Dagestan and the North Caucasian Turks at the First Turkological Congress

Abstract

Turkic peoples of Dagestan and the North Caucasus emerged as the consistent advocates of the New Turkic (Latin-based) Alphabet at the First Turkological Congress. Most of the ten delegates representing both the governmental institutions, educational and cultural circles, as well as broader public interests at this international forum, didn’t hesitate to adopt an active stance on the issue. The most prominent participants like U.J. Aliyev and I.A. Khubiyev (Karachayli) representing the Karachays, J. Korkmazov representing the Kumyks, and I.M. Ulbashov representing the Balkars were specially distinguished.

The social, political, and cultural conditions surrounding the transition to the Latin alphabet in both Dagestan and the North Caucasus were provided a comprehensive analysis and were discussed in detail about the problem in their reports and speeches. It was emphasized that the peoples of Dagestan and the North Caucasus were determined to continue their efforts in support of the new alphabet on a Common-Turkological shape.

The representatives firmly maintained that attempts to reform the Arabic script would bring no substantial benefit and proudly declared that the process of Latinization had already gained considerable momentum and widespread acceptance in their homelands. It was confidently expressed that the fundamental changes in the writing system is an integral part of the revolutionary transformations increasingly shaping the lives of whole Turkic peoples. Without such reforms, the integration of these peoples into the cultural world wouldn’t have been possible.