Mirjaqip Dulatuli

Mirjaqip Dulatuli (Kazakh: Міржақып Дулатұлы, Mirjaqyp Dýlatuly; Russian: Миржакып Дулатов (1885–1935), also known as Mir Yakub Dulatov, was a Kazakh poet, writer and one of leaders of Kazakh nationalist Alash Orda government. He also is known to have used the pen names Madiyar and Arghyn.[1]

Mirjaqip Dulatuli
Born	25 November 1885 Sarikopa, Qostanay Oblast
Died	1935
Occupation	Poet, Writer, Politician
Political party	Constitutional Democratic (1907–1917) Alash (1917–1920)

Early life

Dulatuli was born on November 25, 1885 in the village of Sarikopa, Kostanay Province. He was from Middle jüz, Argin tribe. He lost his mother, Demesh, at the age of two and his father, Dulat, at the age of 12. He received early education in the traditional village school. In 1897, Dulatuli enrolled in a Kazakh-Russian high school and graduated in 1902 as a village teacher. In 1904, he met Akhmet Baitursynov and Alikhan Bukeikhanov in Karkaraly. Under the influence of these two leaders of emerging Kazakh reformist nationalist movement, he developed an anti-colonial, anti-Russian view.

He moved to St. Petersburg in 1907 and became a delegate of Constitutional Democratic Party. In St. Petersburg, he published his first poem in the Kazakh journal "Serke", which ran only one issue. The poem was entitled Jastarga ("to the Youth").
He contributed another article, Bizdin Maksatimiz ("Our Objective"), to the second issue of the journal, which was never published.

Political activities

Mirjaqip's political formation was greatly maturated when he published his first poetry book, Oyan! Qazaq, "Wake up! Kazakh" in 1909.[2] The book was immediately confiscated. He republished Oyan! Qazaq in 1911 and returned to the Turgay oblast after the publication of the book.

Meanwhile, Dulatuli published his first novel Baqitsiz Jamal, "Jamal the Unfortunate" in 1910. Baqitsiz Jamal has been the first novel in the contemporary Kazakh literature. The book narrates the story of oppressed Kazakh women.

Thus, in early 1910s, Dulatuli emerges as a leader of emerging Kazakh reformism and nationalist movement. His publications puts him under Russian surveillance, investigations and intimidations. Under Tsarist Russian surveillance, Dulatuli could not have a steady job or settle down in a town for a long time. He was arrested in Semey in 1911 and served one and half years prison term.

After his release, Dulatuli regularly contributed to Kazakh language journals Ayqap and Qazaq until 1918 when Qazaq was closed by the Kerensky government. In his essays and poems Dulatuli criticized socio-economic, political conditions of Kazakhs under imperial administration. He also published another poetry, Azamat, "Citizen" in 1913.[3]

Dulatuli was one of the leaders of Alash Orda Government which was formed to promote Kazakh autonomy under the Menshevik government. Alash leaders, including Baytursunov and Dulatuli, aligned with the Whites, declared independence of Kazakhstan and fought against Bolsheviks between December 1917-May 1919. When the leader of the Whites, Admiral Aleksandr Kolchak, turned down requests of Alash leaders for help, the Kazakh nationalists realigned with the Bolsheviks expecting autonomy under Bolshevik government. In 1920, autonomous socialist republic was established and Alash leaders participated in local government.

Dulatuli worked as an editor and teacher under Bolshevik government. In 1928, he was arrested on nationalism charges and died in Solovki labour camp in 1935.

Legacy

Dulatuli was rehabilitated post-humously in 1988. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of modern Kazakh literature, and a leader of Kazakh nationalism.

The first novel in Kazakh literature is "Miserable Jamal" ("Бақытсыз Жамал"). The author describes Jamal, a Kazakh girl, who becomes a victim of patriarchal- feudal traditions and customs, and exposing the fight between old traditions and new generation on this basis. The novel is celebrated for clear depiction of a feeling of equality, among rising young people of that time.[4]

Works

• Oyan! Qazaq, Almati: Altyn Orda (1991)

Kózińdi ash, oа́n qazaq, kóter basty,
Ótkizbeı qarańǵyda beker jasty.
Jer ketti, din nasharlap, hal aram bop,
Qazaǵym, endi jatý jaramas-ty.

Open your eyes! Wake up, Kazakh! Get up!
Stop living in darkness and ignorance.
Land is gone, losing faith, our condition significantly worsened,
Оh beloved Kazakhs, we can no longer lie idle.

• Shigharmalari, Mirjaqip Dulatuli; Z A Akhmetov; Almati: Jazushi Baspasi, 1991
• Baqitsiz Jamal, 1910
• Azamat, 1913
• Terme, 1915
• Esep Kurali, 1922
• Kiyragat Kitabi, 1924

References

1. Uyama, Tomohiko (February 2005). "The Geography of Civilizations: Chapter 3-A Spatial Analysis of the Kazakh Intelligentsia's Activities, From the Mid-Nineteenth to the Early Twentieth Century" (PDF).
2. Мир-Якуб Дулатов
3. Asur Ozdemir, Kazak Turklerinin Buyuk Edibi, Mirjakip Dulatuli, Bilim ve Kültür Dergisi (bilig-3/Fall, 1996)
4. Қирабаев Серік Тәуелсіздік Рухымен Астана: "Фолиант", 2002, 35 page

Films

1. 1993 «Міржақыптың оралуы» ”Міржақыптың оралуы” - "Міржақыптың оралуы" Return of the Mir-Yakub (films) (documentary) «Kazakhtelefilm» film director Kalila Umarov.