Gazi Türkiyat

Abstract

The utilization of literature as a tool, commencing in 1934 with the adoption of the socialist realism method, has had a profound impact on Kyrgyz literature. Along with literature, this influence extended to societal foundations such as religion, history, and language, which are integral components of both the societal order and national identity. In this context, literary works, in a way, invited the people to the revolution and the party with negative narratives about religion, language, and history, acting as the mouthpiece of the party. To a certain extent, literature became a tool for creating a higher identity by disrupting the societal structure of Turkic peoples. To achieve this goal, the cultural and belief structure of society was shaped in accordance with Marxism, the foundation of the socialist regime, and thus, the thoughts of Marx. Therefore, religion in Kyrgyz literature is highlighted as an emptied and transformed phenomenon, seen as an obstacle to socialism. Some writers, however, chose a critical discourse against the corruption of religion and the de-identification policy. At this point, a strong relationship and differences between writer-era and ideological perspectives come into play. In Soviet and post-Soviet Kyrgyz literature, the reflections of religion can be found in various literary genres such as poetry, short stories, novels, and theater. This article adopts an ideological lens to examine the representation of religion in Kyrgyz literature. In doing so, it explores the traces of Marxist and Leninist ideologies in the context of identity formation and de-identification, while also delving into the strategies employed to preserve the "We" identity, which was targeted for erasure or dilution. A survey of literary works spanning from the earliest productions to contemporary pieces reveals instances that align with both approaches. In the works of pro-Soviet writers, religion is portrayed as a means to dismantle identity, whereas in the works of those with opposing viewpoints, it emerges as a tool for identity preservation.