
http://www.nismedia.co.za/ls31jul20.html
http://www.nismedia.co.za/ls31jul21.html
Alternatively, the Article’s full text is as follows:
COMMUNITY TO BENEFIT FROM PLANS TO CHANGE STREET NAME OF VAN DER HEEVER STREET IN ERASMIA…
This year, the international community, along with Islamic World are celebrating the 1150th anniversary of the outstanding scientist, philosopher and educator of the X Century, Abu Nasr Al-Farabi (870AD–950AD), known in the West as Alpharabius.
In honour of Abu Nasr Al-Farabi, plans are afoot to rename Van Den Heever Street in Erasmia to Abu Nasr Al-Farabi Street, and by mutual understanding to rename one of the main streets in the capital city of Kazakhstan to Nelson Mandela Street.
Furthermore, the Al-Farabi University in Kazakhstan will be assisting Al-Ghazali College, presently on Van Den Heever Street, with various educational programmes including bursaries.
Abu Nasr Al Farabi is known as the 2nd teacher after Aristotle, who is regarded as the first teacher. His scientific legacy was repeatedly published in the South African Journal of Philosophy and other publications of our country. He is also held in very high esteem and highly respected by the Islamic communities, globally and regionally, and in South Africa itself.
The Principal of the al Ghazali College Mr Suleiman Khan said, “There are many streets throughout the country named Van Den Heever Street and we fully support the name change. It will strengthen the cultural, educational relationship and the cooperation between the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Kazakhstan.”
Mr Abdul Kader Kurtha, Liaison of Masjid Abu Bakr Siddique, said, “The name Van Den Heever is linked to our country’s dark past of apartheid and any change from this will be a move in the right direction.”
“The Al Farabi University in Kazakhstan, will initially provide us with 3 bursaries to deserving students who apply, along with an exchange program for students and teachers.” said Haroon Seedat, Head of Department of English at Al Ghazali.
Dr Abdool Razack Carrim, who resides on Van Den Heever Street said, “It will be an honour and a privilege to have our street named after such a famous and honourable legend. I fully support the idea.”
Another Van Den Heever Street resident, Shanti Ramsamujh told the LAUDIUM SUN, “There is only one God and I am God’s child and I bless every single person on this universe, I don’t have a problem with the name change. Although, I never thought that street names can be changed.”
Marlene Bezuidenhout, also of Van Den Heever Street, shared this opinion, “I have been living in Erasmia for 39 years and I have become family with many of the residents. We should look forward to street name changes like this and not stick to past history.”
In an effort of mutual understanding and exchange, one of the main streets in the capital city of Nur Sultan in Kazakhstan is to be changed to Nelson Mandela Street.
Ambassador of Kazakhstan to South Africa, H.E. Mr Kanat Tumysh said, “After visiting the beautiful community of Erasmia and Christoburg, we have no doubt that this project will materialize. We believe that if the community supports the name change along with our concrete appeal to the South African authorities, this initiative will also open more doors between our country, namely in the fields of investment, tourism, agriculture and education”.
“We express our special thanks to those local residents from different cultural and religious origins, as well as to the leadership of Al-Ghazali College and Masjid Abu Bakr Siddique (on Van Den Heever Street, Erasmia), who preliminarily supported this innovative initiative,” highlighted H.E. Mr Kanat Tumysh.
AMBASSADOR OF KAZAKHSTAN SPEAKS TO COMMUNITY
THE ‘LAUDIUM SUN’s INTERVIEW
WITH THE AMBASSADOR OF KAZAKHSTAN
In an effort to gain a better understanding of the diplomatic relationship between South Africa and Kazakhstan, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to South Africa, H.E. MR KANAT TUMYSH spoke to the LAUDIUM SUN about how the two countries are forging a relationship and how the local community would be benefitting in the educational field among others.
This year the international community, under the aegis of UNESCO, is celebrating the 1150th birth anniversary of an outstanding scientist, philosopher and educator of the Tenth Century, Abu Nasr Muhammad ibn Tarkhan ibn Uzlag Al-Farabi At-Turki, who is also known as Alpharabius (870 – 950), a great medieval thinker with Turkic roots.
On this occasion, the LAUDIUM SUN interviewed HIS EXCELLENCY MR KANAT TUMYSH, AMBASSADOR OF KAZAKHSTAN TO SOUTH AFRICA.
Q-1: WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND TO THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN INDEPENDENCE, ITS BRIEF HISTORY AND CURRENT STANCE OF OUR BILATERAL RELATIONS?
