CHOKAN VALIKHANOV (1835 —1865) (2)

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 622.

Chokan Valikhanovwas a great scientist-historian, ethnographer, geographer, economist, folklorist, and traveler. He was an officer of the Russian army, a diplomat, the official of the Russian administration. (Kazakhstan was a part of the Russian State). He is regarded as the father of modern Kazakh historiography and ethnography.

His full name is Mohammed – Hanafiya. A nickname “Chokan” was given by his mother. Chokan Valikhanovwas born in November 1835 in the Kushmurun fort in what is nowadays the Kostanay Province of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Chokan was a fourth generation descendant of Ablai Khan (an outstanding Kazakh ruler). Chokan's family was very respected by the government of the Russian Empire.

Chokan spent his youth in his father's traditional yurt (a circular tent of felt or skins on a collapsible framework, used by nomads in Mongolia, Siberia, and Turkey). His father Chingis arranged his son's early education, enrolling him in 1842 at the age of six in a Kazakh small private school in his native village, which provided a secular education. It was here that he began his studies of the Arabic script and his native language. Chokan received representation about east poetry and studied in drawing. The last employment was his genuine passion and Chokan's kept sketches demonstrate that the great talent of the remarkable artist lived in him. Since childhood Chokan's father involved him in gathering the materials concerning legends and national traditions, and involved him in a circle of highly educated Russian scientists, engineers, officers. Chokan's further career was predetermined by family tradition and received education: he is the Russian officer, diplomat and official.

Valikhanov entered the military academy in Omsk (a Russian city) in 1847. After graduating from this academy, where he read not only Russian but also English language literature, Valikhanov began his brief but brilliant career.

His work combined military intelligence and geographic exploration. His first successful expedition was his mission to the region of Issyq Kol (it is in modern Kyrgyzstan) in 1855-56. He was afterwards called to the Russian capital, St. Petersburg, in 1857 to report, and there he was elected to the Russian Geographical Society.

Living for two years in Petersburg, Chokan worked in the general staff on the preparation for the edition of the map of Asia; he participated in editions of works of Russian Geographical Society. Here Chokan published the works devoted to history and culture of Central Asia and the foreign East; his researches contained the huge material about history, ethnographies of Kazakhs, their life, customs and culture. He wrote the national epic poem "Kozy-Korpesh and the Bayan-Sulu" (a Kazakh version of Romeo and Juliet).

On June 28, 1858, Valikhanov began the expedition that would lead him to instant fame throughout Europe and into the pages of history. Serving as a decoy to the geo-political intentions of the mission, Valikhanov embarked (отправился) with a caravan of 43 men, 101 camels and 65 horses. Following his successful passage through the Chinese border without suspicion, the caravan arrived in Kashgar in early October of 1858. Over the course of a half-year, Valikhanov took meticulous notes regarding major towns, including maps, the goods in the bazaars, the languages spoken and the customs practiced.

The expedition ended following increased suspicions, and they left Kashgar in April 1859. Valikhanov returned to St. Petersburg and became a fixture of the intellectual and cultural life during his short stay (1860 - spring of 1861) in the Russian capital.

In the spring of 1861 he became seriously ill with tuberculosis and had to leave Russia. He returned to his native steppe region in hopes of restoring his health. He never returned to St. Petersburg. However, frequent relapses (рецидивы) in his health prevented advances in his career. Unfortunately, Valikhanov succumbed (уступил) to his illness on April 10, 1865 at the age of 29. The short life of Valikhanov was a “meteor flashing across the field of oriental studies." In 1985 the memorial complex was constructed in honor of the 150-anniversary from the date of his birth nearby to the place where was buried in 1865.

Ø Match the words (1-5) with the definitions (a-e):

Ø What occupation would you like to have in future? Why?

Ø Answer the questions:

1. What role did Chokan's father play in the life of his son?

2. Why was Chokan an officer of the Russian army?

3. What kind of contribution did Chokan make to the modern Kazakh historiography ethnography and culture?

4. Why was the travelling to Kashgar in early October of 1858 very dangerous?

5. Why is Chokan's life compared with the “flashing meteor”?