A Scholar and Mentor Who Honored the National Art of the Word

On October 1, 2026, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University hosted an educational and commemorative meeting dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Danday Ysqaquly, a prominent literary scholar, Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor, and Honored Worker of Kazakhstan. The event, titled “A Scholar and Mentor Who Honored the National Art of the Word,” was held within the framework of Sustainable Development Goal 4 – “Quality Education.” The event was the first in the “School of Legacy and Mentorship” (“Tağylym Mektebi”) series organized by the Department of Kazakh Literature and Literary Theory of the Faculty of Philology. The initiative aims to introduce the younger generation to the scholarly and pedagogical legacy of prominent academics and educators, strengthen continuity between generations of teachers and students, and foster students’ interest in academic research. The meeting was opened by Samal Daribayuly, Acting Head of the Department, who spoke about the goals and significance of the “School of Legacy and Mentorship” initiative. The event was moderated by Sovetkhan Tleubayev, a lecturer at the Department, Assistant Professor, and Candidate of Philological Sciences.The event was organized at the initiative of first-year master’s students of the Literary Studies educational program and second-year master’s students of the Kazakh Language and Literature educational program. Department lecturers Ayazhan Toybazar, Talgat Turdali, Tursynbay Yeshimov, and Alua Askar actively contributed to the organization of the meeting. During the meeting, particular attention was paid to Danday Ysqaquly’s contribution to Kazakh literature and literary studies, his scholarly works, and his research in the field of literary criticism and literary theory. The participants discussed the scholar’s views on the nature of national literature, the principles of artistic expression, and the development of the literary process, as well as the relevance of his scholarly legacy to contemporary literary studies. 

Aida Adayeva, a second-year master’s student in the Kazakh Language and Literature educational program, delivered a presentation on Danday Ysqaquly’s creative and scholarly legacy. She introduced the main areas of his research, his works on literary criticism and literary theory, and his scholarly approaches to the study of the national literary process. Special attention was also given to the scholar’s pedagogical career. The participants highlighted his many years of teaching, his principles of mentoring students, his guidance of young researchers, and his ability to combine scholarly research with teaching. Students and master’s students actively participated in the discussion and asked questions about the scholar’s creative work, research activities, and pedagogical legacy. The meeting enabled students not only to become more familiar with Danday Ysqaquly’s scholarly legacy but also to appreciate the significance of his professional path, which harmoniously combined research and teaching. The event also contributed to fostering young researchers’ interest in academic work and deepening their understanding of the importance of continuity in national literary studies. The first meeting of the “School of Legacy and Mentorship” series was a meaningful event aimed at promoting Danday Ysqaquly’s scholarly and pedagogical legacy and passing his professional experience on to the younger generation. The department plans to continue this initiative, focusing on promoting the scholarly and pedagogical heritage of outstanding academics and educators. The event was attended by faculty members of the Department of Kazakh Literature and Literary Theory, master’s students, and undergraduate students.

Department of Kazakh Literature and Literary Theory

Faculty of Philology