The Presidential Center's lecture series in 2025 commenced with a museum lesson titled "The Institution of Batyrship: Traditions, Status, and Weaponry." On January 21, eighth-grade students from Talgat Bigeldinov School-Lyceum No. 1 had the opportunity to explore the cultural and historical values, the history of their nation, and their homeland through an insightful journey in the museum world.
At the beginning of the excursion-lesson, the lecturer touched upon the theme of the independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The students shared the facts they knew and exchanged opinions. They also discussed the issue of national security and how Defender of the Fatherland Day relates to this.
The lecture then moved on to the tradition of weapon gifting, its history, and its distinctive features, with students getting acquainted with the weapon collections displayed in the museum's exhibition.
Moving on to the main topic of the lesson, the lecturer highlighted the special role of the batyrs in Kazakh society and history. "Batyrship was a unique military-political institution in the nomadic society of the Kazakhs, playing a leading role in military organization. A batyr's life was largely centered around the practice of warfare. Therefore, members of this social stratum did not part with their weapons until old age; they spent their whole lives at war. For a batyr, dying in battle was considered an honor," the lecturer explained.
Special attention was given to the weaponry of Kazakh batyrs—bes karu (five weapons).
The most fascinating experience for the students was the tactile contact with the weapons: holding them in their hands, some remarked that they felt as if they were in the shoes of the great heroes.
