Delegation of Kazakh creative intelligentsia arrived in Bratislava in order to introduce Slovakia with the work of the outstanding Kazakh poet.

The event is a part of the 175th anniversary of Abay Kunanbayev (1845-1904), a philosopher, composer, politician, poet, enlightener, translator, founder of Kazakh written literature and its first classic.

During the event, as well as at the round table following the ceremony, representatives of the Kazakh public presented the philosophical and literary work of Abai, inspiring the young generation to live, guided by the principles of honesty and justice, to serve their people, to strive for enlightenment.

Kazakh delegation stated that Abai is an example of an inexorable search for truth, and the path of Abai is the search for moral integrity in the realization of the personal responsibility of everyone in the world.

Slovak participants noted the high importance of the works of Abai, which do not lose their relevance. They emphasized that Abai raised moral and social problems in his works, which are of importance not only for the Kazakh people, but for all of humanity. Podgorski appreciated the scale and lasting value of the “Words of Wisdom”, dwelling on the life path of Abai that moulded his character. According to Nakhtmanova, Abai’s work testifies to the fact that he is considered to be “a giant of Kazakh thought”, and it is no coincidence that his wise words do not die and his legacy will forever remain in the memory of the Kazakh people.

In his remarks, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Slovakia Roman Vassilenko emphasized that “Abai is a kind of identification code of the Kazakh people. His ‘Words of Wisdom’ have become landmarks defining national consciousness for over 100 years.” He expressed confidence that the donation of Abai’s books to the library would provide an opportunity for the Slovak public to learn more about the Kazakh people, and noted the event was “only the first in the series of events the new embassy plans to organize this year in order to make our countries closer in every way”.