Navigating Dual Identities: The Social Adaptation of Kazakh Students in the Imperial Capital City

• In Event: Social History of the Kazakh Steppe in the 19th - Early 20th Centuries as a Factor in the Formation of Historical Memory

Abstract

This paper examines the experiences of Kazakh students in the imperial capital during the late imperial period, focusing on their role as agents of cultural and intellectual change. It explores how these students navigated the dual pressures of preserving their Kazakh identity while engaging with the modernizing influences of the imperial center. By analyzing their social interactions, educational experiences, and participation in intellectual circles, the study investigates how these young individuals contributed to the formation of a shared historical memory and shaped the trajectory of Kazakh national identity. The paper also reflects on their struggles, achievements, and the legacy of their time in the capital as a formative period in the development of Kazakh intellectual and social life.

Author

• Ulzhan Tuleshova, al-Farabi Kazakh National U (Kazakhstan)