An international conference titled “100-Year Legacy: Samarkand Turkological Kuroltai” was held at Samarkand State University. This prestigious event was attended by renowned specialists, scholars, researchers, and practitioners from several Turkic states.

The Kuroltai was opened by the director of the Institute of Languages and Cultures of Central Asian Peoples at Samarkand State University, Professor Joliboy Eltazarov.

Before the event began, the national anthems of Uzbekistan and Turkey were played.

The rector of Samarkand State University, Honored Scientist of Uzbekistan and member of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis Rustam Khalmuradov sent a congratulatory message to the participants of the Kuroltai, which was read by the first vice-rector for academic affairs Ahmadjon Saliev.

The congratulatory message stated:

“This Kuroltai is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Baku Turkological Kuroltai and holds significant importance in the scientific and cultural life of the Turkic world. It is known that the first Turkological Kuroltai held in Baku in 1926 marked a historical turning point in the scientific unification of Turkic peoples.

The ideas of reforming the written language of the Turkic world, bringing history taught in educational institutions closer together, preserving the common historical and cultural heritage of Turkic peoples, as well as further developing cooperation, friendship, and brotherhood among Turkic peoples are now becoming institutional cooperation in various fields such as education, culture, science, and youth policy within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States.

A decision was made to hold the Second Turkological Kuroltai in 1928 in Samarkand, which was then the capital of Uzbekistan. However, it is noteworthy that exactly 100 years after Baku, Samarkand – one of the ancient cradles of science in the Turkic world – is once again hosting a Turkological Kuroltai.

Turkology is not only about language and literature but also serves as a scientific basis for the common past, cultural heritage, spiritual closeness, and future cooperation among Turkic peoples. The name of this Kuroltai being “100-Year Legacy” is not coincidental. It symbolizes fidelity to the scientific and spiritual heritage left to us by our great ancestors and also represents the responsibility to pass it on to future generations”.

Following this, Gulchin Yahya Kachar, a member of the Culture and Art Policy Council of the President of Turkey and a renowned oud master and musicologist, performed rare examples of ancient Ottoman court music.

The conference featured presentations from Osman Mert, head of the Turkish Language Association in Turkey; Iskandar Pala, member of the Culture and Art Policy Council of the President of Turkey; Abdurahmon Aliy, director of Yunus Emre Institute in Turkey; Derya Ors, head of Atatürk Higher Association for Culture, Language and History; and Rustam Qobilov, deputy governor of Samarkand region.

The Kuroltai continued with interesting presentations and lively debates.

At the end of the event, participants exchanged commemorative gifts.