Bratislava commemorates 180th anniversary of great thinker
The Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Slovakia hosted a literary evening dedicated to the works of Abai Qunanbaiuly, El.kz cites MFA.
The event, organized in celebration of the 180th anniversary of the distinguished Kazakh philosopher and educator, brought together representatives from Slovakia’s academic and cultural communities. Among the distinguished guests were former Slovak Ambassador to Kazakhstan Peter Juza, representatives of the Slovak national cultural and educational society Matica Slovenská, including Peter Schvantner and Lukáš Perník, members of the Nové Slovo Club, and translator Katarína Strelková, whose efforts brought The Book of Words to Slovak readers.
Opening the event, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Slovakia, Zhanna Saginova, remarked: “Abai Qunanbaiuly is not just a poet; he is a symbol of the spiritual revival of the Kazakh people, a philosopher whose ideas on enlightenment, justice, and morality remain relevant today. We hope that the publication of Abai’s works in Slovak will contribute to a deeper understanding of Kazakh history and modern Kazakhstan, bringing our two peoples and our two countries even closer together.”
Participants had the opportunity to explore Abai’s multifaceted legacy as a poet, philosopher, thinker, and humanist – the founder of written Kazakh literature. His profound reflections on the importance of education, upbringing, and spiritual growth were recognized as a moral compass for the Kazakh nation.
In his address, Peter Juza emphasized: “Abai’s legacy extends far beyond Kazakhstan – his wisdom and humanistic ideals belong to the world. His thoughts on moral values, the importance of education, and the power of unity continue to inspire those who seek harmony and spiritual growth.”
Lukáš Perník, representing the Slovak national, cultural and scientific organization Matica Slovenská, drew parallels between Abai’s works and the legacies of outstanding Slovak intellectuals.
“His ideas on creation – both great and small – and the significance of labor and education as the foundation of national progress resonate with the thoughts of Ľudovít Štúr (renowned poet, writer, philosopher, and founder of the Slovak literary language). Abai’s peaceful and humanistic messages find an echo in the works of Ján Kollár (politician, poet, philosopher, and one of the leading figures of the Slovak and Czech national revival), while his philosophical reflections inspired by nature are reminiscent of the legacy of Samo Bogdan Hraboň (folklorist and poet),” noted the Slovak literary expert.
During the evening, the Slovak audience was introduced to selected excerpts from The Book of Words in Slovak, along with musical pieces composed by Abai, including the kui “May Night”, the song “Közimniń qarasy”, and a medley of well-known melodies performed on the traditional Kazakh instrument, the qobyz.
At the conclusion of the event, participants received commemorative gifts in the form of the Slovak edition of The Book of Words, published with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Bratislava.
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