This important event was preceded by many years of work by the patriots of the country, including both public and state figures. One of the significant steps was raising the issue of establishing a monument to Manas in the central Ala-Too square in Bishkek, which was initiated by activists of the "Chon-Kazat" movement in 2010, during a period of revolutionary changes.
Since then, persistent efforts began, resulting in the inclusion of the trilogy "Manas," "Semetei," and "Seitek" in the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity on December 4, 2013, in Paris. This recognition became a triumph for Kyrgyz culture and a symbol of pride for our epic, which has been preserved for over a thousand years.
The united efforts of patriots and the state led to the establishment of the "Aykol-Manas" monument in the central square in 2011, as well as the establishment of the official holiday "Day of the Epic 'Manas'" in 2015, which is celebrated on December 4.
Over the past 15 years, much has been done to preserve the cultural heritage of the "Manas" epic. However, the work to protect the national memory and honor of the people continues, and it is important to preserve this intangible wealth recognized by UNESCO.
It should also be noted that in 2010, the "Sedep" Foundation published a poetic translation of the first part of the "Manas" trilogy into Russian, done by Mar Baydzhiev. Despite the efforts, this edition contains errors that cause confusion, especially in the illustrations, which is unacceptable for the patriots of Kyrgyzstan.
For example, on page 214, there is a portrait of Bokmurun, but instead, Manas is presented. This engraving, created by the famous Kyrgyz artist Theodor Herzen, was already published in the "Manas" encyclopedia of 1995, where Bokmurun is depicted differently.
Errors in such publications concerning our national identity are unacceptable. We must strive to correct these shortcomings so that they do not tarnish the memory of our great ancestors and their legacy.
It is our duty to protect the heritage in the face of history and future generations. This work must begin immediately to avoid further dissemination of inaccurate information that could harm our image.
Although the name "Bokmurun" may not evoke interest in other linguistic cultures, it is perceived differently in Turkic-speaking countries. Errors in the images of Manas, which we often present to foreign guests, undermine the value of our national pride.
Thus, the protection of our cultural values remains an important task at all times. We call on all patriots to support the initiative to reissue the "Tale of Manas" with the necessary corrections to preserve the honor and dignity of the Kyrgyz people!
The Political Party "Chon Kazat"
