Cultural Heritage - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 37 - 42 of 95

Obituary

Kazakhstan Mourns Talgat Musabayev – Cosmonaut, Space Agency Chief and Senator

Talgat Musabayev, a pilot and cosmonaut from Kazakhstan who flew on several space missions and conducted multiple spacewalks before becoming the head of his country’s space agency and a member of parliament, has died at the age of 74. Musabayev traveled on Russian Soyuz spacecraft in 1994, 1998 and 2001, logging nearly a year in orbit. He stayed on the Soviet-built Mir space station on the first two voyages and spent a week on the International Space Station for a week on the third trip. Dennis Tito, the first paying space tourist, was on that third expedition with Musabayev, an event that set the stage for the nascent space tourism industry involving companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed his condolences to Musabayev’s family on Monday. Musabayev “is a hero who conquered space three times and performed spacewalks, glorifying our country with his feats,” Tokayev said in a statement. “He dedicated his entire working life to the progress of domestic cosmonautics. As a Senator and public figure, he initiated many good undertakings.” Among Musabayev’s highlights in space was, as commander, welcoming American astronauts aboard the Mir station in 1998, three years before the station was abandoned and made a controlled reentry into Earth’s atmosphere, mostly burning up in the process. Video shows Musabayev smiling broadly and embracing the Americans as they float through the hatch from the Discovery space shuttle into the Mir station. Musabayev gave a wrench to shuttle commander Charlie Precourt, saying it was a gift from Mir for the construction of the International Space Station. After his career as a cosmonaut ended in 2003, Musabayev was appointed head of KazCosmos, Kazakhstan’s space agency, in 2007 and then served as a senator in Kazakhstan’s parliament from 2017 to 2023. He received numerous awards for his contribution to space flight, not just from Kazakhstan but also Russia and NASA, the U.S. space agency. A commemorative stamp with his image was released in Kazakhstan a decade ago. In the mid-2000s, Musabayev became director of the joint Russian-Kazakh venture known as Baiterek, which aimed to build a new launch pad for the Soyuz-5 rocket at the Russia-operated Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The goal was to replace deteriorating Soviet-era infrastructure and expand Kazakhstan’s own space ambitions, though the project ran into delays and funding problems. Dmitry Bakanov, head of Russian space agency Roscosmos, said last month that, as part of the Baiterek venture, the Soyuz-5 rocket will launch from Baikonur at the end of 2025, Russia’s Interfax news agency reported. Roscosmos also expressed condolences on learning of Musabayev’s death on Monday. Musabayev, who was born in the Almaty area, graduated with a degree in radio electronic equipment from the Riga Civil Aviation Engineers Institute in Latvia, then under Soviet control, in 1974. The engineering school, renamed the Transport and Telecommunication Institute, said in a tribute that the alumnus from Kazakhstan as “a person whose humility, intellect, and dedication left a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of...

Music

Kazakhstani Opera Talent Aigerim Altynbek Wins Contest in Italy

Kazakhstani soprano Aigerim Altynbek believes “greater heights” await after she came first in an international opera singing competition in Italy. Altynbek was among singers from 50 countries competing in the Concorso Lirico Internazionale di Portofino (CLIP) in the scenic harbor village of Portofino. The competition, which began in 2015, aims to support young talents and many of its winners and finalists have embarked on successful careers. “I want to share some incredibly joyful news with you!” Altynbek posted on Instagram after she was awarded first prize on Sunday. “This was a truly special experience for me – and I believe even greater heights lie ahead.” President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated Altynbek. “This achievement, which has made our country's culture known to the world and has been recognized by international experts, is of great significance,” Tokayev said. “You have made our state proud and brought our native art to the forefront of the world.” Altynbek performed a duet last month with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli at Pompeii, days after an appearance with Spanish tenor José Carreras in Astana. She has already received a number of accolades, including first prize in the Città di Arcore - Giacomo Puccini opera singing competition in Italy last year. She has been studying in Italy after graduating from the Kazakh National University of Arts.

