ASTANA – Kazakhstan paid its last respects to poet and Kazakhstan State Prize laureate Fariza Ongarsynova on Jan. 27.
Hundreds of people came to the Korme Exhibition Centre, where visitors were observed weeping. Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov, Chairman of the Senate Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev, Mazhilis Speaker Nurlan Nigmatulin, Minister of Culture and Information Mukhtar Kul-Muhammed, Mayor of Astana Imangali Tasmagambetov, members of parliament, permanent representative of Kazakhstan to UNESCO and poet Olzhas Suleimenov, other public figures and fans came to pay their respects to the beloved artist. More than a hundred people came from the Atyrau region, where Ongarsynova was born.
Kul-Muhammed read condolences from President Nursultan Nazarbayev. “Her gentle and emotional poems will always touch and inspire the hearts and souls of the people. Her works clearly convey the indomitable character of their author and her determination, the ability of her powerful talent to penetrate into the corners of the human soul and with amazing skill to disclose them. That’s why the people of Kazakhstan appreciated this outstanding poet, wonderful journalist and prominent public figure of our country,” said the President’s letter.
Writer Abish Kekilbayev called Ongarsynova a person with a keen understanding of justice, with a place in her heart for people’s pain and joy. “Ongarsynova is a truly national poet, a classic of modern Kazakh literature and a true citizen of the Motherland,” he said.
“Ongarsynova lived and worked for us, for the sake of her people. We are proud of our compatriot and are confident that her name will live for centuries. The many people—relatives, friends and admirers of her talent—who have come to pay their last respects to her demonstrate the national love for Fariza-apai,” said Akim of the Atyrau region Bakhtykozha Izmukhambetov.
Chairman of the Writers’ Union, Senator Nurlan Orazalin, noted that Ongarsynova’s talent was particularly evident in her patriotic works. “The works of Fariza Ongarsynova raised Kazakh poetry, Kazakh language and Kazakh spirituality to a new level and the reliance on domestic classical poetry gives her work a special brilliance and lyricism,” he said.
“On this mournful day we pay our last respects to Fariza. From the first days of our work, translating her poems, I realised I had a major responsibility. She was a very delicate and yet very courageous woman. Many newspapers from different countries wrote about her femininity, her lyrical poetry. But Fariza Ongarsynova, born in the home of the great national poet Makhambet, absorbed all his courage and set out to perpetuate his memory. … And this shows once again the versatility of her talent. Fariza Ongarsynova was a stateswoman, a citizen; she had a principled position but remained remarkably lyrical. Many people knew and loved her. Her death is a heavy loss for us,” said Tatyana Frolovskaya, who translated Ongarsynova’s poetry for many years.
Ongarsynova is the universe, a perfect poetic world, said President of Kazakhfilm Yermek Amanshayev. She knew the imperfections of the world and tried to improve them; she was always honest with herself and others, he added.
“Today we pay our last respects to an outstanding poet, who was able to express the deepest aspirations of the people. Fariza Ongarsynova always responded to society’s most urgent problems. And today, I think the whole nation feels the pain of her loss. People love her and she has left a trace in their hearts. Her memory is immortal,” said Director of the Astana State Opera and Ballet Theatre Tolegen Mukhamedzhanov
Ongarsynova was buried in Astana in the National Pantheon.
