Кенесары
КЕНЕСАРЫ КАСЫМОВ (1802--47 гг.), известный хан (с 1841 г.), внук Абылай хана. Предводитель национально-освободит. восстания 1837--47 гг. против российской колониальной политики.
Самая впечатляющая черта жизни и деяний Кенесары Касымова - трагизм. Печать безысходности и обреченности соседствуют в его действиях с ярким мужеством, решительностью, умением прямо смотреть в глаза судьбе, бросить вызов времени. Кенесары стоял у истоков борьбы за возрождение независимой государственности Казахстана. Велики его заслуги в деле борьбы против имперской политики, за свободу казахского народа, за утверждение его чести и достоинства. Стремления и чаяния Кенесары, не имевшие реального воплощения в условиях тогдашней действительности, при всей их ограниченности носили общечеловеческий характер.
«..Қатарыңнан артықсың,
Қайраты түпсіз тереңім!
Атамыз жаулап өтіпті,
Қалмақтың Уса, Серенін.
Біз қоныстан кеткен соң,
Көреміз бе, дүние-ай,
Мына жатқан Есілдің
Көк орай тартқан өзенін.
Аман бол, қалдың көгеріп
Бастары саумал тауларым
Кетемін деген есте жоқ
Көшірді дұшпан жауларын..»
Kenesary Khan (1841--1847)
Kenesary Khan was proclaimed khan of the Kazakhs when the Russian Empire was already fully in control of Kazakhstan, and in fact the Kazakhs were prohibited (by Russian law) from selecting their leader after 1822. Kenesary Khan's popular rise was in defiance of Russian control of Kazakhstan, and his time as khan was spent on continuous fighting with the Russian imperial forces until his death in 1847. Widely regarded as a freedom fighter and popular as a leading voice against the increasingly aggressive and forceful policies of the Russian Empire, Kenesary was ruthless in his actions and unpredictable as a military strategist. By 1846, however, his resistance movement had lost momentum as some of his rich associates had defected to the Russian Empire, having been promised great riches. Betrayed, Kenesary Khan grew increasingly suspicious of the remaining members of the Resistance, possibly further alienating them. In 1847, the Khan of the Kazakhs met his death in Kyrgyz lands during his assault on northern Kyrgyz tribes. He was executed by Ormon Khan, the sarybagysh tribe leader who was subsequently rewarded by the Russians with a larger estate and an official administrative role, but was still widely regarded as a traitor by most nomadic tribes. Kenesary Khan's head was cut off and sent to the Russians.
During the last decade, Kenesary Khan has become increasingly regarded as a hero in Kazakh literature and media. This, however, is a relatively recent trend since more outspoken views were not possible until Kazakhstan was no longer part of the USSR. Today, a monument to Kenesary Khan can be seen on the shore of the river Esil in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana.