Seventy-four years ago, under the guidance of his mentor Mukhtar Auezov, Khaim Mukhamedkhanov defended his candidate dissertation titled “Abai’s Literary School” at the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR. According to Adyrna, this was a historic event for our nation.
The scholar’s work analyzed the creativity of Abai’s students and their literary legacy, offering deep insights into the rich history of Kazakh literature. Moreover, it provided a comprehensive review of key periods in Kazakh literary development and laid the foundation for an in-depth study of Abai’s poetic school. At the time, however, the authorities recognized only one ideology — that of the Marxist-Leninist school.
During and after the defense, both the researcher and his mentor Mukhtar Auezov were targeted in slanderous articles in the press. The commission declared that “this dissertation was written from an anti-scientific position.” As a result, Khaim Mukhamedkhanov was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
He endured extreme torture — hot and cold cells, needles under the nails, water dripping on his head, psychological pressure, and threats of execution. Yet none of it broke his spirit. He never renounced his belief that “Abai’s school exists.” Through his resilience, he preserved what is now a national treasure — the Abai School.
It is worth noting that in 1955, the scholar was released from prison and fully rehabilitated.
