For a long time the name of this man was banned, and he himself, like many of his contemporaries, was officially considered an enemy of the people. But for a long time this man was rehabilitated and his work earned respect from grateful descendants. Today, the great politician Alikhan Bukeikhanov, whose anniversary is celebrated in 2016, is one of the national heroes of the Republic of Kazakhstan. After all, he put his whole life on the altar of independence of this Central Asian country.
An active public figure, a bright politician, a brilliant publicist, a talented researcher and a patriot with a capital letter… And also an ethnographer, agronomist, economist, lawyer, literary critic - and this is not a complete list of all his roles. Not much history of Kazakhstan knows personalities of this magnitude!
Today, his biography and life are studied in Kazakhstani schools. In this country, he is considered a national hero. For this reason, quite a lot of pages are devoted to the history of his personality in Kazakh textbooks. So, let's move on in more detail to the biography of this great man.
Bukeikhanov's childhood and youth
The childhood and youth of the future leader of the nation were spent in the remote village No. 7 of the Tokraunsky volost of the Karkaralinsky district of the Semipalatinsk region (now it is the Aktogay district of the Karaganda region). It was there that Bukeikhanov Alikhan Nurmukhamedovich was born on March 5, 1866, becoming the first child of his father and mother.
His family belonged to the descendants of the Kazakh sultans tore, and Alikhan's father bore the title of Chingizid with pride. True, the chic pedigree was not particularly reflected in the prosperity of the Bukeikhanovs. The family struggled to find money for the essentials.
Wishing to provide their son with a reliable piece of bread, Alikhan's parents gave him after graduating from the madrasah to the Karkaraly vocational school. But the capable and wayward boy considered the quality of education here unsatisfactory and arbitrarily transferred to the Russian-Kazakh school. At that time, young Bukeikhanov was only nine years old.
The issue took place in the nineties of the nineteenth century, when the construction of the Siberian railway was in full swing and lower technical workers were in demand. They were trained by the Omsk Technical School, of which the heir of Genghis Khan became a student.
But he was not destined to work as a railway worker. The talented young man goes further and gets the profession of an economist at the St. Petersburg Imperial Forestry Institute. In parallel, he mastered law at the university (also St. Petersburg). Having passed the final exams, Alikhan Bukeikhanov begins his adult life as a brilliantly educated young man - well-versedprofessionally, oriented in modern realities, knowing nine foreign languages. Even then it was clear that this young man had a great and brilliant future.
Research activities
During his entire life, Alikhan Bukeikhanov managed to participate in four research expeditions, write fifty serious scientific papers and more than a thousand notes and various articles.
The multifaceted unknown world beckons him, and, first teaching mathematics at an agricultural technical school, and then serving as an official at the Omsk Technical School, he continues to discover something new and engage in self-education. And above all, Bukeikhanov was always interested in the history of Kazakhstan.
The very first of four expeditions for him was Tobolsk, during which the issue of resettlement of Russians to Kazakh land was studied. It was right after graduating from the Forestry Institute - in 1894. And eight years later, the study of the Steppe Territory began - and again the settlers were in the spotlight. By order of the government that organized this event, scientists had to identify free land suitable for new resettlement.
But the young patriot used his knowledge in his own way. Everything that he saw and heard during the expeditions later became the basis for his scientific and journalistic works, in which the author showed and proved the disadvantaged position of the Kazakhs in their native land as a result of the purposeful resettlement policy of tsarism. This state of affairs could notleave Bukeikhanov indifferent. He "sick" with them and fought with him until the end of his life.
In addition to socio-historical research, the future prime minister of Kazakhstan was also engaged in economics, local history, agriculture, animal husbandry, etc.
For example, his work on sheep breeding in the Steppe region is of great interest, with invaluable recommendations on breeding these animals: where and what breeds take root better than to feed, how to care for, etc.
Abai: acquaintance with the poet's work
The information that Alikhan Bukeikhanov received while traveling around his native Kazakh land became the basis for the work on the eighteenth volume of the collection “Russia. A complete geographical description of our region. It is easy to guess that this volume was dedicated specifically to Kazakhstan, and Bukeikhanov was one of the authors. In his section, he spoke about the culture, way of life, mentality and ethnographic composition of the Kazakh people, actively using both folklore and author's creativity, in particular poetry, as illustrations. Alikhan Bukeikhanov was very interested in the poetry of his contemporary Abai, whose poem "Kozy-Korpesh and Bayan Sulu" he analyzed in his scientific work.
In the eyes of the researcher, Abay was one of the best representatives of the new Kazakh intelligentsia, who stood up for the independence of Kazakhstan. And Bukeikhanov is trying in every possible way to emphasize his spiritual kinship with this great Kazakh poet.