A-1: The Republic of Kazakhstan is part of a very ancient and vast region of Central and South Asia. It includes 14 states, in particular, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Some brotherly countries, geographically located in the Western Asia region, inter alia, Turkey and Azerbaijan, also have close connections with the people from our part of the world.
Kazakhstan is also an incredibly unique trans-continental country, located both in Asia and Europe. It is the world's largest landlocked country, and the ninth-largest country in the world, with an area of about 3 million square kilometres. Our territory is almost equal to that of India. Kazakhstan has advanced oil and gas industries. It also has vast mineral resources and is among the world’s top-5 wheat producers.
The terrain of Kazakhstan includes flatlands, rock canyons, hills, deltas, snow-capped mountains, and deserts. The Kazakhstan population is about 20 million people. Since 1997, the capital is Nur-Sultan, which means “Bright Ruler” or “Radiant Ruler”.
The territory of Kazakhstan has historically been inhabited by nomadic groups and empires. In antiquity, the nomadic Scythians inhabited our land. Then Turkic nomads, who trace their ancestry to many Turkic states such as the First and Second Turkic Khaganates, have inhabited the country throughout its history.
In the 13th century, the territory of Kazakhstan was part of the Mongolian Empire under Genghis Khan.
By the 16th century, the Kazakhs emerged as a distinct group and created the independent Kazakh Khanate.
The Mughal Empire, an early-modern empire that ruled much of South Asia between the 16th and 19th centuries, was founded in 1526 by the great leader of Turkic origin, Babur Zahīr ud-Dīn Muhammad, a warrior chieftain from what today is Central Asia (Uzbekistan). He was the First Emperor of the Mughal dynasty (1526–1530) on the Indian subcontinent.
Hence, we have historic and cultural similarities with those citizens of South Africa who originated from that very subcontinent.
In the 18th-19th centuries Kazakhstan became part of the Russian Empire, and in the 20th century, was part of the Soviet Union.
Kazakhstan declared its independence during the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, under the wise leadership of the founding father of our state, H.E. Mr. Nursultan Nazarbayev, the First President of Kazakhstan, the Leader of the Nation (Elbasy).
The current President of Kazakhstan, as of 2019, is H.E. Mr Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
In the 21st century, Kazakhstan has executed successful work to develop its economy, especially its dominant hydrocarbon and mining industries, as well as grain agriculture.
Kazakhstan’s main ethnicities include Kazakhs (70% of the population), as well as Russians, Uzbeks, Ukrainians, Germans, Tatars, Uyghurs, and Koreans.
Hanafi Islam is the religion of about 75% of the population, with Orthodox Christianity practised by 20%, and the rest - by other religious denominations.
I would like to express my great appreciation for the strong friendship between our two countries. We are partners. In numerous fields, people from our nations are working together to advance our shared interests. This has produced tangible outcomes and helped identify priority areas. Indeed, the two nations have started a very promising conversation on a range of important issues, including cooperation in the fields of defence, security, industry, trade, overall economic development, energy, and education.
We would like to stress the interest of Kazakhstan’s leadership in further efforts to improve mechanisms of mutually beneficial cooperation. In this vein, it is important to also promote cooperation in the mining industry, engineering, and agricultural sectors, in particular, we should focus on the export of wheat and exchange of advanced agricultural technologies.
Hence; Improving quality of education; Reform of law enforcement system; Support for small/medium enterprises and national exporting businesses; along with developing agriculture are among the top priorities that President Tokayev highlighted last year in his most important speeches, in particular, the Inaugural statement and the State of the Nation Address. By doing this, he designed prospects for the future development of the country’s reforms in the political, social, and economic spheres. He also mentioned Kazakhstan’s measures to modernize and diversify its economy, promote transit and transport potential and attract investment. This resonates with H.E. President Ramaphosa’s initiative to attract multi-billion USD investments from South Africa’s partners in the foreseeable future.
We also share common values and a strong commitment to contribute jointly to the principles of multilateralism and United Nations’ pillars, having worked, in particular, as non-permanent members of the Security Council.
For instance, we work hand-in-hand to make Africa, Middle East and Asia an inhospitable terrain for terrorists, freeing our planet from nuclear weapons and nuclear tests, advancing effective and sustainable primary health care for all, promoting empowerment of women and many other spheres.
Our Founding President also proposed to create a new geopolitical reality based on the establishment of a direct dialogue among the Quartet of the United States, Russia, China, and the EU. Yet, many of the troubles of the contemporary world lie in the lack of trust and dialogue. We believe that such a reputable state as South Africa, as a full member of Non-Aligned Movement and BRICS, as well as elected member of the UN Security Council, will be instrumental in the implementation of this idea. We believe that taking into account excellent relationships between our two countries, RSA will seriously consider joining these initiatives.
