Svetlana Ananуeva,

Head of Department of analysis and international literary relations, M.O. Auezov Institute of Literature and Art, MES RK

Anthology of modern Kazakh literature in English

M.O. Auezov Institute of Literature and Art, MES RK and L.N.Gumilev Eurasian National University organized a presentation of the Anthology of modern Kazakh literature «The Stories of the Great Steppe. The Anthology of Modern Kazakh Literature», edited by Dr. Rafis Abazov (New-York Columbia University: Cognella Academic Publishing, 2013), which was published in the United States for the first time, with the support of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrissov.

Vice-Rector of L.N. Gumilev ENU, corresponding member of the NAS RK, Dikhan Kamzabekuly opened the presentation and he underlined the contribution of the M.O. Auezov Institute of Literature and Art and Director of the Institute U. Kalizhanov in preparation of the Anthology. The Institute has close cooperation with leading scientists from scientific centers of Europe, countries of the East and CIS countries. The Anthology published in the U.S. shows to the American reader the richness and uniqueness of Kazakh literature, and is of great interest and suggests that Kazakh literature is recognizable in the world.

At the initiative of a number of diplomatic missions of Kazakhstan abroad, Embassies of RK to Turkey and Poland the following works such as «Kunge ushkan sunkar» (in Turkish and Kazakh), «Kiz Jibek», «Koblandy warrior», Kazakh folk tales in Polish have been published. Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Sarybay spoke about this at the presentation. In a series «Kasachiche Bibliothek» with the active support of the Embassy of RK in Germany and personal participation of the well-known translator and publisher, a great friend of Kazakh literature Leonard Koshut, the Laureate of Kazakh PEN-Club Prize, who this year is celebrating 90th birthday, works of Abay, Auezov, Tahawi Akhtanov, Abdizhamil Nurpeissov, Abish Kekilbayev, H. Belger, Olzhas Suleimenov, Valery Mikhailov, Dukenbay Doszhan were published in the German language. It is important that in the future, new translations of the works of Kazakh literature into the world languages should be done from the originals. The Universities play an important role in training of new generation of interpreters.

Kazakh literature, which integration to the world artistic process is obvious, has strategic sustainable importance for the determination of national identity, development of intercultural dialogue and strengthening of spiritual image of our country in the world. U. Kalizhanov Director of the M.O. Auezov Institute of Literature and Art, corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan emphasizes this idea in the preface to the Anthology. He also noted that books of the Head of the State – the leader of nation N.A. Nazarbayev were published in all countries in translation into foreign languages. This allows to learn about the reality of Kazakhstan, the uniqueness of our country, its unique culture and literature. U. Kalizhanov said: «You are the conductors of both economic contacts and spiritual ties between nations and continents. I hope that with your help we could publish such Anthology in your countries. All these will strengthen cultural ties».

Rafis Abazov, professor at Columbia University is the compiler of «The Stories of the Great Steppe. The Anthology of Modern Kazakh Literature », which includes Kazakh prose from Gabit Musrepov to Didar Amantay and poetry from Olzhas Suleimenov to Shomishbay Sariev. This is the first joint publication of the M.O. Auezov Institute of Literature and Art, MES RK, and Columbia University (USA) and is a brief introduction to the world of modern Kazakh literature. Translation into English was done by Levshin Sergei and Ilya Bernstein. Kazakh language and Kazakh word shines in national pattern, various facets and poetic imagery. Published prose and poetry works have common themes – the eternal themes of Motherland, nature and love. Anthology has very good typographic design and a glossary.

Svetlana Ananieva spoke about positive dynamics of international relations development in the field of art, which enhances contacts between the masters of artistic expression of the Republic of Kazakhstan and foreign colleagues. A wide range of modern international resonance of Kazakh literature includes a number of European and Asian countries. Among Western countries France, Germany, Hungary, USA are showing greatest interest in national literature. Among countries of the East – Turkey, South Korea, India, Pakistan, Iran, China, Mongolia. The largest number of scholars doing research on the works of Kazakhstan writers and poets are in France, Germany, Pakistan and Turkey.

Increasing dynamics of international cooperation of the M.O.Auezov Institute of Literature and Art, MES RK in a multilateral format allows to implement joint research projects with National Academies of Sciences and world universities (Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Belarus, USA, France, Germany, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, China, Uzbekistan).

M.O. Auezov Institute of Literature and Art published joint monographs such as «Essays on world literature in the turn of the XXI century», «Literary and artistic dialogue», «International relations of Kazakh literature of the period of independence», «Contemporary foreign literature», «Integration processes and Kazakh literature» with the assistance of foreign experts from Germany, Russia, France, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, India, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Slovakia, Czech Republic. For the first time during the period of independence «Contemporary Foreign Literature» became the winner of the competition of the National Academies of Sciences of the CIS countries «Scientific Book – 2012» (Moscow). Books of the Institute explore new translations of Abay’s works into Russian, Korean, Belarusian, German, summarize the contribution of Albert Fischler (France), who visited the Institute several times and Leonard Kossuth (Germany), who has creative and personal contacts in the study of Kazakh literature abroad during many years.

