SMAGUL SADUAKASULY – Institute of History and Ethnology named after Sh. Sh. Ualikhanov

Smagul Saduakasuly (1900-1933) – a prominent public figure and statesman, writer.

Biography

Saduakas-uly Smagul – a prominent public figure and statesman, he was born in 1900 in Zharkyn village of the Karoy region, Sharlak district of the Akmola region (now Akzhar district of the North Kazakhstan region). Up to 10 years old, he was educated and taught literacy by his father, Mullah Saduakas. From the age of 11 he studies at aul school. In the years 1912-1915 continues to study at the Russian-Kazakh school in Poltavka. In the years 1916-1918 studies at the Omsk Agricultural College, at cooperative classes at the Polytechnic Institute, at the cooperative faculty of the Agricultural Institute. Along with this, he teaches short-term courses and works as the head of the educational department of the Kazakh branch of the Zemsky administration of the Akmola region (Omsk). He has been participating in the political struggle since 1916.

The legacy of Smagul Saduakas-uly was not specifically investigated until the 90s. The totalitarian system played a special role in this matter, therefore, scholars who studied the history of literature of the post-revolutionary period were forced to mention the name of Smagul only in passing. A. Baitursyn-uly / 1 /, T. Shonanov / 2 /, B. Kenzhebaev / 3 / highly appreciated him as a literary critic, writer and publicist. It is also necessary to mention the names of G. Togzhanov, S. Mukanov, E. Bekenov, A. Baydildin, I. Zhansugurov, S. Seifullin, A. Tazhibaev and others / 4 /, who were critical of the activities of Smagul during his life and after his death, considering him a “nationalist-minded literary critic and bai’s minion.”

S. Saduakas-uly avoided the mass arrests of 1929 and the executions of the Kazakh intelligentsia of 1937, as during the first arrests he was removed from politics and left Kazakhstan (to Moscow). During the years of repression of the 30s, he passed away.

According to the research of the English Sovietologist Robert Conquest, a special sector was unofficially opened at the OGPU (Joint State Political Directorate) – NKVD (People’s Commissariat of Internal Affairs) in the early 1930s. The structure was engaged in the persecution and destruction of people in various ways who opposed Stalinist politics, for national self-determination and sovereignty / 5 /. In the case “Disarmament of a group whose main purpose is an attempt on Goloshchekin and the Soviet government”, preserved in the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan, there are enough “exposing” words to S. Saduakas-uly / 6 /. However, due to a sudden death, he did not appear before the court of the “troika” of the NKVD, he was not charged under paragraph 10 of Article 58 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR. Despite this, even after the consequences of the personality cult were annulled, neither historians nor literary critics sounded a fair opinion about the outstanding person. Only Professor B. Kenzhebaev wrote: “We should not forget about the writer and critic Smagul.” After the publication of the scholar’s article “Otelmegen paryz”, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan accused and began to persecute the author of the article, the editor and several employees of the newspaper “Qazaq adebieti”, in which the article was published, “for acquitting a person who opposed party policy “/ 7 /.

Historians G. Dahshleiger / 8 /, V. Osipov / 9 / misinterpreted, distorted the famous works of an extraordinary individual. This fact indicates that the totalitarian ideology has left its mark on the course of historical research.

On the eve of Independence and at the dawn of freedom, the works of B. Koishybaev / 10 /, B. Darimbet / 11 /, M. Koigeldiev / 12 /, N. Sansyzbayev / 13 /, D. Kamzabek-uly / 14 / about the writer and public figure containing new autobiographical information were published in the press. In 1993, the multi-volumes of S. Saduakas-uly saw the light of day prepared by B. Darimbet / 15 /, in 2003 and 2013 by D. Kamzabek-uly / 16 /. The author’s latest research book, entitled “Smagul Saduakas-uly” has been supplemented and republished twice. D.Kamzabek-uly and R.S. Yelmurzaeva defended their thesis on the works of a famous figure.

Upon admission to the Omsk Agricultural School / 17 / in 1916, Smagul Saduakas-uly carries out a pen test, describing what he saw and experienced. His formation as a writer was facilitated by his employment in the manuscript journal “Balapan” of the cultural and educational organization “Birlik”, established by the Kazakh youth of Omsk. The purpose of this organization was “the development of culture and literature of the Kazakh people, the strengthening of national identity and the formation of a sense of patriotism” / 18 /. According to Smagul, in the journal, not a single copy of which reached us, “the works of young Alash people were published” / 19 /. After the revolution in 1918, there was a split in the ranks of the “Birlik”, the members of the organization turned off the planned path. Then Smagul Saduakas-uly, K. Kemengerov, G. Dosumbekov, despite their youth, managed to rally them, create the organization “Zhas Azamat” / 20 /. “The golden ideal, the holy goal and the main path of this organization was the freedom and independence of the Kazakh people” / 21 /. S. Saduakas-uly helps in the publication of the newspaper “Zhas Azamat”, which became the voice of young Alash people. In 1919, while working as an instructor in the Union of Cooperative Associations of Western Siberia “Centrosibir” in Omsk / 22 /, he wrote articles in Russian and conducted research for the journal” Trudovaya Sibir”, which was the organ of this economic organization. In 1920, he was hired by the Kazakh-Tatar section of the Siberian Bureau of RKSM / 23 /, where he works as an editor of the weekly newspaper “Enbekshil Zhastar” (Omsk), published in Kazakh / 24 /. In the same 1920 he became an editor-in-chief of the “Kedei sozi” newspaper published in Omsk / 25 /. During the First Congress of the All-Kazakh Councils, which proclaimed the Kazakh Autonomy (1920, October 4-12), “he directs the scientific and economic department of the newspaper “Ushkyn” (now “Egemen Kazakhstan”) / 26 /. After the congress, the newspaper “Ushkyn” was published under the name “Enbek tuy”, where S. Saduakas-uly becomes editor-in-chief / 27 /. In 1922 he took an active part in the publication of the youth newspaper “Orten” / 28 /.

In 1923 he is a member of the editorial board of the journal “Zhas Qazaq” / 29 /. In the years 1924-1925. – executive editor of the journal “Kyzyl Qazaqstan” (now the journal “Akikat”) / 30 /. In the years 1925-1926 he was engaged in editorial activities in the newspaper “Enbekshi Qazaq” (now “Egemen Kazakhstan”) / 31 /.

The above activities in senior posts in the periodical press confirmed the civil position of Smagul Saduakas-uly and demonstrated his extraordinary abilities as a publicist, literary critic, and writer.

In the years 1925-1927 being the Commissioner of Public Education S. Saduakas-uly showed organizational skills in the development of national culture, which strengthened his authority as a writer and enlightener. At the same time, he becomes the initiator of the opening of the first state national theater / 32 / and assists in recording and registering Kazakh songs / 33 /. He brings together experts who collect the works of Abay, Sultanmakhmut / 34 /, which indicates his outstanding role in the history of the development of culture and literature.

The publication chronology of Smagul Saduakas-uly’s works covers the period from 1916 to 1928. He authored the novel “Sarsenbek”, several short stories, including “Kumis konyrau”, selected stories, literary and critical works, and informative materials. Also known are the translations published by him.