I look forward to working with the people of South Africa to continue this tradition of partnership. For over 27 years, since we established our diplomatic relations, this tie has grown steadily and smoothly. And even meeting this difficult time for our planet, we have worked together and accomplished much in pursuit of shared goals, most particularly to build a more just, prosperous, and safer world.
This work rests on our shared commitment to maintain peace and security, ensure sustainable development, as well as promote humanitarian space. As the relationship between our countries grows and develops, our shared values ensure that we will remain close.
I am pleased to offer you my personal assurance that I will do my utmost to continue to build on our strong relationship to make our shared vision for the future a reality.
Q-2: WHO WAS ABU NASR AL FARABI AND WHAT IS HIS LEGACY FOR THE CURRENT GENERATION, SPECIFICALLY IN TERM OF GETTING EDUCATION AND LEARNING TOWARDS THE SUCCESS?
A-2: Al-Farabi is most memorable today for his rich legacy as scientist, philosopher, educator, jurist, cosmologist, music scholar, translator, political theorist, mathematician, chemist, historician, psychologist, metaphysician, ethician, logician, and in many other capacities. Al-Farabi is the author of around 100 scientific works and other masterpieces.
He was born in the ancient city of Farab/Otrar in the vast region of Central and South Asia (territory of modern Kazakhstan). He was a famous figure of Medieval Eastern Renaissance and spent around 80 years of his nomadic life in many important scientific centres of his lifetime such as Damascus and Baghdad, and also on African soil, in Alexandria, located on crossroads of different cultures.
Al-Farabi made his scientific masterpieces in Arabic language. He influenced many prominent philosophers, scientists and physicians, like Avicenna who was one of the most significant scholars and writers of the region of Central and South Asia, father of early modern medicine, as well as Maimonides, who was one of the greatest philosophers of the Middle Ages.
In philosophical tradition, Al-Farabi was often called "the Second Teacher of the World", following Aristotle who was known as "the First Teacher".
Al-Farabi is recognized today vastly by the world’s scientific community, which is praising him as Great Scholar of the East. In particular, by international organizations of UNESCO, ISESCO, TWESCO (International Turkic Academy) and many others. His fame and recognition are only flourishing, thanks to joint efforts of the scholar's homeland and native region, as well as support of above-mentioned organizations.
On 14-15 May 2020, Kazakhstan arranged a solid International Virtual Conference on theme, “Al-Farabi’s Legacy”, devoted to his 1150th jubilee. Scholars from Asia and Africa, Europe and Americas contributed to the work of this forum. In their speeches, participants pointed to the truly connective nature of his works that unites continents.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, in his Address, stressed the international status of festivities praising the medieval thinker and highlighted the importance of promoting further spiritual legacy of Al-Farabi. According to the Head of State, this is especially important for processes of awakening public consciousness and promoting spiritual modernization, as well as formation of value guidelines for the younger generation.
“Teachings of Al-Farabi, without exaggeration, are comprising important part of the world's treasury of humanity ideas. His prominent life is a truly inspiring story of a great man, connecting East and West”, summarized Kazakh President.
The Jubilee of Al-Farabi will be marked further all over the globe and this autumn, festivities will continue in Paris, France, at the Headquarters of UNESCO.
Its 40th General Conference, by the initiative of Kazakhstan and some other countries from our part of the world, endorsed the worldwide celebration of Al-Farabi’s birth anniversary by its General Resolution 68 of 25 November 2019.
Subsequently, the Executive Board of UNESCO included celebration of this Jubilee in its Calendars of Events for 2020, and kindly requested all the United Nations’ states to support it and contribute to this end.
Q-3: BEING THE AMBASSADOR OF KAZAKHSTAN TO THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA HOW HAVE YOU FOUND LIVING IN OUR COUNTRY AND WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF OUR MULTICULTURAL AFRICAN NATION? WHAT CAN THE RSA TAKE FROM THE LEGACY OF ABU NASR AL FARABI TO BETTER ITS SYSTEM?
A-3: I am honoured as the Kazakh Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa to be living in your incredible country and represent the Kazakhstani people and Government. Allow me to convey our warm greetings and extend, through the “Laudium Sun,” our best wishes and warmest regards to the people of the Republic of South Africa, especially in Erasmia.
I would like to underscore the high level of Kazakh-South African political, economic, cultural, and humanitarian relations aimed at strengthening interstate cooperation across the entire spectrum of ties.
