U I G H U R CULTURE AND ART
According
to official statistics, majority of the Uighurs in the USSR lived in Kazakhstan.
As is well-known, August 26, 1920 All-Union Central Executive Committee and
Central Asian Committee of Russian Soviet Federative Socialistic Republic passed
a law, which established Autonomous Kazakh Soviet Socialistic Republic. The
government of a new state emphasized people’s education. In October 1920,
22,000 Kazakh, Kyrgyz and Uighur children went to 250 new schools in Semirechye
region14.
After the October revolution, the
Uighurs strove after knowledge. They appealed to Departments of People’s
Education with the request to assist in opening schools. Taking into
consideration economic difficulties the Uighurs were ready to support schools
themselves. In 1923 village communities in Yarkent region sowed 6 dessiatinas (1
dessiatina = approx. 2 ¾ acres) with grain for every school15.
In the village of Janashar 300 poods (1 pood = 16,38 kg) of wheat were harvested
to pay salaries to the teachers16. Peasants of Kuram-Chilik region
sowed 23,5 dessiatinas with grain for schools, and people of Malyvay region
allotted 200 poods of grain to schools and 1,500 roubles in cash17.
The facts above testify that the
population regarded education as a very important issue. The government of the
Kazakh Republic promoted further development of education. In 1931 2,500 Uighurs
studied at schools organized under campaign against illiteracy18. On
January 1, 1935 in Alma-Ata region 48,220 people studied in 1,044 centers
organized under campaign against illiteracy. In 1932-33 academic year 190 Uighur
young men and girls studied in Alma-Ata Women Pedagogical Technical School19.
In several years the number of children who were studying increased. In 1951-52
academic year there were 52 Uighur schools in Kazakhstan, 3 of which were
secondary schools, 17 were seven-year schools, the rest were elementary schools
with a number of pupils about 60 thousand20. In 1969-1970 there were
64 Uighur schools in Kazakhstan with a number of pupils 16,000. In 1986-1987
academic year there were only 11 Uighur schools and 38 mixed schools with 12,549
pupils. The number of Uighur schools reduced due to decrease of entrants into
them because children after graduation encountered some difficulties entering
high schools and Universities where mostly Russian and, to a lesser degree,
Kazakh were the languages of instructions.
Regardless of the difficulties,
the number of Uighur youth who wanted to have secondary and higher education did
not decrease. Establishing of Uighur Department at Philological Faculty in the
Kazakh Pedagogical University named after Abai by the government of Kazakhstan
was of great importance for the Uighurs who desired to have higher education.
The Department prepared teachers for Uighur schools. The foundation of success
for functioning of Uighur schools was the publishing house "Ruan",
which published textbooks in the Uighur language.
One of the major moments in history
of Uighur culture is the establishing of the Uighur Studies in which Kuanysh
Satpayev, a great scientist, a luminary of the Kazakhstan geological science
played a highly important role. That was him who initiated foundation of Sector
of Uighur-Dunghan culture in 1949. It was the beginning of the development of
the Uighur Studies in Kazakhstan. Later on the Sector was transformed into a
Department of the Uighur Studies. In 1986 the Institute of the Uighur Studies
was founded in Alma-Ata. Works of Uighurologists of Kazakhstan were recognized
by Turcologists around the world. Names of such specialists as Academician
A.Kaydarov, G.Sadvakasov, Corresponding Member of the Academy of Sciences of
Kazakhstan, M.Khamrayev, Corresponding Member of the Academy of Sciences of the
USSR came to light. Works of Kazakhstan Uighurologists were highly evaluated.
Murat Khamrayev, Doctor of Philology was awarded with Prize of Lenin’s
Komsomol of the USSR for a series of works on the Uighur Studies. A.Kaydarov,
Doctor of Philology for his work «Modern literary language of the Uighurs»,
G.Sadvakasov for his work «Language of the Uighurs of the Fergana valley»
(part 1-2) were awarded with Prize of Ch.Valikhanov. Scientific public spoke
favorably of works of Doctors of sciences – Sh.Nadyrov, K.Abdullayeva, Doctor
of philological sciences, Professor T.Talipov. However, due to political reasons
the Institute of the Uighur Studies was closed in 1997, and its staff was
diminished to the size of Department of Uighur Studies in the Institute of
Oriental Studies.
