Kazakhstan Celebrates 125th Anniversary of Temirbek Zhurgenov, Pioneer of Education and Culture
Kazakhstan Celebrates 125th Anniversary of Temirbek Zhurgenov: Architect of Education and Culture
Astana – Kazakhstan commemorated the 125th anniversary of Temirbek Zhurgenov, a prominent Kazakh Soviet statesman, who played a pivotal role in shaping the educational and cultural landscape of the country. His reforms laid the foundation for the thriving higher education and cultural institutions that exist in Kazakhstan today.
Early Life:
Born in 1898, Zhurgenov grew up in a wealthy family. His father, Kara, owned extensive herds of horses and flocks of sheep. This privileged background allowed Zhurgenov to receive a quality education. After attending a Russian-Kazakh elementary school, he enrolled in the Ufa land surveying school. However, due to the outbreak of the civil war in 1917, he was unable to complete his studies.
Career and Educational Reform:
Zhurgenov’s career in education and public service began with his work at the Kazakh Muny newspaper. He then pursued a journalism program at Orenburg Workers’ Faculty, graduating with honors in 1923. His extensive knowledge of culture, folk epic, and music, combined with his fluency in Russian, Kazakh, Arabic, Farsi, and old Uzbek languages, set him apart.
In 1926, Zhurgenov became the founding rector of the Kazakh Pedagogical Institute, which was initially established in Tashkent but later moved to Almaty. His efforts in educational reform brought significant developments to the education system in Kazakhstan. Recognizing the importance of education in reforming Kazakh society, he worked tirelessly to make education more accessible. Under his leadership, several prestigious universities were established in the 1930s, including the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.
Zhurgenov also focused on eliminating alphabetical illiteracy in Kazakhstan. He introduced a new structure of schools, including primary, incomplete secondary, and secondary education, and established numerous secondary schools throughout the country. He also championed higher education opportunities, leading to the establishment of Kazakh State University and other specialized universities.
Contribution to Kazakh Culture:
In addition to his educational reforms, Zhurgenov played a significant role in the development of Kazakh culture. During his tenure, professional arts such as circus, ballet, painting, and cinema emerged in the Kazakh steppe. He oversaw the opening of the Abai Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theater in 1934. In collaboration with Lenfilm, the first Kazakh feature film, “Amangeldy,” was produced in 1938.
Zhurgenov’s legacy includes the establishment of Kazakh and Russian theaters, music schools, and art galleries throughout Kazakhstan. He also paved the way for the growth of Kazakh ballet culture by inviting a choreographer from the Moscow Bolshoi Theater to establish a school of classical dance in the country.
Decade of Kazakh Culture in Moscow:
Under Zhurgenov’s leadership, Kazakh culture gained recognition on the global stage. In 1936, a ten-day celebration of the Kazakh ASSR took place in Moscow, where the rich heritage of the Kazakh nomads was showcased through music and folklore.
Tragic End and Legacy:
Unfortunately, Zhurgenov’s promising career was cut short by Stalinist repressions. He was executed in 1938, accused of being an enemy of the people. His wife was exiled to the Akmola’s Camp for Wives of Traitors of the Motherland, known as ALZHIR, for eight years.
Today, Zhurgenov’s legacy is honored through various institutions and landmarks in Kazakhstan. The Kazakh National Academy of Arts, several schools and colleges in the Kyzylorda region, as well as streets in Astana and Almaty, are named after him.
The 125th anniversary of Temirbek Zhurgenov serves as a reminder of his significant contributions to the advancement of education and culture in Kazakhstan. His vision and reforms continue to shape the country’s educational system and artistic heritage.
