The Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Sports has developed a programme, including a 20-episode television series, to celebrate in 2015 the 20th anniversary of the formation of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan, the anniversary of the adoption of the country’s constitution and the 550th anniversary of the formation of the Kazakh Khanate, according to Minister of Culture and Sports Arystanbek Mukhamediuly.
“Shooting will begin in January of next year. We are also developing two different scenarios for coming performances: ‘Kerey and Janibek’ and ‘Mangilik El.’ Apart from that, we will organise several international scientific conferences and expeditions as part of the celebration programme. In general, about 100 different events are scheduled for the next year. Activities will cover the whole country,” Muhamediuly said.
The new TV series is part of a larger programme that includes patriotic, educational and scientific elements. The minister also noted that the programme’s events are not very expensive, except for the very last public performance, which will be held in September, in the valley between the Chu and Talas rivers, in the place where the Kazakh Khanate was first established.
“As for shooting the TV series the ‘Kazakh Khanate,’ we are in the process of developing the budget. The final price will be announced after the approval of the final script,” said the minister.
The offspring of Ghenghis Khan, two Kazakh sultans Janibek and Kerey, together with much of Mogulistan, left the state of nomadic Uzbeks ruled by Abulkhair Khan in the second half 1450’s to establish a new state in the valley between the Chu and Talas rivers. This event marks the beginning of Kazakh statehood. It is believed that during that time, the term “Kazakh” appeared for the first time; it later acquired an ethnic sense. After the death of Abulhair Khan in late 1468, his other offspring began fighting for the Kerey and Zhanibek regions. As a result of this struggle, the western part of the Seven Rivers Valley, which is currently in Central Kazakhstan, fell under the control of two brothers. This territory was called the Kazakh Khanate.
