Indeed, there are people who make history, and there are those who write it. This also applies to our history. In the past, Ataturk, Babur, and even before Bilge Khagan, carved the ancient history of the Turks on the stone. Our President revived this great tradition, which was interrupted not so long ago. The new book by Nursultan Nazarbayev "The Era of Independence" absorbed the first sigh of the young state at the dawn of the newfound freedom, the next steps that went into a sweeping step, all on a specific documentary basis. Therefore, it can be called an atlas of the independence history, an integral picture, fully embracing the realities of our new chronicle.

Comprehending the history, usually, we measure periods by years and eras by centuries. But sometimes these concepts are determined not only by the duration of time but also by significant events. If you approach this position, then the last quarter century is not inferior to the century, they became the beginning of the Era of Independence. This period in the book is called the Great Epoch. It was at this time that the first page of our country’s history, all spheres of the new society was opened, a chronicle full of achievements began to be written.

In this fundamental book, providing a chronological and systematic approach to the formation of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev considers three waves of modernization during the years of independence, describes the stages of the country’s history, considering each sphere.

In the book, we can not only find information about how events unfolded and how tensions were resolved but also learn about their main causes.

One of the most discussed topics in our country is the Kazakh language. The issue of the state language was under President’s strict control since the beginning of independence. The author notes that the Kazakh language is the main source of the Kazakh cultural community. So it has been for centuries, and so it will remain in the future. We all know that the USSR not only did not pay attention to the development of national languages but also artificially limited it. Therefore, for the revival and introduction of the native language into mass use in accordance with its new state status, only good intentions were lacking. Further, the Head of State writes about the mechanisms for implementing language policy.

It is common knowledge that Nursultan Nazarbayev applies to culture and art with special attention and care, which is the manifestation of the national essence, the spiritual core and vital basis of the people. This most important principle in the book reflects the phrase that the millennial Kazakh culture has become a reliable support for the independence of the young state. As the author notes, only historical continuity and connection with the past can serve as a foundation for the development of an independent Kazakhstan.

The book speaks of thousands of events; names great figures who contributed to the development of Kazakhstan. This is both a testimony to the importance of every detail in the era of independence and a manifestation of the author's respect for contemporaries.

This work provides information on the state of the mass media, which play an important role in public life. For example, it is reported on the modernization in 2017 of state-owned media, about the positive changes that have occurred in the development of leading newspapers.

And there are many similar examples in the book.

Without a doubt, this book, as the author notes, will contribute to the knowledge of the history of independent Kazakhstan, to replenish the ranks of creators who are proud of our country.

It seems that "The Era of Independence" created based on factual data, will become a popular book for researchers studying the history of the Kazakh country, as well as for all readers interested in our past. Because it is a summary chronicle of creative years, in fact, the memorial of an era that has become the guiding star of Mangilik El! 

Darkhan Kydyrali