Mukhtar Auezov (1897-1961)

A monument to Mukhtar Omarkhanovich Auezov (1897-1961), a classic of Soviet Kazakh literature, Honored Scientist of Kazakhstan, laureate of the Lenin State Prize of the USSR, was erected in front of the building of the Kazakh Drama Theater named after M.O. Auezov in 1980. The bronze figure of M.O. Auezov was cast according to the model of the sculptor E.A. Sergebaev. The pedestal made of labradorite was built according to the project of architects O.J. Baymurzaev, A.S. Kaynarbaev. The writer is sitting in a thoughtful pose in an armchair, with a book in his right hand. On the facade of the pedestal is a text from bronze casting: “Mukhtar Omarkhanuly Auezov”. The author’s team of architects was awarded the state Prize of the Kazakh SSR in 1982. Mukhtar Omarkhanovich Auezov was born in 1897 in the Shyngystau tract of Semipalatinsk region, East Kazakhstan Region of the Republic of Kazakhstan In the spring of 1923, Mukhtar Auezov, at the suggestion of a major ethnographer, historian and folklorist Abubakir Divaev, a graduate of the Orenburg cadet Corps, took part in a scientific commission in the Chingiz parish of Karkarala county “to collect and accept preserved manuscripts of translations of Draper, Lewis, Spencer” and original works of Abai — philosophical notes and poems.

Alash Orda

Auezov’s companions were former well-known Alashordins Khalel Dosmukhamedov and Magzhan Zhumabayev, later this cooperation served as a reason for accusing Auezov of involvement in the “Alash-Horde”. In October 1923, he entered the Philological Department of Leningrad State University. But after the first year, he returned to Kazakhstan. In the autumn of 1925 he went to Leningrad again and graduated in 1928. After graduating from Leningrad University in August 1928, he moved to Tashkent, where he entered the graduate school of the Central Asian University, at the same time teaching. In 1929, Leila’s daughter was born, later Doctor of Historical Sciences, director of the Mukhtar Auezov House Museum. In 1930, Auezov was arrested on charges in connection with the organization of young Kazakh writers “Alka” and he spent 2.5 years in prison. My wife and daughter returned to Leningrad. After being released, Auezov taught at universities in Alma-Ata, continuing to write plays. In 1954, in Moscow, he completed the tetralogy “The Way of Abai”, joined the editorial boards of the magazines “Foreign Literature” and “Friendship of Peoples”, made a report on Abai’s work at a solemn meeting in the Column Hall of the House of Unions and triumphantly returned to Alma-Ata, where he was reinstated in all positions. In 1959, M. Auezov was awarded the Lenin Prize for the dilogy “The Way of Abai”, he was elected a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the Kazakh SSR of the V convocation.

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