THE PERSONALITY OF SH. KOSSHYGULULY IN THE DOCUMENTS OF THE TSARIST GOVERNMENT'S SECRET POLICE

Abstract

Based on new archival data, this article provides a comprehensive analysis of the socio-political activities of Shaimerden Kosshygululy, a prominent early 20th-century statesman and deputy of the First State Duma of the Russian Empire. The study aims at a scientific reconstruction of his political profile through secret documents from the Department of the Secret Police and the Gendarmerie Administration. The scientific novelty lies in introducing previously unknown archival files into scholarly circulation, substantiating the organic continuity between his religious-educational initiatives and the systemic political struggle for the civil rights of his people.

The author reveals why the colonial administration deliberately qualified Kosshygululy’s enlightenment steps as manifestations of "Pan-Islamism" and anti-state activities. The article defines his significant historical role in protecting the rights of the Empire's Muslim peoples and his invaluable ideological contribution to the formation of the national "Alash" movement. In conclusion, it is argued that Sh. Kosshygululy’s multifaceted activities were a systemic process that gave a powerful impulse to the political awakening of Kazakh society. This work significantly enriches national historiography, allowing for a deeper understanding of colonial policy mechanisms and the intellectual struggle of the Kazakh intelligentsia.