At the International Forum "Heavenly Mountains of Civilizations – 2050," held in Bishkek in honor of World Science Day, the renowned Altai writer, Honored Cultural Worker of the Russian Federation, and Orientalist Brontoy Yangovich Bedyurov spoke. In an interview with a correspondent from VB.KG, he discussed the spiritual connection between the Kyrgyz and Altai peoples, the significance of Eurasia in world culture, and the importance of focusing on unity rather than differences.
- Brontoy Yangovich, recently there has been increasing discussion about the closeness of the Kyrgyz and Altai peoples in cultural and spiritual terms. How do you perceive this kinship — in language, traditions, worldview, or attitude towards nature?
- We have much in common with the Kyrgyz: blood, language, and cultural roots, aside from religious aspects. Until the 1930s, we had similar traditions and worldviews, even melodies of songs. When a Kyrgyz hears an Altai song, his heart responds as if he has heard something familiar. We speak different dialects of one large language, which is a clear proof of our indivisibility.
- Can we assert that a shared history can become a unifying factor for the peoples of Eurasia?
- Absolutely! We share a common blood and language. True Turks are peoples with "uru" (clan). If a people lacks this, then they are not true Turks but have become Turkic-speaking. The first Turkic Khaganate, which preceded the Huns, spoke an Altai-Kyrgyz language. We began to call ourselves Turks only after Atatürk. Europeans, being closest to the Turks, used the term "Turkic-speaking people." If they were closer to the Kyrgyz, they might have said "Kyrgyz-speaking people."
Our language covers vast territories from the Yellow Sea to the Black Sea. Just like in America, to become part of society, one must know English. This was also the case in ancient Eurasia, where the state language served as a common language for all.
- Is the kinship only between the Kyrgyz and Altai peoples?
- No, this kinship also extends to the Khakas, Tuvans, and other peoples of Siberia and Russia. We share common roots, culture, and history. Despite external pressures trying to divide us, we form a single spiritual organism united by language, traditions, and customs.
- You often speak about ancient Turkic writing. Why do you believe it is necessary to "rewrite" history here?
- I would say it is necessary to clarify, not rewrite. European scholars who visited Siberia were amazed by the writings on stones but did not find the people who created them. They called it the Yenisei or Orkhon script. But this is Kyrgyz writing! Our ancestors possessed the knowledge of writing long before universities emerged in Europe.
Now that we have our own state and Academy of Sciences, it is time to restore historical justice. We need to correct things, as the Chinese do: where it is correct — preserve it, and where it is erroneous — correct it.
- Do you believe that historical science in Kyrgyzstan and Altai requires revision?
- Not revision, but strengthening. Much has already been done, but it is important to continue this work. I advised Kyrgyz archaeologists to conduct joint expeditions with their Mongolian colleagues. In Mongolia, in Ulan-Gom, there was a center of the ancient Kyrgyz Khaganate. There are still unexcavated monuments there. If foreign scholars arrive first, they may claim these lands for themselves, stating that "Europeans" or someone else lived there. Therefore, we need to explore our history at the state level ourselves.
Our scholars, historians, and archaeologists need to work actively. Expeditions are being conducted, but this should be supported at the level of state funding.
When we talk about Eurasia and Greater Altai, we mean not only geography but also a philosophy of unity, respect for the land and ancestors. Russia is currently making significant strides towards reviving this philosophy, and Kyrgyzstan is moving in the same direction. In recent years, our countries have done much to restore connections, and now it is up to society and the regions. We must continue this work.
- You emphasize the importance of preserving language as the foundation of unity. How closely related do you think the Kyrgyz and Altai languages are today?
- They are very close. I often joke that the Kyrgyz-Russian dictionary by Yudakhin serves as my Altai-Russian dictionary. About 85% of the words are identical. The Kyrgyz language has incorporated some Arabic and Uyghur borrowings, while ours has Russian and Mongolian. However, the essence remains the same. It is remarkable that even after 800 years of separate existence, the language has hardly changed. This indicates that we are not just neighbors, but one people, divided by history but united by spirit.
- In conclusion, what would you like to say to the youth of Kyrgyzstan and Altai?
- Do not let anyone convince you that you are different. We are the descendants of those who first looked at the world from the peaks of Altai. As long as we remember this, no propaganda can divide us. Our path is one of unity, not rivalry. Eurasia will survive only when it remembers that it has one heart and one root.
