The Center for Regional Studies held a round table discussion dedicated to the 190th anniversary of Ch. Valikhanov’s birth

On December 20, 2025, the Center for Regional Studies of Turan University, together with the ‘Turan Duniyasi’ Foundation for the Culture of Turkic Peoples, held a Round-table discussion dedicated to the 190th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding Kazakh scholar Chokan Valikhanov (1835-1865). The Round-table discussion was opened by the Director of the Center for Regional Studies, Professor Ablet K. Kamalov, who described Ch. Valikhanov as an outstanding figure in the intellectual history of Kazakhstan, whose works have become a valuable source for the study of the history and culture of the Central Asian peoples.

Professor Dina I. Razakova, Vice-Rector of Turan University for Strategic Development, Science, and Innovation, Karlin N. Makhpirov, Director of the ‘Turan Duniyasi’ Foundation for the Culture of the Turkic Peoples, G.V. Kan, Head of the Academic Expert Group of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan (APK), M. Mansurov, Member of the APK, and Ahmet Dagduran, President of the Foundation for the Turkic Peoples’ Culture delivered welcome addresses. Prof. G.V. Kan handed over the Letters of Appreciation issued by the Department of Internal Affairs of the Mayor administration of the city of Almaty, to Prof. A.K. Kamalov, the Director of the Center for Regional Studies, for his contribution to the development of science and national harmony in Kazakhstan, and A. Dagduran handed the Letter of Appreciation issued by the Foundation for the Turkic Peoples’ Culture to A. Kamalov for his contribution to the development of Turkic Studies.

The main papers at the Round-table discussion on Chokan Valikhanov’s life, activity and works were delivered by Prof. K. Torlanbayeva, Prof. A. Kamalov (both fromTuran University), poet and writer A. Nurmanov, Research Associate of the Institute of History and Ethnology named after Ch. Valikhanov, Dr. K.A. Sarkenova, and  Professor of Abylai-khan University, Dr. B.N. Zhuztayeva. Their papers discussed Ch. Valikhanov’s contribution to world scholarship, his role and place in the intellectual history of Kazakhstan and Central Asia, gave an analysis of his works and achievements, and discussed significance of his works for the development of social sciences in Central Asia.

The resolution of the Round-table, alongside with the need for further in-depth study of the academic heritage of Chokan Valikhanov, included a point of necessity of establishing a memorial complex and an open-air military historical museum in Malaya Stanitsa neighborhood of Almaty, which has been proposed by the Associate Professor of al-Farabi Kazakh National University Dr. N. K. Zhanabayev.

Researchers, public figures, teachers, doctoral students, MA and undergraduate students of Turan University, representatives of ethno-cultural associations of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan took part in the discussions and debates.

The Round-table discussion was held as a part of the “Cultural Space of Central Asia” program of the Center for Regional Studies at Turan University.