As for my opinion on the multicultural African nation, I would like to highlight the following: Our countries have much in common. Both South Africa and Kazakhstan boast diverse populations with different ethnicities, religions, and traditions.
It is my firm belief that it is this diversity that strengthens and enriches our countries. As such, we are rainbow nations and friendship among our different communities, ethnicities and confessions is an incredibly good example of peaceful coexistence to other countries. I look forward to experiencing personally the depth of South Africa’s history and culture. Likewise, I will look for opportunities to share the Kazakh culture with the people of South Africa.
I believe that promoting the legacy of Al-Farabi in this very country is important for South Africa, as he was a real man of the world, who tirelessly promoted ideas of humanism and dialogue among civilizations, which are totally in line with the philosophy of this rainbow nation. Yet, apart from his brilliant knowing, practicing and promoting Islam, Al-Farabi was also well familiar with Christian theologies thought of ancient world. He mastered dozens of languages and translated many ancient treatises into Arabic from Greek and Latin. Moreover, he is credited with saving works of greatest philosophers Aristotle, Plato, and others from medieval oblivion. In turn, his works were translated from Arabic into Greek and Latin back in XII-XIII centuries. In the XX century, they became widely available in most UN languages.
He thus managed to preserve roots of European civilization by saving works of its neglected philosophers. And now his legacy is returning from West to East, thanks to preservation of Al-Farabi’s name in works of European intellectuals. In the XX century they inspired Kazakh patriots to start their struggle for recognition of Al-Farabi’s legacy. Consequently, Kazakhstani scientists managed to organize the First Worldwide Conference on Al-Farabi in 1970, which was dedicated to his 1100th birth anniversary.
As it was highlighted by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, the vast legacy of Al-Farabi, especially his ideas of humanism and dialogue among civilizations, nowadays should play a significant role in promoting interlinkages of communities, countries, and continents.
Al-Farabi’s renowned treatise on Virtuous state (which includes chapters on the world order, human being and its anatomy and genetics, as well as society and state) is describing how to achieve a perfect world and better future. He is teaching us that a just state should favour justice and the just, hate tyranny and injustice, and give them both their just deserts.
With that, he also states that the ruler of the excellent city cannot just be any man, because rulership requires two conditions: (a) he should be predisposed for it by his inborn nature, (b) he should have acquired the attitude and habit of will for rulership which will develop in a man whose inborn nature is predisposed for it.
The life story of this highly respected philosopher and scholar, who was born more than a millennium ago on Asian land, became an inspiration for the entire global academic community, including South Africa. His works and scientific legacy were repeatedly published in South African Journal of Philosophy and other publications and discussed in universities in South Africa where they have been accepted by local academic society with great appreciation.
We think that after been acquainted with the Al-Farabi’s legacy, Africans should strive for the creation of perfect state in their countries. With that, they should promote rule of law and good governance; put an end to conflicts and violence; empower women; as well as intensify economic cooperation and integration. All these principles are in line with four priorities of the South African 2020 Presidency in the AU.
We believe that Africans should always remember and promote the legacy of their perfect rulers. This month South Africa is celebrating the month of Madiba. Yet, we believe that H.E. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, First President of RSA, was the virtuous perfect leader, as described by Al-Farabi. We would therefore like to recall His Excellency’s famous quote: “The real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people”.
We think that during such horrible pandemic, like Covid-19 we are facing today, human beings should not give up spiritually. It is particularly important not to lose our faith, our belief, our trust, our hope, and our love. In this vein, those noble ideas could be efficiently used for the rapprochement of cultures, nations, and states, as well as for promoting tolerance.
Q-4: WHAT ARE THE OUTCOMES OF THIS BEAUTIFUL INITIATIVE OF JOINT CULTURAL PROJECT BETWEEN KAZAKHSTAN AND SOUTH AFRICA BY SUGGESTING, THAT THE NAME OF AL FARABI WILL BE GIVEN TO ONE OF THE STREETS IN THE CITY OF TSHWANE AND AT THE SAME TIME, THE NAME OF NELSON ROLIHLAHLA MANDELA WILL BE ASSIGNED TO ONE THE STREETS IN NUR-SULTAN, THE CAPITAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN? BY PROPOSING A JOINT CULTURAL PROGRAM WITH SOUTH AFRICA, HOW WILL YOU GO ABOUT DOING THAT? WHAT CAN WE DO AS A MEDIA PLATFORM AND AS STUDENTS TO HELP YOUR INITIATIVE?
