Kazakhstan Presents Italian Monograph on Iconic Scholar in Rome

A monograph on Shokan Ualikhanov, celebrating the 190th anniversary of the Kazakh scholar’s birth, has been presented for the first time in Italian during Kazakhstan’s Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva’s visit to Italy.

The book, titled “Shokan Ualikhanov and the Birth of Modern Kazakhstan,” aims to introduce Italian readers to the rich history, culture, and spiritual heritage of the Kazakh people, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

Balayeva highlighted Ualikhanov’s global significance, saying his research revealed Central Asia’s civilizations and the Great Steppe to the international scientific community.

She emphasized that the Italian publication demonstrates how science and education bring nations together, strengthening cultural and scientific ties between Kazakhstan and Italy. She thanked Kazakh and Italian researchers, translators, and ethnographers involved in the project, noting that it marks a new stage in bilateral scientific cooperation.

The biography was authored by Italian professor Federico Pastore, who extensively studied Kazakh sources. The monograph also highlights prominent Kazakh figures who interacted with Ualikhanov throughout his life. Published by Sandro Teti Editore, with support from the Kazakh Embassy in Italy, JSC Caspiy Neft, and Doscar Foundation, the research is also available in English.

Earlier, a documentary on Shokan Ualikhanov was screened in Bishkek, further commemorating the scholar’s enduring legacy.