Turkologists Celebrate Mahmud Kashgari’s Legacy at International Conference in Bishkek

The event was organized by the Turkic Academy in collaboration with the Turkish Linguistic Society under the Atatürk Supreme Council for Culture, Language and History, with support from the Chingiz Aitmatov Institute of Language and Literature of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The opening ceremony featured prominent attendees, including the First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic Bekzhan Supanaliyev, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Advisor to the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Arslan Koychiev, President of the Turkish Linguistic Society Osman Mert, President of the National Commission of Türkiye for UNESCO Ojal Oguz, and Rector of Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University Alpaslan Ceylan.

The conference delved into the historical significance of Mahmud Kashgari’s work “Divanu Lugati’t-Turk”. Turkologists from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Türkiye discussed various topics, including the biography of Kashgari, the objectives behind creating “Divanu Lugati-t-Turk”, and the linguistic and literary aspects of the work. They also explored its historical and ethnographic information. Special emphasis was placed on translations and research on “Divanu Lugati-t-Turk,” highlighting its critical role in studying Turkic languages, modern dialects, literature, ethnography, comparative linguistics, and lexicography.

In his opening remarks, Shahin Mustafayev underscored the importance of Mahmud Kashgari’s “Divanu Lugati-t-Turk”. He described the 11th-century work as an encyclopedia of the Turkic world, covering the social structure, geography, lifestyle, beliefs, mythology, and folk literature of Turkic peoples and tribes. Mustafayev noted that “Divanu Lugati-t-Turk” is increasingly significant in providing a scientific and cultural foundation for integration among Turkic states.

“I hope that this event will open new horizons for research in this field,” Mustafayev stated.

The conference was interactive, featuring discussions and presentations that allowed participants to exchange ideas and deepen their understanding of Mahmud Kashgari’s legacy. Attendees highlighted the event’s importance in enhancing cooperation among Turkic states in the realms of science and culture.