Ahmet Baitursynuly (1872-1937) 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.
In 1910-1912, A.Baitursynuly corrected unacceptable aspects of Arabic writing to eliminate illiteracy in the Kazakh land, by the sound features of the Kazakh language he composed the alphabet "Tote zhazu". The alphabet was created on the basis of an Arabic script, consisting of 24 characters, 5 vowels, 17 consonants, 2 half-voiced. The alphabet "tote zhazu" was used in Muslim schools, Soviet schools from 1913 to 1929. He wrote the first book "Oku Kuraly" (Textbook) as a method of the alphabet "Tote zhazu".
A.Baitursynuly's textbook " Til qural" (Language toolkit) is a study based on the systematization and scientific structure of the branches of Kazakh linguistics. One of Akhmet's greatest achievements is the creation of terms. All names used in Kazakh linguistics, such as noun, adjective, verb, pronoun, conjunction, adverb, subject, predicate, simple sentence, compound sentence, word conversion are the legacy of the scientist.
Research work «Adebiet tanytqysh» (Literature guide) is the first fundamental scientific and theoretical work in the Kazakh language.
"Adebiet tanytqysh" – is a systematic study of aesthetic and philosophical knowledge, literary views, the critical image of Akhmet Baitursynuly, a precious, noble work, which, thanks to the great depth and accuracy of the thoughts of Kazakh philology, serves in the future, never loses its significance. Baitursynuly for the first time gave detailed definitions of the history, theory, and criticism of literature, methodology, created a system of Kazakh literary criticism.
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 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 idea of enlightenment became the basis of public activity, civic duty, and the mainstay of A.Baitursynov's ideological platform. This platform was firmly based on his concern for the fate of his people.
The creativity of Akhmet Baitursynuly influenced the fundamental searches not only of Kazakhs but also of many Turkic scientists of his time. His works from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present are not only well known to the scientific community that forms the independent science and education of the Turkic-speaking peoples in Central Asia but also, due to their relevance, are actively used as a scientific source for studies.