OCTOBER 25 - DAY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

Congratulations to Duman ORYNBEKOV,

Rector of Shakarim University, member of Kazakhstan Khalyk Kenesi

Dear teachers, scientists, staff and students of Shakarim University, Shakarim team Higher College, teachers and students of Shakarim High School!

I sincerely congratulate you on the Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan!

On October 25, 1990, the Declaration of State Sovereignty was adopted. This historic decision became one of the most important steps towards the independence of Kazakhstan, securing the right of our people to independently determine the fate of their country, choose the direction of its development and build their own future.

On this day, I especially want to remember the people for whom the freedom of the people, their education and national dignity have become the work of their whole life.

Abay, Shәkarim, Alikhan Bukeikhan, Akhmet Baitursynuly, Mirzhakyp Dulatuly... And how many of them there were - those who, in different eras, during the years of the most difficult historical trials, lived with the dream of a free people, an educated nation, the right to independently determine the fate of their land!

Behind this dream are entire generations of thinkers, educators, scientists, poets and public figures who defended the dignity of the people, preserved their language, culture and historical memory. They belonged to different generations, saw the paths of social development differently, but they were united by a deep responsibility for the fate of their people and future generations. Many of them did not live to see independence. Some paid for their beliefs with freedom, others with their lives.

And today, when we celebrate Republic Day, the historical scale of the path traveled is especially acutely realized. What the generations of our predecessors dreamed of has become our everyday reality: a sovereign state, our own national institutions, universities and research centers, Kazakhstani youth receiving education at the world's leading universities, scientists creating new knowledge, and generations who are growing up, no longer imagining their country without independence.

And yet, on this holiday, I would like to ask myself a question: what would they, the greatest personalities, say when they saw today's Kazakhstan?

What would the Day mean to them? Republics, if they could be among us today, see an independent state, our universities, schools, research centers? To see young people freely choosing a profession, being educated in different countries, doing research, creating new technologies and discovering opportunities that their predecessors could only dream of?

I think they would see this as the fulfillment of many hopes to which they have dedicated their lives. But they would probably ask about something else: have we done enough to develop science and education, preserve language and culture, strengthen justice and public trust? How worthily do we manage our newfound freedom, how do we use the opportunities that have opened up, and what are we doing for future generations?

After all, the historical dream of freedom does not end with the acquisition of sovereignty. It continues in what kind of state Kazakhstan is becoming, what kind of society we are creating and what kind of country we will pass on to the next generations.

For them, independence was the future for which they fought. For us, it has become a present for which we are responsible.

The Great Shakarim Kudayberdiuly left us words that resonate with particular force today:

“ Adamdyk boryshyn -

Khalkyna enbek kyl.

Ak Zholdan aynimai

Ar sakta, ony bіl.”

These lines contain a surprisingly modern understanding of civic duty. Freedom requires conscience, independence requires responsibility. And love for the Motherland is manifested primarily in a person’s deeds, in his attitude towards people, his people and the future of the country.

Today Kazakhstan is solving large-scale problems: developing the economy and science, introducing new technologies, strengthening state institutions, creating opportunities for the younger generation. All these transformations require not only resources and government decisions, but also the maturity of society, professionalism, civil initiative and the willingness of every person to participate in the development of the country.

As a member of the Kazakhstan Khalyk Kenesi, I consider it especially important that justice, legality, public trust and respect for people remain at the core of these transformations. A strong state is impossible without a society capable of conducting an open and meaningful dialogue, hearing different opinions, participating in making significant decisions and sharing responsibility for their results.

Ultimately, the future of Kazakhstan depends on the extent to which each of us understands our role in its development, knows how to correlate personal interests with public ones and is ready to make a real contribution to the common cause.

For us, representatives of education and science, this is a special mission.

At Shakarim High School, a generation is growing up who He is just beginning to discover his abilities, form his own views and choose his own path in life. At Shakarim College, young people master professions, acquire practical skills and prepare for independent professional activities. At Shakarim University, students, teachers and scientists create new knowledge, conduct research, develop projects and technologies that can bring real benefits to society and the economy.

All these are parts of a unified educational system in which the future generation of Kazakhstan is being formed.

We work with those who will develop the economy, science and culture, create new industries, improve technologies, make decisions and determine the future path of our country. Therefore, the quality of education, professional training, independence of thinking, moral guidelines and values that we convey to young people are of particular importance today.

How responsibly we carry out this work, how much we can reveal the abilities of young people, support their initiatives and cultivate respect for work, knowledge and human dignity, largely depends on what Kazakhstan will be like in ten, twenty and fifty years.

This is especially deeply felt here, on the land of Abai and Shәkarima.

For Semey and the Abay region, their heritage is a living moral and intellectual basis. This land gave Kazakhstan outstanding thinkers, educators and public figures, whose ideas went far beyond the boundaries of their time. And today this heritage obliges us to develop education, science and culture, create conditions for new discoveries, educate people capable of thinking independently, making responsible decisions and serving society.

We must be worthy not only of the great history of our land, but also of the opportunities that independent Kazakhstan opens up for us.

Generations who dreamed of the freedom of their people have left us a great spiritual and intellectual heritage. We have the honor of living in an independent state and the responsibility to make it stronger, more educated, fairer and more prosperous.

May our country always live in peace and harmony, may every family have prosperity, confidence in the future and the joy of new achievements!

I wish everyone good health, happiness, creative energy, inspiration and new successes for the benefit of our Motherland!

Happy Republic Day!

With respect, Duman ORYNBEKOV