GUMAR KARASH

Gumar Karash (1875-1921) was a poet, folklorist, public and religious figure, member of Alash Party.

He was born in Zhanibek municipality of West-Kazakhstan Oblast.

He studied at the local madrasah, and then received high education at Ufa Madrasah. According to some sources he continued his studying in Istanbul.

G. Karash was the first Kazakh member of Muslim Spiritual Assembly of Eastern Part of the Russia Empire.

The appearance of such newspapers as 'Kazakhstan', 'Fiker', 'Kazakh', 'Durystyk Zholy' and 'Shura' journal is connected with his name.

In 1902 he taught in his native village. During the years of his work at 'Kazakhstan' Newspaper headed by Sh. Bokeyev he collected and published the samples of Kazakh folklore at his "Shayur" and "Koksilder" collections.

He also published his five poetic collections as "Bala Tulpar", "Karlygash", "Tumysh", "Aga Tulpar" and "Turymtai".

Being the follower of Alash party and its government he stood against violent ways for overthrow of existing social system and published a collection to support the Alash government.

He took part at the session of Kazakh people of Bokey Orda in 1917 and the 2^nd All-Kazakh Session in Orenburg. He was the delegate of the 1^st session of Bokey teachers in 1918 and 1, 2, 3 and 4^th sessions of Bokey Governorate soviets in 1918-1920.

He was the editor of first pedagogical journal in Kazakhstan 'Mugalime'. In 1920 he headed the department of Bokey governorate executive committee.

At the beginning of XX century he published his articles as 'Bul Kai Zaman?', 'Tansiz Zhan Zhok', 'Zhastarga', 'Arine Kuneltu Kerek', 'Aser', 'Zan Maselesi', and other materials in several Kazakh newspapers and magazines.

His literary works were published in Kazakh language in different school textbooks and in Russian - in "The Kazakh Poets" and "The Anthology of the Kazakh Poetry" collections.

In 1921 he was killed by bandits.

Source: Kazakhstan, National Encyclopedia, Volume, 2.