Qazaq (Journal)

"Qazaq" was a Kazakh language journal started by Akhmet Baitursynov (editor in chief), Alikhan Bokeikhanov, and Mirjaqip Dulatuli. [Gulnar Kendirbaeva, We Are Children Of Alash..., Central Asian Survey, 1991, 18(1) pg. 6)] .

"Qazaq" was published from 1913 until March, 1918, [Gulnar Kendirbaeva, We Are Children Of Alash..., Central Asian Survey, 1991, 18(1) pg. 6)] , when it was shut down by the Soviet government. Influenced by other Jadid journals, "Qazaq" was considered to be a medium promoting the emerging Kazakh nationalism against Tsarist imperial policies. "Qazaq" published articles on the Kazakh culture, colonization of lands by Russian settlers, taxation issues, educational issues, pros and cons of Kazakh nomadic life and ongoing settlements etc. The founders of "Qazaq" newspaper wanted to introduce western style reforms to the Kazakh lands as a first step in the gradual progress of Kazakh people towards autonomy and independence.

Influenced by Western scientific and cultural achievements, contributors to the "Qazaq" newspaper wanted to introduce similar reforms to the nomadic Kazakhs. They thought nomadic life style is backward, and Kazakhs should sedenterize in order to resist Russian imperial policies, which were dislocating nomadic life style. Despite the fact that, Soviet historians considered "Qazaq" as conservative, in fact, the journal was had a strong reformist, progressive agenda. Both the "Qazaq" and "Ay Qap" were in favour of sedenterization, literacy, and westernization.

Those who favoured more western style reforms contributed to "Qazaq", while those who favoured middle eastern cultures as a model, published "Ay Qap" at about the same time. [Gulnar Kendirbaeva, We Are Children Of Alash..., Central Asian Survey, 1991, 18(1) pg. 6)] Both journals wanted to realize autonomy and independence for Kazakhs, and they both envisioned reformation of Kazakh culture as a precondition for gradual realization of these goals.

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