A Century in The Making: Mukhamedzhan Tynyshpayev’s Book Published in Kazakh

Mukhamedzhan Tynyshpayev, a repressed Kazakh historian and public figure, wrote Kazakh Halkynyn Tarikhy (The History of the Kazakh People) back in 1925.

However, the book was originally published only in Russian. Now, nearly a century later, it has finally been released in Kazakh.

Bakhytzhan Bukharbay, writer and founder of AmalBooks, shared that the book is part of the Taza Tarikh series, which the publishing house has been working on since 2021:

We publish previously unreleased archival materials and reprint primary sources that are essential for studying Kazakhstan’s history. So far, we’ve published 14 books in the series, with two more in progress. 

Tynyshpayev (1879–1937) was an influential intellectual and the first Prime Minister of the Kokand Autonomous Region. After his execution during Stalin’s repressions, his book was banned and removed from libraries, and most copies were destroyed.

AmalBooks has also published Seven Years in Kazakhia, a collection of travel essays by British explorers Thomas and Lucy Atkinson. In the late 19th century, the couple traveled across what is now Kazakhstan, documenting the region’s culture, daily life, and traditions in remarkable detail.

Bukharbay notes that AmalBooks carefully considers the discussions happening in society and strives to provide timely, well-researched answers through its publications.

He believes that young people today need modern, high-quality content in the Kazakh language.

AmalBooks has launched a trend for domestic non-fiction.

I used to read up to a hundred books a year, but now, because of my work at AmalBooks, I read much less. I go through each book we publish at least two or three times — during editing and again after final publication,  he says.

Kazakh literature is off to an exciting start in 2025.

Last month, the country celebrated the release of Nuraina Satpayeva’s novel More Spoyot Kolybelnuyu (Ed. – The Sea Will Sing a Lullaby).

Original Author: Alexandra Mokhireva