Healthcare

UN Urges More Vaccinations; Kyrgyzstan Reports Drop in New Measles Cases

More children are vulnerable to disease and the risk of outbreaks is higher in Europe and Central Asia because coverage of childhood vaccines in 2024 remained below pre-pandemic levels, according to United Nations agencies. Still, some countries have pushed hard on vaccination campaigns and are currently reporting a slowdown in the spread of some infectious diseases – Kyrgyzstan, for example, said on Wednesday that measles cases are dropping. Data released this week by the World Health Organization and UNICEF reveal a “stagnated recovery” for childhood vaccinations against measles, whooping cough and other diseases in 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia. The average coverage of those vaccines remained the same or dropped by 1% in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to the agencies. They cited examples of the declines between 2019 and 2024, including 92% to 91% with the second dose of measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, 95% to 93% with the third dose of diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis (DTP) vaccine and 95% to 93% with the third dose of the polio vaccine. “In many ways, vaccination has been a victim of its own success across Europe and Central Asia,” said Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF’s regional director. “Today’s generation has not witnessed the devastating impact of vaccine-preventable diseases – leading to complacency and making it easier for misinformation to take hold.” There was some progress in the coverage of newer vaccines, including against human papillomavirus (HPV), according to the U.N. data. Authors of the report urged governments to invest in health systems and make vaccines available. Kyrgyzstan, in particular, has struggled with measles outbreaks. The Ministry of Health, however, says a massive vaccination campaign that reached up to 1 million children has borne results since what it called the “rampant” spread of measles last autumn and winter. “From the beginning of the year to July 15, 8,672 confirmed cases of measles were registered in the republic,” the ministry said. But it said the number of new cases is gradually falling, with just 109 confirmed cases in the first two weeks of July. Kazakhstan, which has also battled measles outbreaks, said this week that the number of infectious disease cases is slowing, according to the state Kazinform News Agency.

Cinema

Two Duishens: 60 Years of a Seminal Soviet Kyrgyz Film

Andrei Konchalovsky’s First Teacher, an adaptation of Chingiz Aitmatov’s famous work of the same name about an educator who undertakes the task of tutoring the kids in a remote Kyrgyz village, re-tailors the protagonist and the plot to convert a coming-of-age symphony into a triumph over tragedy while maintaining the book’s core values. In one of the earlier frames of First Teacher (Konchalovsky, 1965), the well-meaning beggar-turned-Komsomol member Duishen tears into a young student who suggests that the impermanence of life might also apply to, besides everyone else, Lenin. Duishen’s God-like reverence for the father of the Soviet experiment is also present in Chingiz Aitmatov’s novel of the same name. And yet, unlike the reserved and understanding protagonist of the book, who has the qualities if not qualifications of an educator and would’ve perhaps counselled the young one in the situation mentioned above, Konchalovsky’s teacher is an obstinate simpleton who is almost always on the edge and yearning for the village’s respect. Inna Merkoulova and Marina Merkoulova, in their brilliant essay ‘The first teacher: A case of intersemiotic translation. When Chingiz Aitmatov’s short story becomes Andrei Konchalovsky’s film’ discuss how the movie adaptation is a case of intersemiotic translation by the director, wherein the work transforms from Aitmatov’s drama into Konchalovsky’s tragedy through the usage of various film techniques. In fact, I believe that Duishen’s character undergoes a severe reinterpretation, from a Leninist disciple trying to do his bit for the Proletarian dictatorship by educating the kids in the book to a hot-headed agitator eager to force the Soviet will on the local populace in the film. In this work, we’ll analyse how the ‘two Duishens’ manage to achieve their objectives and meet at a similar end despite existing in vastly different frameworks. The ‘first Duishen’ from Chingiz Aitmatov’s book is sketched by an older Altynai, the Red Army soldier’s favourite disciple, who after achieving success as an academician in Moscow, looks back fondly at the bold Duishen of her childhood in the 1920s. A man who used the meagre resources at his disposal to become the village’s first educator. Someone who helped her achieve her potential. Duishen’s teachings have an importance that is much greater than the bookish knowledge that the soldier imparts. Duishen’s education is an act of courage, for they come from a man who is barely literate himself, his teachings restricted to basic numerals, letters and political wordings. But it assumes significance in the fact that Duishen shows the fortitude to overcome his circumstances, and becomes more than what fate had assigned him. Further, he indoctrinates the other illiterates, especially the weakest sections of a conservative society: women and children, to follow suit and take first steps towards their emancipation. Aitmatov’s hero is moulded as a Soviet ideal, and sits closer to the cinematic Duishen’s imagination of ‘hundreds and thousands’ steel-like party members who would keep the revolution alive after Lenin’s demise. He shows balanced wisdom in judgments, the heart of a soldier in peril, and...

Tourism

Kazakh Nomads and Authentic Tourism: Interview with Mongolia’s Cultural Envoy Dr. Gantemur Damba at CAMCA

