For 180 years, the name of Abai Kunanbayev has resounded as a symbol of Kazakh spirituality and wisdom, and in 2025, his anniversary is being celebrated at the highest level. This is a testament not only to the global recognition of the great enlightener’s significance but also to the contribution of Mukhtar Auezov, whose literary legacy elevated Abai’s figure to a universal scale. That is why today we perceive Abai not only as a writer but also as a symbol of the nation’s spiritual awakening.

In 1945, speaking on the stage of the Almaty Opera House on the occasion of the centenary of Abai Kunanbayev’s birth, the outstanding writer Mukhtar Auezov emphasized the importance of preserving historical memory: such anniversaries strengthen national spirit, unite society, and ensure the continuity of generations. Through the biographies of the great sons of the Kazakh people, we gain access to a deeper understanding of the past — to aspects that once remained in the shadows. Such individuals endow their people with strength, and their descendants with a sense of pride and dignity. Mukhtar Auezov not only immortalized Abai — he made him the spiritual tuning fork of the Kazakh nation.

Thanks to the epic novel The Path of Abai, millions of people in Kazakhstan and far beyond came to know Abai not only as a poet but also as a profound philosopher, public figure, fighter for justice, and humanist. Mukhtar Auezov dedicated more than thirty years of his life to this work, meticulously studying archives, interviewing eyewitnesses, and reconstructing the historical context. His work became a true encyclopedia of the Kazakh soul and national character.

The writer himself spoke of his hero with deep personal devotion: “My goal is not merely to tell Abai’s story, but to raise him as a great moral figure, to show that he was ahead of his time.”

He called Abai a “teacher of humanity,” and his legacy “a light illuminating the path of the nation.” One of Auezov’s contemporaries — the prominent writer and literary scholar Sabit Mukanov — also commented on the significance of his work.

“If not for Auezov, we might have known Abai only as a poet. But thanks to Mukhtar Omarkhanovich, we came to know Abai as a great thinker and spiritual leader of the people,” the literary scholar noted.

Through Abai’s image in the novel, we see the struggle of the individual against traditionalism, the pursuit of knowledge, respect for labor, progress, and justice. These very values are especially relevant today, in the Year of Vocational Professions, when Kazakhstan is prioritizing the development of the country’s industrial potential, the cultivation of engineering thinking, respect for working people, and the strengthening of the nation’s scientific and technological foundation.

These ideals naturally resonate with the activities of JSC “NC “Kazakhstan Engineering”, which represents the modern face of national industry and defense engineering. Engineers, designers, developers, and young specialists — all continue the work of past enlighteners, but now in the field of technology and innovation, embodying in practice the very “enlightened thought” that Abai Kunanbayev wrote about and that Mukhtar Auezov brought to prominence.

In this context, reading and reinterpreting the works of the great poet and enlightener becomes not just an act of cultural remembrance, but also a stimulus for personal and professional growth, especially among those working in the industrial sector. That is why events held in his honor within the teams of “Kazakhstan Engineering” are of particular importance — they are not only a tribute to a great legacy, but also a reminder of the role of intellect, ingenuity, hard work, and morality in the development of modern society.

And if Abai Kunanbayev became the voice of Kazakh philosophy, and Mukhtar Auezov its chronicler, then today this baton is being taken up by generations of engineers, workers, and researchers, for whom high spiritual ideals go hand in hand with creative labor. In this lies the living link between the past and the future.