Today is the birthday of Dinmukhamed Konayev, a prominent public and state figure, scientist, and national advocate.
He was born in 1912 in the Almaty region. Dinmukhamed Konayev served as the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan from 1960–1962 and 1964–1986. During his leadership, 68 workers’ settlements and 43 cities emerged in Kazakhstan. These included industrial centers such as Rudny, Ekibastuz, Shevchenko, Nikolsky, Stepnogorsk, Temirtau, Zhanatas, Kentau, and Arkalyk.
Under his initiative, key buildings like the Government House, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan, and the National Academy of Sciences were constructed in the then-capital, Almaty.
Additionally, cultural, educational, and sports facilities such as the Republic Palace, the Palace of Sports and Culture, the “Medeu” sports complex, the National Library, and the circus were built. Infrastructure projects like auto, air, and railway stations, as well as hotels like “Almaty,” “Otyrar,” “Zhetysu,” “Alatau,” “Dostyk,” and “Kazakhstan,” were developed.
Konayev authored several books, including “O moyom vremeni” (About My Time), “Ot Stalina do Gorbacheva” (From Stalin to Gorbachev), and “Akyqattyn attauga bolmaydy” (Truth Cannot Be Denied).
On December 16, 1986, during a record short 18-minute plenary session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan, Konayev was dismissed from his position as First Secretary. He was replaced by Gennady Kolbin, which led to the December protests.
In January 1987, Konayev was removed from the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the CPSU, and in June 1987, from the Central Committee itself.
Dinmukhamed Akhmetuly Konayev passed away on August 22, 1993, at the age of 82 in the village of Akshi, Alakol district, Almaty region. The statesman and public figure was laid to rest at the Kensai Cemetery on August 25, 1993.