This week The Times of Central Asia will be attending the CAMCA Regional Forum, which this year is being held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The CAMCA network is a collection of professionals and policymakers dedicated to sharing ideas, knowledge and inspiration to develop the Eurasia region; its name stands for Central Asia, Mongolia, the Caucasus and Afghanistan. Ahead of the Forum, The Times of Central Asia spoke with Mongolia’s Cultural Envoy, and the Vice Chair of the Asian Ecotourism Network, Dr. Gantumur Damba, about the country's Kazakh nomads, and what the CAMCA program means for Mongolian culture and tourism. TCA: Central Asia is geographically quite close to Mongolia, but Mongolia's culture is distinct. What parts of Mongolian life do you think make journeys here unique for visitors? GD: Indeed. While Mongolia has some cultural similarities with Central Asia due to historical links, it has developed its own distinct identity. We are a unique culture with influences from Buddhism, shamanism and animism in our pastoralist herder’s way of life. Eastern Mongolia is rich in historical sites, including Deluun Boldog, where Genghis Khan was born, and the historical ruins of 13th and 14th-century towns. Central Mongolia is centered on the ancient town of Kharkhorum – with UNESCO-inscribed intangible cultural events – and the beautiful Orkhon Valley. This region is also enriched by Mongolian Buddhist traditions and architectural sites. North Mongolia is the home of nomadic reindeer herders, who have strong shamanistic beliefs. They are one of the last groups in the world to still herd reindeer as their primary way of life. Mongolia's largest ethnic minority are Kazakhs, who live in the country's western regions. What opportunities do visitors to Mongolia have to discover the Mongolian Kazakh way of life? The Kazakhs of Mongolia have distinct cultural practices, and live mainly in western Mongolia, particularly in Bayan-Ölgii province. While they share a common heritage with Kazakhs in Kazakhstan and other Central Asian nations, their experience in Mongolia is shaped by their minority status and the influence of Mongolian culture and Buddhism, alongside their own Turkic language and Islamic traditions. Activities like eagle hunting demonstration events, trekking in the Altai Mountains, and exploring authentic nomadic life offer unique travel experiences. Travelers can experience authentic nomad Kazakh culture through homestays, participating in festivals, and witnessing traditional crafts, traditional music, epic storytelling and vibrant dances like the eagle dance. What places and activities in Mongolia do you most recommend to foreign visitors? Are you working on any new destinations? Mongolia offers a high degree of freedom and flexibility for travelers, especially when it comes to camping and exploring the vast landscapes. There are relatively few restrictions on where you can go and camp, and you can often choose your own route and pace. However, choosing the right travel partner is vital. I categorize our destinations according to three “Ms”. The first M stands for modified places – basically those that are spoiled. That includes Terelj, Kharkhorum and West Khuvsgul Lake, where you will find many resorts,...

History

Love and Politics: How the Wives of Alash Founders Sparked a Controversy

A controversy that may appear perplexing to outside observers has ignited debate across Kazakh society. The target of online backlash is journalist Maya Bekbaeva, known for her extensive work promoting Kazakh history, from the era of Khan Jochi, son of Genghis Khan, to notable Soviet-era figures. Two years ago, Bekbaeva released a documentary highlighting the wives of prominent Kazakhs who fought for autonomy within the Russian Empire. A fragment of the film, selectively edited, surfaced on YouTube last week, triggering widespread public reaction. A Controversy with Cultural Implications The edited clip suggested that the founders of the Alash party routinely married Russian women because Kazakh women were “uneducated” and unable to compete, a claim that quickly drew backlash. The storm was fueled by a Facebook post from journalist Mukhtar Tumenbay, who encountered the clip and shared it with commentary that drew a flood of emotionally charged responses. Some commenters accused the film of inciting interethnic tension, implying that Alash leaders chose Russian partners due to the inaccessibility of “proud and chaste Kazakh women.” Bekbaeva responded by clarifying that the excerpt had been misleadingly edited. She reiterated that the film was intended to inspire modern Kazakh women to pursue education and societal advancement. “You could always talk to [those women] about various things. That’s something we should remember when raising girls, don’t rush them into marriage; let them learn and prove themselves. Love prefers equals,” she said, emphasizing the film’s deeper message. Revisiting Alash and Alash Orda To understand the roots of this debate, one must revisit the early 20th century. Following its defeat in the Russo-Japanese War, the Russian Empire entered a period of upheaval. Peripheral regions, including modern-day Kazakhstan, began resisting colonial policies such as the Stolypin reforms, which facilitated the resettlement of Russian and Ukrainian peasants to Kazakh steppe lands, disrupting nomadic traditions and livelihoods. A pivotal moment came on May 16, 1907, when Bakhytzhan Karataev, a descendant of Khan Abulkhair and a law graduate from St. Petersburg, delivered a speech in the State Duma defending the rights of the steppe people. His ideas eventually laid the groundwork for the formation of the Alash party in 1917. Founded by Alikhan Bokeikhanov, Akhmet Baitursynov, and Mirzhakip Dulatov, the Alash movement advocated for autonomy and reform. That same year, the All-Kazakh Congress in Orenburg approved the creation of the Alash Orda Provisional People's Council, a precursor to the modern Kazakh state. The Wives Behind the Leaders Among the Alash founders, two were indeed married to Russian women. Akhmet Baitursynov’s wife, born Alexandra Ivanova, converted to Islam and adopted the name Badrisafa. She supported Baitursynov through exile, imprisonment, and repression, becoming one of the first women deeply involved in the national movement. Alikhan Bokeikhanov married Elena Sevostyanova, daughter of an exiled Narodnik. Despite his mother’s opposition, Elena was Christian, the couple remained together until her death. Some speculate that Bokeikhanov may have converted to Christianity for her, as she was buried with Orthodox rites. Political analyst Daniyar Ashimbayev notes that until...