National Ideas of Persian and Kazakh Intellectuals at the Beginning of the 20th Century, in the Struggle for the Independence of Kazakhstan

Abstract

At the beginning of the 20th century, many national intellectuals participated in the struggle for the independence of Kazakhstan and contributed to modernize the consciousness of the traditional society. It involved intellectuals from two nations: Kazakhstan and Iran, who explored nationalism, secular society, anti-colonial efforts, and the introduction of national independence ideals. This article examines how Iranian and Kazakh intellectuals participated in the process of social modernization and their place and role in the intellectual movement in Kazakhstan. It analyzes the experiences of the historical activity of the intelligentsia, the goals and tasks set for intellectuals of both countries. The focus is on their methods of struggle.In doing so, the paper dissects the gradual shift of enlightenment ideals of national intellectuals towards political reforms, delineating the transition to a national agenda. The article compares the intellectual endeavors of Iranian and Kazakh intellectuals at the onset of the century by differentiating the motivations and contributions of these ideas. It employs historical and analytical methods to evaluate their ideological initiatives and activities and scrutinizes how intellectuals grappled with the challenges of modernization and secularization in the 20th century.In conclusion, it establishes the nature of the evolution and the values and ideas of the participating intellectuals related to nationalism, identity, language, culture, and the role of history in shaping national identity.