Abai and Bauyrzhan: Two Aspects of National Identity – Wisdom and Valor

Abstract

The continuity between the two personalities, Abai who shone in the beacon of Kazakh spirituality and B. Momyshuly who radiated from that light was investigated. The people who took their place in the sphere of critical thinking of the Kazakh world were recognized as linguistic figures of their nation in terms of understanding the world. Abai gave a tasteful critical assessment of the Kazakh worldview until the XIX century. B. Momyshuly considered the critical opinions that began with Abai from a national perspective. He critically looked at the Kazakh character and nature described by Abai. His thoughts are in line with Abai’s thoughts on correcting character, bowing to justice, and loving humanity.

Batyr, the hero who witnessed and experienced the Great War in the XX century, was characterized as a linguistic figure who integrated the metaphorical, expressive, and figurative meaning of the words developed by Abai in forming the linguistic image of the world.

Abay’s teachings, the origin of morality and goodness, the assessment of human deeds and actions, and his views on the place of an individual, attracted the citizens of Alash, who began to study various fields of knowledge and science.

B. Momyshuly also wrote a letter to the country about an individual and his life in war, the future of the Kazakh nation, and had the idea of equipping a private army for the independence of the state. The emergence of this idea was opposed by the citizens of his country in power, and Batyr’s opposition in peacetime after the war was realized through his creativity.

In order to raise the idea of the citizens of Alash that the foundations of the state need to have a private army, he spoke about the education of youth, despite the harsh realities of the time. He called the youth to be brave and educated in order to protect their country. In war, he proved that he, as a commander, was responsible for the life of every soldier in terms of honor, duty and obligation. From this, the concept of «heroism», which our people have been fighting for centuries, was revived. He knew that a person he knew Abai was an invaluable asset. He studied the heroic qualities of an individual in war.  From the Kazakh words, he made a creative world that leads to thoughtful, insightful wisdom.