This was the pressing point with which Professor Gultas Kurmanbai, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences and Abaevist, opened her speech at the Republican Youth Forum "Abai’s Teachings on the 'Perfect Human': National Values and Contemporary Perspectives," held on May 23–24 at Shakarim University.
The speaker emphasized that conveying Abai’s legacy through clichés and official slogans only alienates young people rather than bringing them closer.
“If we keep speaking about Abai in outdated terms, we don’t connect — we push them away. Abai is not a bronze monument. He is a living coordinate system, a philosopher who must be understandable and close to the younger generation.”
The central message of her speech was the need to speak about spiritual heritage in a new language and through new tools. Abai is not just a historical figure — he is an intellectual resource that must be reintroduced through educational modules, media platforms, digital content, and creative approaches.
Gultas Kurmanbai stressed that the essence of abaevedenie (Abai studies) is love for humanity.
“‘Love all of humanity as your brother’ is not just a poetic line — it is a code for raising the Kazakh mentality to a global humanistic level.”
“Abai reflects not only the past but the future. We must not merely memorize his words — we must turn them into real tools for educating, raising, and helping the youth find their sense of self,” she said.
Her insightful and bold position resonated strongly with the forum audience and became one of its most powerful and conceptual speeches. Participants expressed confidence that this kind of modern, dialogic, and meaningful approach to Abai can provide youth with clear intellectual reference points and a deeper foundation.
The forum, which brought together representatives from more than 70 universities across the country, made it clear: such ideas are not only being voiced but are becoming part of a broader movement toward long-term rethinking.
Shakarim University will continue to integrate Abai’s legacy not as a static object of memory, but as a practical instrument for shaping conscious and morally grounded individuals.