It should be noted that he further "promoted" Abai and his work to a wide range of readers, becoming the first biographer andpreparing for publication a book of the poet's works. But the arrest of Bukeikhanov, which occurred in 1905, prevented the publication of the collected works.
Active public figure
According to the information provided by the official biography, Alikhan Bukeikhanov has been an active public figure from an early age. His figure becomes especially noticeable by 1893, when a descendant of Genghis Khan, a member of various circles (from literary to economic), participates in riots organized by students. It was then that the police first drew attention to Bukeikhanov, and he was included in the list of people considered “politically unreliable.”
A young patriot joins the national liberation movement of the Steppe region and eventually becomes its leader. This is largely facilitated by the brilliant oratorical skills of Bukeikhanov. Some contemporaries, who had the good fortune to attend his speeches, compared them with the speeches of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin himself and said that they were practically in no way inferior to them in terms of expressiveness and persuasiveness.
The start of a brilliant political career
Naturally, such a person had a direct path to politics. And on this road he confidently walked. In 1905, Alikhan Bukeikhanov became a member of the constitutional democratic party (cadets) and dreamed of creating a local (Kazakh) branch of it. On this occasion, he holds a meeting in the cities of Uralsk and Semipalatinsk. In the same year he was elected as a deputy toFirst State Duma of the Russian Empire.
But Bukeikhanov did not have time to represent the interests of the Kazakhs at the highest state level, since the Duma was dissolved almost immediately after the elections. Time began rebellious, unstable - Russia was seriously shaking. The deputies tried to defend their rights by issuing the Vyborg Manifesto demanding that the dissolution of the tsarist Duma be canceled, but their efforts were not crowned with success. Under the message was the name of Alikhan Bukeikhanov.
As mentioned above, in 1905, the novice politician, who was closely monitored by the gendarmes, was arrested for the first time. He was accused of calling for civil disobedience. The second arrest happened in 1908, and this time he did not manage to get off with a slight fright. The political views of Alikhan Bukeikhanov, who opposed the aggressive colonial policy of tsarist Russia, were considered incompatible with freedom by the authorities and exiled the activist to Samara, where he lived until 1917, when great changes took place in the country. This year Russia has become different. 1917 gave Bukeikhanov the hope that his people would finally be able to become independent.
Bukeikhanov's biographers consider him a good example for modern politicians. He repeatedly proved his crystal honesty and decency, maintaining loy alty to his native land and its people until his very last breath. This man was one of those who enter politics not for personal gain, but for the sake of public welfare.
Brilliant journalist
Publicistic andjournalism is a special, very important layer in the legacy of Alikhan Bukeikhanov. Knowing perfectly well that the word is the best weapon, he tried to use it to the maximum and effectively.
In the period from 1905 to 1907, Bukeikhanov worked as an editor in the party newspapers of the cadets "Voice", "Omich" and "Irtysh". He writes scientific articles for the New Encyclopedic Dictionary. And since 1910, he has been closely collaborating with the first Kazakh-language magazine Aykap, which covers the political life of the region, raises the problems of education, medicine, science, literature, the agricultural sector, and much, much more. Everything that was on the lips of the advanced Kazakh intelligentsia of that time.
The real beacon in the awakening of national self-consciousness was the newspaper "Kazakh", which Bukeikhanov publishes together with other active public figures and journalists - Dulatov and Baitursynov. The contribution of this trio to the development of democratic and patriotic processes in Kazakhstan is difficult to overestimate.
By the way, Alikhan Bukeikhanov published most of his materials in "Kazakh" under the pseudonym "Son of the Steppes" ("Kyr balasy").
Masonry
There is information that for some period Bukeikhanov collaborated with the Masons. His last name was found in the memoirs of Kerensky, who headed the Ursa Minor Masonic Lodge in St. Petersburg.
The reliability of this information is also indicated by the fact that the creation of the Samara group of Masons took place exactly after the meeting between Kerensky and Bukeikhanov. In addition, it is known that among the participants in this movement there were moreall cadets, to which the hero of this article belonged.
In Masons, a descendant of Genghis Khan saw first of all allies. He explained his friendship with them with hopes for help in granting autonomy to the Kazakhs. In the seventeenth year, he was even appointed head of the Provisional Government of Kazakhstan, but soon after this, the paths of the Masons and Alikhan Bukeikhanov diverged, as the latter realized that he would not wait for support in his aspirations from the organization. How not to wait for it from the Cadets. With them in the seventeenth year, he also said goodbye.
