Alash Orda Movement

Abstract

Alash Orda was a national movement established by Kazakh intellectuals around Kazakh newspaper and an autonomous government founded by them. Alash movement, whose spiritual legacy has survived to these days, was organized on the leadership of A. Bokeikhanov, A. Baitursunov, M. Dulatov, Kh. Dosmukhamedov, Zh. Dosmukhamedov, I. Zhainakov, B. Alibekov, A. Turlubaev, etc. following the 1917 February Revolution in the sphere of Kazakh community, and arranged the First General Kazakh Congress. Alash Party was founded as a result of this congress. A short time later, on the Second General Kazakh Congress organized by the Alash Party Alash Orda Autonomous Governmentwas announced. Alash Orda, which was also formed in north Kyrgyzstan with its center in Bishkek by A. Sydykov and established close relations with the Bashkort National Movement, fought on the side of the Whites against the Reds (Bolsheviks) during the civil war started after the 1917 October Revolution. But when the war was won by the Reds, they had to join the Soviets. This step to build a new state in the process following the total annihilation of the Kazakh Khanate in the first half of the 19thcentury, was unfortunately not successful because of a variety of reasons, particularly material shortcomings, socio-economic depression and the influence of the Soviet ideology among the masses.