This year, for the first time, Kazakhstan is celebrating National Book Day on April 23. The day was officially established by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the third meeting of the National Kurultai titled “An Honest Person – Honest Labor – Honest Income.” In honor of this day, a large-scale book festival titled “National Book Day at the National Library” was held in Almaty at the National Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
It is worth noting that since 1995, many countries have also celebrated April 23 as World Book and Copyright Day, proclaimed by the United Nations. The main goals of the holiday are to cultivate a strong reading culture, spark interest in books, increase reading activity, and show respect for books and their authors.
An open-air flash mob and simultaneous campaign called “Read, City!” was organized in front of the National Library, involving all libraries in Almaty. Inside the library, various events were held, including a ceremony honoring the oldest and youngest readers of the National Library with letters of appreciation. Additionally, the program featured an interactive session titled “The Journey of the National Book: From Publisher to Reader,” a book fair showcasing leading Kazakhstani publishers and booksellers, and an autograph session with contemporary Kazakh authors.
As part of the National Book Day celebration and the activities of the China Culture and Literature Hall, an online meeting was held in the Grand Hall of the National Library of Kazakhstan with Nobel Laureate in Literature and honorary Doctor of Philology of the Open University of Hong Kong, Chinese writer Mo Yan. The theme of the event was “World Literature as the Foundation of National Spirituality.” The event brought together leading sinologists of Kazakhstan, students from the Kazakh-Chinese Language College, library patrons, and students from higher and specialized educational institutions.
A virtual exhibition about the life and work of Mo Yan was also presented.
Mo Yan (real name: Guan Moye) first drew public attention with his novella “Radish: Red on the Outside, Clear on the Inside.” The central theme of his work is rural life. His native region of Gaomi is a cradle of Chinese culture, filled with romantic wisdom and mystical stories that have been passed down through generations. His 1986 novella “Red Sorghum” received the national award in China for “Best Novella of the Year” and gained international fame, especially after its 1987 film adaptation directed by acclaimed filmmaker Zhang Yimou. In 2012, Mo Yan was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for “merging folk tales, history, and the contemporary with hallucinatory realism.” His works have been translated into over ten languages, including English, French, German, and Norwegian.
During the online meeting, Mo Yan’s life and literary path were discussed. Attendees had the opportunity to ask the author questions and receive personal responses. A slideshow prepared by representatives of the Mo Yan Literary and Art Museum in Gaomi (China) was shown, and a brief presentation of the film “Red Sorghum” was given. Mo Yan emphasized that creating stories is not easy; the key is to express them poetically and vividly—only then can truly outstanding results be achieved. Addressing the young participants, the 2012 Nobel Laureate shared the following:
“For many writers, receiving the Nobel Prize becomes the ‘kiss of death,’ because they stop writing quality works after the award. I’ve tried to avoid falling into that trap, where some authors drift aimlessly through life, consumed by trivialities. A good writer must devote time to the craft of writing. I still have many creative plans. Value everything good you’ve gained—do not waste the riches of youth. Skills developed in youth stay with you for life, and work will always bring joy. One must be a patriot—great acts of good begin with small things: a desire for the well-being of your loved ones, love for your homeland. Preserving and enhancing the traditions of reading and book culture in today's reality means nurturing the intellectual development of future generations and their ability to grow into educated, versatile, and competitive citizens. The challenge of engaging youth with reading and literary culture is being discussed worldwide, and it is heartening to know that our countries assign great importance to supporting books and reading.”
Mo Yan has published 11 novels, 20 novellas, and more than 80 short stories. His most famous work remains “Red Sorghum,” which inspired the iconic film by Chinese director Zhang Yimou.
In her remarks at the event, Consul General of China in Almaty, Madam Jiang Wei, stated:
“Today’s meeting with Nobel Laureate in Literature Mo Yan once again highlights the effective cooperation between China and Kazakhstan in supporting the youth of both nations, promoting cultural values, and enriching educational capital. Our countries’ humanitarian cooperation and comprehensive strategic partnership are reaching new heights, and we hope to see further expansion of collaboration in the cultural sector. Literature has always played an active role in bringing our peoples closer—it has never stood aside.”
Indeed, it is rightly said that books are a path that allows us to peer into the souls of people and understand national character without any special tools. Strengthening cultural partnership between Kazakhstan and China will further enhance efforts to promote reading among youth as not only a means to quality education, but also as a meaningful and enjoyable way to spend one’s free time.
