A Step Toward the Future Is Strengthened by Reflecting on the Lessons of History

In the first 2026 issue of the Turkistan newspaper, an interview with the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, entitled “Kazakhstan Has Entered a New Stage of Modernization,” was published. In this interview, the Head of State openly expressed his views on a number of pressing issues that concern society and are frequently discussed on social media. He emphasized that history should not be a subject of dispute or hostility, but rather a value that unites society, underscoring the importance of an objective approach to historical understanding.

For a society striving toward the future, a scientifically grounded history that shapes collective consciousness and is rich in meaningful lessons is essential. The formation of national consciousness requires not only knowing the past, but also taking responsibility for accepting it in its authentic form. Understanding history is a path to understanding oneself, and self-awareness is a prerequisite for consciously shaping the future.

Myths detached from truth, unfounded legends, and artificially created rumors that weaken national consciousness generate emotional illusions instead of fostering reflection on historical experience, ultimately blurring the distinction between truth and falsehood. This weakens the nation’s spiritual immunity and obscures its confidence in the future. History is a value that leads a nation toward shared responsibility, mutual understanding, and internal unity.

Only historical memory grounded in truth can consolidate society and bring diverse perspectives into a shared worldview. Such memory is needed not to glorify or deny the past, but to draw lessons from it and critically assess present realities.

As one example of drawing on historical experience, the President specifically highlighted the importance of learning moral lessons from figures whose destinies are inseparable from that of the nation, such as Abai. Abai’s legacy teaches us to acknowledge our shortcomings and to learn from historical mistakes. Only a society that has correctly understood its past can confidently move toward the future and transform historical experience into a foundation for development and modernization.

✍️ Amanzhol Meirmanov, Master of Humanities, Senior Lecturer at Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University