SOURCES AND ANALYTICAL INTERPRETATIONS ON THE POLITICAL INTERACTION BETWEEN ZAKI VALIDI TOGAN AND THE LEADERS OF THE ALASH

Abstract

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the political, intellectual, and cultural interactions between Ahmed Zeki Velidi Togan and the Kazakh intelligentsia. Drawing upon archival documents, memoirs, and historical records, the authors explore the interconnections between the Bashkir autonomy and the Alash movement, emphasizing the shared ideological and national objectives of Turkic intellectuals during the early twentieth century.

Togan is portrayed not merely as a prominent Bashkir scholar and statesman, but as a pan-Turkic figure whose ideas and academic legacy significantly contributed to the formation of national consciousness and the advancement of historical scholarship in Kazakhstan. His major works, including Türkistan Tarihi and Hatıralar, are examined as essential sources for understanding the history of Kazakhstan, the struggle against colonial domination, and the pursuit of cultural and political independence.

Special attention is devoted to Togan’s collaboration with the leaders of the Alash movement – Alikhan Bokeikhan, Akhmet Baitursynuly, and Mirzhakyp Dulatuly. Their cooperation is analyzed in the context of shared principles such as Turkic unity, national autonomy, and the promotion of education and science in the native language.

The article concludes that Togan’s intellectual and political interactions with the Alash figures constitute not only a significant historical phenomenon but also a lasting foundation for understanding the cultural and ideological solidarity of the Turkic world. The findings outline prospective research avenues, including the digitalization of his works, interdisciplinary studies, and international academic collaboration within the framework of Turkology.