Organizers of the conference, Council of L.N.Gumilyov Eurasian National University veterans and Astana branch of ‘Veterans Organization’ RPO aimed to celebrate the achievements and success of the country during the independence and to express gratitude to senior generation for lessons they teach youth by the example of their achievements on the threshold of International Day of Older Persons.
The guests could visit museums and exhibitions ‘Turkic writing’, ‘History of Education’ and ‘The Museum of L.N.Gumilyov’.
Vice-rector for Cultural and Social Development of L.N.Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Doctor of Philological Sciences, professor, corresponding member of NAS RK Dikhan Kamzabekuly said in his speech: ‘Recently, we hosted a big event in honor of the 20th anniversary of our university. Famous scholars, writers, politicians shared their opinions and observations regarding today’s youth. Many of them agreed that younger generation amaze with their knowledge and spacious mind gained from travels abroad. The youth respect traditions and consider older people’s opinion. We should educate our young people based on spiritual values that religion brings. I often see older people, stepping hard, walking on the road to the mosque or the church. I wish young people do not drive by, but stop and help them.
I and my colleagues often wonder what else we can do for our old people? Taking into account that there are many active, smart and motivated people, we can invite them to the meetings with students by forming ‘golden bridge’ between generations. If you have something to say our youth, the doors of University and ‘Veterans Organization’ are always open. Your works can be published in our magazines as well.’
Judging by grateful applause, the audience warmly accepted scholar’s proposal.
A lot of interesting information from history was given in the speech of the next speaker. Secretary of the National Congress of Kazakhstan historians, Doctor of Historical Sciences, professor Kabyldinov Ziyabek Ermukhanovich spoke on theme ‘Independence day of Kazakhstan – the main national holiday of the Republic of Kazakhstan’:
‘We, professors, faculty and University staff will always remember that we were able to build a strong, dynamic respected state in the world by the efforts of your generation. In honor of the holiday – The day of Respect of older generation, I would like to mention a few passages from a textbook for 8th grade, which describes our people’s lives for nearly 4 thousand years: ‘There was a cult of respect for elders, regardless of clan, tribal, zhuz, national origin in the traditional Kazakh society. For instance, in the end of XIX century, one of the German researchers Von Schwartz wrote: ‘Kirghiz-Kaisak respected all older men and women regardless of their origin besides sultans and batyrs’. Indeed, the older generation gave our society special steadiness in the steppe society. Their words were obeyed. They were given the most honorable places. Young people never raised voices at the presence of older generation. Along with it, the older generation was custodian and further assembler of the best customs and traditions of Kazakh people and other ethnic groups, who turned out to be on the territory of Kazakhstan by the will of the fate. The majority of European researchers say that people respected older generation in the country of the Great steppe, in the heart of Eurasia. Miller, Kirillov, Tevkelev and others wrote about in the XVIII century. The vast majority of Russian researchers of XIX century notice that nomads differ from all the nations of the world by warm hospitality, openness, compassion and respect for older people’.
Greeting words of the Chairman of Astana branch of ‘Veterans Organizations’ RPO, Chairman of the Public Council of Astana Yessilov Sansyzbai Seitzhanovich were also devoted to the country’s achievements during the years of independence.
Participants of the conference learned a lot of useful information about one of the main educational institutions of the country, L.N.Gumilyov Eurasian National University.
After the conference, the audience was presented a concert program with participation of students and ensemble of ‘Veterans Organization’.
