THE NATIONAL QUESTION IN KAZAKH LITERATURE DURING THE TOTALITARIAN PERIOD: HISTORY AND LESSONS (1960s-1970s)

The article examines the national question in the works of the creative intelligentsia, particularly within Kazakh literature, from a historical perspective. It also considers the specific features of the development of Kazakh literature during the Soviet era and the ideological influence exerted on it. Particular attention is paid to the fact that the method of socialist realism became the primary artistic approach, with intellectuals adapting their works to serve communist ideology. The article notes that although Kazakh writers and scholars composed their works "in the spirit of the times" using the method of socialist realism, they still addressed national values and pointed out the negative impact of incoming elements on national identity. Soviet ideology pushed national values in Kazakh literature into the background, favoring works that promoted the virgin land campaign and the construction of socialism. Nonetheless, the article emphasizes that children's literature of that period preserved national traditions and played a significant role in educating the younger generation. In this literature, Kazakh idiomatic expressions, proverbs, and counting rhymes were widely employed, contributing to the preservation of the national spirit. The author demonstrates that despite the powerful influence of Soviet ideology, Kazakh literature endeavored to maintain its national character. The article comprehensively discusses the trends in literary creativity during this historical period and the struggle to preserve national literature.