Alikhan Bokeikhanov was a public and political figure, a leader of the national liberation movement, a scholar and publicist, and a translator. He was born in 1866 in Karkaraly District of the former Semipalatinsk Region.
During the years of tsarist rule, he led the Kazakh people's struggle for independence. Because of his political activities, he was imprisoned several times in Pavlodar and Semipalatinsk. He refused to recognize Soviet rule and continued fighting for the establishment of a sovereign Kazakh state.
Akhmet Baitursynov
Akhmet Baitursynov was born in 1873 in the village of Sarytubek, in what is now Zhangeldin District of Kostanay Region. He was a leader of the national liberation movement, a statesman, poet and publicist, and a founder of Kazakh linguistics and literary studies.
Together with his close associates Alikhan Bokeikhanov and Mirzhakyp Dulatov, he began publishing the national newspaper Qazaq in 1913 and played a leading role in its work. After the fall of the tsarist regime in Russia, he devoted his efforts to establishing the Alashorda government on Kazakh territory.
Azimkhan Akhmetuly Kenesarin
Azimkhan Akhmetuly Kenesarin (1878, Shymkent — 29 October 1937) was a prominent figure in the Alash Movement. He completed his schooling in Shymkent in 1897. Although his formal education was limited, he knew how to apply his knowledge in practice, carefully absorbed what he learned, and developed a broad understanding of public affairs. These qualities proved valuable when he became involved in community and political activities.
In 1905, he took part in preparing a petition on behalf of the Kazakhs of Aulie-Ata District, addressed to Count S. Y. Witte, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Russian Empire.
On 12 November 1917, a congress of Kazakhs from Aulie-Ata District was held on his initiative. The delegates discussed uniting the Kazakh people under the banner of Alash, pursuing political struggle for national independence, and determining the nation's future. Many pressing issues facing Kazakh society were also considered.
From 5 to 13 December 1917, Kenesarin represented the Kazakhs of Syr Darya Region at the Second All-Kazakh Congress, where he served as deputy chairman.
Mustafa Shokay
Mustafa Shokay was an outstanding political figure, publicist, translator and writer, and one of the most prominent representatives of the Kazakh intelligentsia of the early twentieth century. He championed the unity and independence of the peoples of Turkestan.
According to the Julian calendar, Mustafa Shokay was born on 25 December 1890; according to the Gregorian calendar, the date was 7 January 1891. His birthplace was the Narshoky winter settlement near Sulutobe, in what is now Shieli District, Kyzylorda Region. He belonged to the Kipchak clan.
In 1902, he entered the Tashkent Men's Gymnasium. He graduated with distinction in 1910 and enrolled in the Faculty of Law at Saint Petersburg University. In 1914, on the recommendation of Alikhan Bokeikhanov, he was appointed secretary of the Muslim Faction of the Fourth State Duma.
In 1916, following the brutal suppression of the national liberation uprising in Turkestan by the tsarist authorities, he joined a commission established to investigate the situation, serving as an interpreter.
In 1917, the Turkestan Autonomy was established, and Shokay was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. In July, he took part in the First All-Kazakh Congress and voted in favour of establishing the Alash political party. In June 1917, the newspaper Birlik Tuy began publication in Tashkent. The year 1917 marked the beginning of a major phase in his political career.
Shokay was sent from Turkestan to Moscow to participate in the Constituent Assembly. In December 1917, he attended the Second All-Kazakh Congress in Orenburg and became a member of the Alashorda government elected by the congress.
In August 1941, he was appointed chairman of a commission dealing with prisoners of war of Muslim and Turkic origin.
Zhakhansha Dosmukhamedov (1886–1937)
Zhakhansha Dosmukhamedov was a prominent leader of the Alash Movement and a member of the Alashorda government. From 1 to 11 May 1917, he joined other Kazakh delegates at the All-Russian Muslim Congress held in Moscow.
At the All-Kazakh Congress held in Orenburg from 21 to 26 July of the same year, he was nominated by the Ural Region as a candidate for election to the All-Russian Constituent Assembly.
Even at that time, Alash leaders understood that Kazakhstan would not be able to develop as an independent state within the Soviet Union. The Alash party aspired to establish an independent Kazakh state, preserve its language and traditions, and advance the country towards modern development.
In 1917, the Alashorda government was proclaimed in Orenburg. The newspaper Qazaq became a major centre of the national press. However, from the very beginning, the movement faced persecution by the Soviet authorities. Following the Civil War of 1918–1920, the victorious Soviet government dissolved Alashorda and began persecuting its leaders.
