Mukhtar Magauin

(1940-2025)

The writer, Doctor of Philology, historian, laureate of the State Prize of the Kazakh SSR, and People's Writer of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Mukanuly Magauin was born in 1940 in the village of Barshatas, Ayagoz district, Abai region, in a family of a village teacher. Even while in school, he was close to literature. Young Mukhtar memorized the best examples of folk oral literature. He was able to open the treasure troves of the village elders and absorb their wisdom into his heart. It is said that by the time he graduated from high school, there was no book left unread in the school and village library, as recounted by his fellow villagers. The literary art that his great compatriots, role models Abai and Auezov, revered brought Magauin to the Faculty of Language and Literature at Kazakh State University in 1962, and he graduated from the postgraduate program of the Department of Kazakh Literature in 1965. Thus, the sharp-minded young man embarked on the path of science. He worked at the newspaper "Kazakh Literature," the "Zhasushy" publishing house, the M. Auezov Institute of Literature and Art of the Academy of Sciences, and KazPI.

Magauin's debut collection in artistic prose is "Aksha Kar" (1969) and "Children of One Father" (1974), which made him a well-known writer among the public. In these books, he revealed the delicate secrets of the human soul through the characters themselves, demonstrating that he was a thoughtful writer who abhorred artificiality and sought to bring the nonexistent into existence. The collection includes works such as "The Death of the Tazy" (1969), "The Black Girl" (1970), and the novel "Blue Mist" (1971), among others.

The majority of Mukhtar Magauin's prose revolves around contemporary themes, celebrating our achievements during the era of developed socialism while critiquing the worn-out aspects that hinder us. As a result of the writer's deep exploration of the human soul and his ability to understand life and the connections between people, he does not confuse his characters with one another. The images of Kazy ("The Death of the Tazy"), Kenjek, Edige, Gulshat from "Blue Mist," Akhmet the elder from "Children of One Father," Ziya from "Women's Love," and Aigul from "The Black Girl," among others, vividly demonstrate the writer's ability to connect the lofty ideals of artistry with the national character and dialectics of national traits.

The winner of the State Prize of the Kazakh SSR in 1984, Doctor of Philology, writer Mukhtar Mukanuly Magauin has made significant contributions to the study of the history of Kazakh literature and is the author of several artistic works. His monograph "Kobyz Melody" (1968) and the anthology "Aldaspan" (1970) are valuable contributions to the study of the history of Kazakh literature from ancient times. In his historical dialogue "Alasapyran," which won the State Prize of the Kazakh SSR in 1984, the theme of friendship between the Kazakh and Russian peoples is central. Mukhtar Magauin dedicated seven years to writing the documentary historical tale "Genghis Khan." The writer's works have been translated into the languages of the CIS and foreign countries.

The historical novel-duology "Alasapyran" was awarded the Abai State Prize of the Kazakh SSR. He is a People's Writer of Kazakhstan and a recipient of Turkey's International "Service to the Turkic World" award. The writer left behind a rich legacy of 30 volumes. This legacy will undoubtedly become a beacon for the nation.

On January 10, 2025, the renowned Kazakh writer Mukhtar Magauin passed away at the age of 85 in the USA.