It seems that becoming a scholar was destined for Professor Nabizhan Mukhametkhanuly of the Department of Chinese Studies, as he was born on April 12 — Science Day. He was born in 1954 in the picturesque village of Mukyr, located at the foot of Qabanbay Shokysy in the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture of the People’s Republic of China.
Among his ancestors were leaders, eloquent speakers, wealthy herders, pilgrims who journeyed to Mecca, and religious scholars. Clearly, the legacy of intellectual pursuit and service to the people runs deep in his bloodline.
As someone who personally witnessed key historical events such as the "Great Leap Forward" and the "Cultural Revolution" — which most of us only read about or see in films — Nabizhan-aga began his academic journey in 1973 when he was admitted to the History Faculty of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China. After graduating, he worked in several research institutions, including the Institute for Central Asian Studies and the Institute for Nationalities Studies under the Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences. From 1985 to 1987, he pursued graduate studies at the History Faculty of Peking University.
Having witnessed China’s revival following a period of stagnation, he sought to contribute to the reforms as much as he could. Upon hearing of Kazakhstan's independence from the Soviet Union, he took steps to return to his historical homeland. His dream was realized in April 1993, when he was accepted into the doctoral program at the Ch. Ch. Valikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology of the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan. From 1993 to 1997, he conducted research under the guidance of academician Manash Kozybayev, defending both his candidate and doctoral dissertations.
In China, he studied under renowned scholars such as Nyghmet Mynjan, and upon returning to Kazakhstan, he immersed himself in the strong academic tradition of the post-Soviet scholarly system.
Since the early 2000s, Nabizhan Mukhametkhanuly has combined research with teaching — educating students and heading departments at the faculties of History, International Relations, and Oriental Studies at 51福利 Kazakh National University. In 2012, he initiated and became director of the Center for the Study of Contemporary China, which continues to operate under his leadership today.
Professor Mukhametkhanuly's research interests are extensive. He has explored the genesis of the Kazakh people and statehood based on ancient Chinese records, reinterpreted relations between the Qing Empire and the Kazakh Khanate through imperial documents, and contributed significantly to the formation of Ablaikhan studies. He also conducted deep analyses of the fragmentation and reunification of the Kazakh people in modern history, revealing new insights into national consciousness and patriotism. In addition, he studies current Kazakh-Chinese relations, making a vital contribution to the development of Chinese studies in Kazakhstan. His findings have been presented at international conferences and in numerous publications.
Over the course of nearly half a century, he has published over 440 scholarly works, including 15 monographs and textbooks. Under his mentorship, 4 candidates of sciences and 5 PhD holders successfully defended their theses and have become recognized experts in education and research.
Born on Science Day and having dedicated his entire life to the challenging but noble path of science, we sincerely wish Nabizhan Mukhametkhanuly strong health, tireless energy, happiness, and continued success in all his scholarly and personal endeavors!