Party "Alash": a new round of political career
The disappointments that befell Bukeikhanov did not break his spirit. The political figure after the revolution of the seventeenth year does not fold his hands, but on the contrary - spreads his wings. Together with associates who appeared during the creation of the Kazakh newspaper, he organizes a new, absolutely independent political force, Alash-Orda (Alash is the common name for all nationalities, which eventually became known as Kazakhs).
This event was of great historical significance and largely determined the fate of today's modern Kazakhstan. The Alash party united the true patriots of the republic at the beginning of the twentieth century, and its ideology was based on the desire to achieve the independence of Kazakhstan as part of democratic Russia. The new powerful organization included almost the entire color of the Kazakh intelligentsia of that time.
Alikhan Bukeikhanov has led the party since its foundation. During the functioning of the political force, it wasseveral congresses were held, at one of which an unprecedented event happened in 1918 - the first independent state of the Kazakhs was declared. And the creator of the Alash party received the highest position - the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan!
Meanwhile, the Civil War in Russia flared up more and more. The country was engulfed in real chaos. At first, the Alash-Ordinians fought the Bolsheviks on the side of the Whites. But when the Soviets won, they had to negotiate peace and cooperation with ideological opponents. The main condition for "friendship", of course, was the preservation of the independence of the newborn state. It was approved by the Reds, but only on paper. In fact, since the conclusion of the agreement, the independent Republic of Kazakhstan has ceased to exist.
Thus, for a very short time Alikhan Bukeikhanov headed the Alash party, which was his last achievement in the political arena. With the advent of Soviet power, the proud Kazakh found it necessary to abandon state activity in all its manifestations.
Repression and death of Bukeikhanov
Despite Bukeikhanov's departure from politics, the young Soviet authorities saw him as a dangerous enemy. He interfered with the new young Soviet system, as he did not share the idea of communism. They played with him like a cat with a mouse, arresting him, then releasing him.
It was very important to exclude the influence of the creator of the Alash-Orda party on fellow countrymen, so in the twenty-second year he was forcibly transferred to Moscow, where he is engaged in science, literature, ethnography; teaches at the university. For some period, AlikhanBukeikhanov is allowed to "absent" only to Leningrad - there he was also waiting for teaching work. But most of the fifteen-year "exile" took place in the capital of the Soviet Union.
The “captive” Kazakh quietly and modestly pores over scientific works, collects folklore, studies history (while secretly keeping in touch with his compatriots and directing the underground national liberation movement in the right direction). From the outside, his behavior looked completely harmless.
But in the thirty-seventh year they “mowed down” and not like that … Naturally, the former national leader did not escape Stalin's reprisal. In the seventy-second year of his life, Alikhan Bukeikhanov was arrested, accused of terrorism, and on September 27, 1937, he was sentenced to death. No one paid attention to the advanced age of the Kazakh patriot. The sentence was executed on the same day.
Alikhan Bukeikhanov: family and personal life
Not much is known about the personal life of the largest political figure in Kazakhstan at the beginning of the twentieth century. But even the information that is there is enough to understand that it was not cloudless.
In 1901, Bukeikhanov married Elena Sevastyanova, who was the daughter of journalist Yakov Sevastyanov, with whom Alikhan Nurmukhamedovich worked in the Stepnoy Krai publication. Already in 1902, the couple had a daughter, Kanip (officially, Elizabeth). And eight years later, in 1910, an heir appears in the family - the son Oktay (officially - Sergey).
In the eighteenth year, Elena Bukeikhanov suddenly dies andleaves her husband with two children in her arms. But Alikhan turned out to be a good educator and brought up worthy people. Both followed in the footsteps of their father and became scientists. The grandson (son of Elizabeth) died on the battlefield during the Great Patriotic War. The Kazakh patriot did not marry the second time. And until the end of his days, he remained faithful to his suddenly departed beloved wife.
It is noteworthy that none of Alikhan Bukeikhanov's relatives began to "disguise themselves". The heirs of the Kazakh sultans proudly bore their surname, despite the danger that it was fraught with. And when, after rehabilitation, one of Bukeikhanov's nephews received a "death sentence" in the archive, tears flowed down his face, and his soul was filled with pride for his great relative.
Memory
But not only relatives and friends keep the memory of the great Kazakh named Alikhan Bukeikhanov. The 150th anniversary of his birth is celebrated this year under the auspices of UNESCO! Only a handful of people get this kind of recognition…
A number of events are planned and already carried out at the state level in Kazakhstan, whose independence Alikhan Bukeikhanov so proudly and fearlessly defended. A book exhibition dedicated to the life of a legend, a presentation of a documentary film, the publication of a collection of essays, various conferences, seminars and much, much more were prepared by grateful descendants in memory of a man who gave his all to serve his people.