Books of R. Abazov «Culture and traditions of Central Asia» (2007), «Green Desert: Life and Poetry of Olzhas Suleimenov» (2011) and «Selected works» by O. Suleimenov preceded the publication of the presented Anthology. The compiler of the Anthology extends acknowledgement to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Erlan Idrissov, staff of the Auezov Foundation and personally to Murat Auezov, Galymkair Mutanov Rector of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Ualikhan Kalizhanov Director of M.O. Auezov of ILA for assistance in preparation of the book, researchers of the M.O. Auezov Institute of Literature and Art – for the selection and preparing of literary texts. The idea of the book was supported by Melissa Barkomb, senior editor of the University Publishing House and Sarah Wheeler, editor of the projects Cognella, Inc. R. Abazov thank library staff, especially Robert Davis (Slavonic library collection at Columbia University).

Naomi Caffi (Naomi Caffee) in the article «Expanding horizons of Kazakh literature» highlights the diversity of literature in a multicultural and multilanguage center of the region such as modern Kazakhstan. The people of Kazakhstan have become citizens of the world and create new cultural ties with Western Europe, North America and Eurasian regions. Mobility of Kazakh authors and readers stimulates international cooperation and contacts.

Modern Kazakh literature with new paths, styles, genres and techniques goes beyond political and historical boundaries of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Kazakh writers, whose works are reflecting broad international experience, political connections and influence of different cultures, live and publish their works in Russia and CIS countries, China, the United States and Canada. Creativity of Bakhyt Kenzheev, Russian-speaking immigrant in Canada is very interesting. In Kazakhstan, Russian-language literary arena combines works of Russian, Kazakh, Uighur, Tatar, Korean, Kurdish poets, writers, playwrights, essayists. Online publications and social networks «Musaget», online magazine «Appolinary» are important. Social networks (Live Journal, Facebook, Twitter, Vkontakte.ru, Stikhi.ru) provide a platform for informal publications. Thus, in contemporary world there are no barriers to people who wish to participate in literary life. Recognition of Kazakh culture abroad, as finds Naomi Caffee – is the result of geographical and virtual dissemination of Kazakh art.

Vlastimil Samek, the representative of the UN Department of Public Information, expressed gratitude to the organizers of presentation for the invitation and special thanks to the heads and representatives of diplomatic missions in the Republic of Kazakhstan: «In 2012, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of Kazakhstan's accession to the United Nations. In 2013 - the 20th anniversary of the UN presence in Kazakhstan. Published in the United States with the hopes of expanding the boundaries of perception of Kazakh culture by English-speaking readers, the book brings Kazakh literature closer to a global stage by making the beauty of Kazakh literature more accessible».

Fariza Ongarsynova, national writer of Kazakhstan, Laureate of State Prize of RK, Saulekul Sailaukyzy, PhD History, Director of the Institute of Diplomacy, Academy of Public Administration under the President, Shomishbay Sariev, Honored figure of Kazakhstan, winner of the Franz Kafka Gold Medal International Prize, spoke clearly and convincingly about the importance of promoting scientific and cultural achievement of Kazakhstan abroad as a priority of accelerated development of the country, the role of literary translation in modern world.

In recent years the works of Kazakh literature have been included in Anthologies and published in separate collections in Russian, Ukrainian, Korean, French, Malaysian languages. Selected poetry by B. Kanapyanov «Silent Time» (1996) was one of the first editions published in the U.S. Works of Jack London, Edgar Allan Poe, Walt Whitman, Robert Frost, Ernest Hemingway have often sounded in the language of Abay and Auezov. Publication of Anthology is the first step of cultural studies in the United States. Horses-argamaks of Kazakh literature, by figurative expression of the poet, writer and translator, President of PH «Silk Way» Bakhytzhan Kanapyanov, imprinted on the cover of Anthology, are rushing across the plains of American continent from New York to California. This poetic and literary baiga is rich in cognition and opening of a common landscape, unique world of Eurasia and America. «Step by step» we are waiting for new discoveries in the way of interaction of literatures.

Anthology includes a number of bright reviews of authoritative American scientists. Professor Robert D. Gutman from Johns Hopkins University calls it fascinating and allowing intellectual and literary journey to Kazakhstan. Paul Michael Taylor, Director of Asian cultural and historical program of Smithsonian Institution is confident that a wide range of Anthology, its rich content opens up a new world of literature of Central Asia – the diversity of culture and poly-language Kazakhstan to English-speaking readers.

The book was sucessfully introduced at various events that were held in National Press Club (Washington), the L.N.Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Kazakh National University named after al-Farabi and the Republican State Children's Library named after S.Begalin, where the book presentation was attended by T . Grenchik, the US Consul General in Almaty.

Information on new edition published in the U.S. is on scientific portal «Academic and research institutes and centers for philology» http://filolconf.narod.ru. The scientific portal includes major research centers with which the M.O. Auezov Institute of Literature and Art conducts joint research: A.M. Gorky Institute of World Literature and Art of Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Russian Literature, RAS (Pushkin House), Institute of Literature of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, T.G. Shevchenko Institute of Literature of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Sh. Rustaveli Institute of Georgian Literature, Association of Georgian Comparative Literature and others.