The image of Abai in the works of Alash intellectuals: spiritual continuity and ideological harmony

Abstract

This article analyzes the image of Abay Kunanbayuly in the works of Alash intellectuals, emphasizing the spiritual continuity and ideological unity between his heritage and the national idea of the Alash movement. The study shows how key figures of this movement―such as Alikhan Bokeikhan, Akhmet Baitursynuly, Mirzhakyp Dulatuly, Magzhan Zhumabay and others―rethought and adopted Abai’s philosophical, moral and pedagogical view in connection with their desire to rejuvenate and revitalize Kazakh society. Abai is considered not only an outstanding poet, but also a profound thinker, whose teachings on justice, freedom, moral responsibility, science and education formed the ideological basis of the Alash movement. Particular attention is paid to the concept of the «complete man» (tolyq adam), which shaped the intellectual landscape of Kazakh political and cultural thought at the beginning of the 20th century. The idea of individual self improvement through knowledge, reason, virtue and enlightenment found great resonance with the goals of the Alash activists: national awakening, social modernization and resistance to colonial oppression. Through his works, Abai laid the foundation for a new cultural and moral model, which Alash leaders developed in the
context of the political and historical challenges of the early 20th century. The interaction between Abai’s philosophical thought and the civic engagement of the Alashorda is examined as a key element in understanding the evolution of modern Kazakh identity. Based on a textual and comparative analysis, the article highlights direct and indirect references to Abayev’s legacy in prose, poetry, journalism, and the political works of the Alash authors. It also shows how the image of Abai passed into the cultural memory of the
people and acquired a new meaning in the era of independent Kazakhstan. His moral and bourgeois ideals are perceived today as a bridge between historical identity and the desire for modernity and global integration. In this way, Abai’s influence on the Alash intelligentsia was not accidental, but consciously and deeply ideologically shaped. His spiritual heritage continues to be an intellectual and ethical guide for modern Kazakh society.