Kazakhstan Edition
World Pocket Notebook Day leads today's complete edition for Kazakhstan.
Daily Edition
Official observances, world days, local context, and everyday celebrations for people who need something worth reading, sharing, or talking about today.
A day for lists, sketches, phone numbers, recipes, reminders, ideas, and the old power of writing something down.
The birthday of Abai Qunanbaiuly (1845-1904), the greatest Kazakh poet and philosopher. Abai translated Pushkin and Lermontov into Kazakh, composed original poems that are memorized by every schoolchild, and wrote the "Book of Words" (Qara Sozderi), a collection of prose reflections on Kazakh identity, education, and morality. Every Kazakh can quote Abai, and every Kazakh should. His words are the conscience of the nation.
The birthday of Abai Qunanbaiuly (August 10) is celebrated as Kazakh Language Day, and the works of Abai are recited in schools, theaters, and public squares. Abai is the father of modern Kazakh literature, and his poetry is the foundation of the Kazakh literary language. His words are on the walls of every school: "Learn the Russian language, but do not forget your own." The advice is still relevant.