Names of Uighur scientists and scholars
are well-known outside the academic science. They are S.Karabayeva (Doctors of
Medicine Sciences), T.Sopiyev (Doctors of Medicine Sciences), R.Avutov (Doctor
of Economic Sciences), M.Abdrakhmanov (Doctor of Philology), T.Alibakiyeva
(Doctor of Arts) and others.
Uighur journalism develops along with
Science and Humanities. Republican newspaper «The Uighur Avazi» (“The Voice
of the Uighurs”) and its supplement “Yengi Khayat” (“The New life”) in
Arabic Uighur script with total circulation of 10,000 copies, the radio- and
tele- broadcasting in Uighur reflected life of the Uighurs in Kazakhstan.
The
beginnings of original art of the Uighurs go back to ancient days. Eastern
Turkestan, old motherland of the Uighurs, is the region where the Great Silk
Route, which tied East and West and assured interchange of material and
spiritual values, ran. Contacts, which took place in this place between
representatives of various cultural environments, assisted in enrichment of
Uighur artistic traditions with achievements of Central Asian, Eastern Iranian
and Northern Indian cultures. Wall paintings and sculptures of ancient Uighur
cave temples “Myng oy” (“Caves of Thousand Buddhas”), samples of carpet
weaving, metallic, ceramic and wood products testify for this interchange. After
the October Revolution ancient Uighur arts had a chance for further development.
Fine arts, which were prohibited under Islam, had an opportunity to revive.
Avakri Shamsuddinov (Shamsi) was the first Uighur Soviet artist-professional. In
1928 he entered Moscow Conservatoire and next year he was sent to Leningrad
Academy of Arts. In 1937 he had his first personal exhibition at Conference of
Intelligentsia of Uighur culture. In 1974 more than 30 his canvases were
displayed at his personal exhibition. He was an acknowledged master of portrait.
His portrait works such as “Sadyr Palvan”, “Anayat Kurbanov”,
“Amangeldy Imanov”, “Jambul” are well-known. In his works he aspired to
reflect inward life, spirituality of his personages. A character of a man of
labor was the main theme of Z.Yusupov, other talented Uighur artist who created
a number of original portrait works such as “Nasyrov”, “I.Sattarov”,
“Karibjanov”, “A.Shamiyev” and others.
In 1970-1980s
works of M.Khetakhunov, P.Ibragimov (Honored Worker of Arts) as well as works of
young artists K.Zulfikarov, A.Akhatbakiyev, R.Yusupov and others obtained broad
recognition.
Ideas of preservation and continuity in development of Uighur spiritual tradition of fine arts, which popularized multinational arts in Kazakhstan and encouraged favorable exchange between various cultures and traditions, prevailed among modern Uighur artists. Gallery “Myng oy” led by U.Jalilov was the initiator of these ideas and practical principles. Many gifted artists such as A.Isa, R.Yusupov, K.Zulfikarov, A.Zulfikarov, Kh.Kurbanov, M.Khitakhunov and others who keep great legacy of their ancestors in their works are unified under the Gallery.
Niyaz Kerim Şärqiy is a well-known calligrapher. His outstanding works have brought fame both to him and to the Uighur people. He has taken initiative to put all the styles of modern Uighurs calligraphy into order. He compiled a textbook for modern Uighur calligraphy, which consists of twelve books. He has also written a number of articles on the arts of Uighur calligraphy. They include: "Styles of Uighur Calligraphy", "Practical Examples of Uighur Calligraphy", "Handbook on Uighur Calligraphy" and "The Works of Niyaz Kerim Şärqiy".
Some of the works by Niyaz Kerim Şärqiy are presented here.
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14. Sharipov
A., 40 years of people’s education in Kazakhstan, Alma-Ata, 1960, pp.7-8.
15. AOGA f.
489, Op.1, d.644, sv. 49, L. 6-7.
16. “Kämbäğällär
avazi” ("Voice of the poor”), 15.12.1929.
17. AOGA,
f.337, Op.1, d.228, sv.16, L. 6-7.
18. SGA
Kaz.SSR, f.81, Op.1, d.1370, sv.107, p.19.
19. SGA
Kaz.SSR, f.5, Op.14, d.307, L.19.
20. Sembayev
A.I. History of development of Soviet school in Kazakhstan. Alma-Ata, 1962,
p.292.
21. On history of
founding of Uighur theater see Kaydarov A. Uighur Soviet theater. Alma-Ata,
1984.
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