A-4: Kazakhstan authorities are proposing a joint cultural project with South Africa, on reciprocal basis. We suggest, that by its results, the name of Al-Farabi will be given to one of the streets in the City of Tshwane. At the same time, name of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the First President of the Republic of South Africa, will be assigned to one the streets in Nur-Sultan, the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan, for the first time in that part of the world – on the land of the ancient and vast region of Central Asia.
By proposing this joint cultural program with South Africa, we would like to kindly request residents of Erasmia in a whole, and Christoburg in particular, to express their support to the idea of assigning the name of Al-Farabi to one of the streets in this very district.
We believe that many residents of that area have close relationship and share the similar cultural identity with the people of the vast region of Central and South Asia.
If our initiative will be supported, in principle, by the population of your district, we would then appeal to the South African state authorities with the concrete proposal. Alternatively, it could be any other area within the City of Tshwane.
But after visiting your beautiful community, I loved this particular area and its people. We propose to seriously consider this project and look forward for the assistance of our brothers and sisters from this part of the Capital City, in particular, from young people.
We have no doubt that this project will bring more intensified economic cooperation, including in the fields of investment, tourism, agriculture, culture, education, and science. We intend to invite the leadership of Kazakhstan for an official visit to South Africa.
The Embassy intends to organize in December 2020 a special celebration, commemorating the 29th Anniversary of Kazakhstan’s Independence. We are ready to arrange this solemn event in your area to express or honour for the support for the recognition of Al-Farabi’s legacy.
We express our special thanks to those local residents from different cultural and religious origins, as well as to the leadership of Al-Ghazali College and Masjid Abubakr Siddique (one of the local Mosques), who preliminarily supported this innovative step.
Q-5: ARE THERE ANY PLANS TO ESTABLISH JOINT PROGRAMMES IN ORDER TO DEVELOP OUR EDUCATION SYSTEMS THAT SUFFERED FROM THE GLOBAL COVID-19 PANDEMIC, SINCE SUCH INITIATIVES COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE EMPOWERMENT OF KAZAKHSTANI AND SOUTH AFRICAN YOUTH? FOR INSTANCE, BECAUSE OF THE GLOBAL CELEBRATION OF THE JUBILEE OF AL-FARABI, HOW DO YOU OPERATIONALISE THE CAPACITIES OF THE AL-FARABI KAZAKH NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, WHICH IS LOCATED AT AL FARABI AVENUE, 71 IN ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN? IN PARTICULAR, IN THE SPHERES OF MATHEMATICS AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE?
A-5: South Africa recently celebrated youth month. And one of the important places in the Al-Farabi’s works and treatises is given to the idea of the Promotion of Youth.
If you do not empower and develop young people, then the country has no future. Let me remind you of Al-Farabi's famous quotes: 'If you want to see the future of the country, look at its youth'.
Of course, proceeding from this wisdom, we are eager to establish bilateral joint programmes both to develop our education systems and empower our young people.
To this end, at the end of last year I had a very promising meeting with H.E. Bonginkosi Emmanuel Nzimande, prominent South African politician and Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology.
We discussed prospect of our bilateral cooperation in this direction and reached preliminary agreement to sign in the foreseeable future Cooperation Agreement on Higher Education and Science.
At the same time, the global COVID-19 pandemic prevents us to do this step this year.
On the other hand, assigning the name of Al-Farabi to one of the streets in the City of Tshwane, will create a unique opportunity to boost this process. Yet, because of the global celebration of the jubilee of Al-Farabi, we look forward to maximally operationalise current educational and scientific capacities of the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.
When Kazakhstan became independent in 1991, this our leading academic establishment, was renamed in honour of the World’s Second Teacher. And in June 2020 this University was elevated to the 165th place in the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings. This place was granted because we have, inter alia, advanced mathematics and physical science branches. And we are ready to establish exchange programs through which will allow our students, bachelors, masters, doctors and professors to learn from and teach one another.
I am proud that I graduated from the Faculty of International Relations of this famous University in 1997. And so did my wife, my father, my father-in-law and my mother-in-law as well, but from other faculties. Nowadays, my father is Professor of Mathematics and my father-in-law is Professor of Literature. As for my mother-in-law, she is Professor of Physics and still working in the Kazakh National University (Foundation Faculty for Foreign Students). In this vein, I have no doubt that we could launch successful joint educational programme with this University.
I believe that if South African youth will express their interest widely, we could organize for them educational programmes in my country starting, most probably, in 2022, after signing all the formal agreements with South Africa and firmly overcoming Covid-19.