Zhandarbek Malibekov - famous architect, professor of ENU named after L.N. Gumilev, author of the State Emblem of the Republic of Kazakhstan. These facts are known to every schoolboy. Biography of the architect is known and available on the Internet. But professional activity of Zh. Malibekov is less known. In this regard, we decided to meet with the famous architect at his workplace, in the office of the architectural faculty of ENU named after L.N. Gumilev.

For 51 years of professional activity he made a great contribution to the construction of buildings of Astana and other cities. Among them, the technical justification of the mosque "Nur Astana", National Center of Neurosurgery in Astana, working project of RC "Alatau", working draft of the building complex "Egemen Kazakhstan", laboratory building and the hostel of ENU named after L.N. Gumilev, the building of the Kazakh Embassy in Tashkent and many other buildings. The famous architect has lots of interesting ideas in his head. For example, at the architectural department of ENU named after L.N. Gumilev the layout of the Turkish Academy is posted.

Another project for several years cannot get through the bureaucratic level of government agencies. Repeatedly Zh. Malibekov filed for the competition in the MES RK for "smart yurt" project, similar to the format of "smart home". Indeed, the yurt - a unique dwelling created by man, mobile, multi-functional and warm.

- And do you have time for the scientific work?

- Yes, now I am working on a book of the history of the state symbols formation. Recently I completed a review of the book of historians "President N.A. Nazarbayev and the state heraldry of the Republic of Kazakhstan".

- What can you say about the manuscript?

- I studied it carefully, scanned page by page. Historiography of the problem is disclosed good, the history of the formation of the world heraldry, held the main idea that the President - founder of Kazakhstan's state heraldry. Material is great and good. But revealing story of heraldry, it is necessary to talk about its national characteristics, the presence of institutions such as tamga. Tamga is a deep history of the Saks and even pre-Saks period. Overall, I can recommend the manuscript for publication.

- Is Tamga typical only for nomadic peoples?

- Nomads, nomadic people, I do not like that word. Nomads - that is, people without a home, without a country. Like the Turks, Kazakhs were not people, were not the state, did not have a culture and civilization. It's not even a slave. But we can not just walk away from that term. I always say that the word "nomad" I do not admit even a book “Nomads” by I. Esenberlin I fundamentally did not read. And are we nomads? We did not come from nowhere, nowhere left. We live in the great steppe, we have our own great steppe culture. Every nation has its own culture, the Russians, Germans and Americans. And we have our own steppe culture. The culture of a free, democratic nation.

- Can Tamgu be compared with the coats of arms of European nations?

- That's all refer to the German coat of arms, Scandinavian coat of arms. But they are Europe, it is in fact a single state, even the Scandinavians do not need to compare with the Germans. And we do not need to refer to the German heraldry.

- Explain, please.

- Declared independence, we became the new state, received Kazakhstan's independence. But we continue to appreciate the European achievements. We kept a mental dependence of Europe, Russia. Europe developed its heraldry, created the necessary institutions, it is a natural process. This happened both in Europe and in Russia and in America. If we did not have the coat of arms, we did not need to look at the European coats of arms, and each time emphasize their superiority. It is time for us to abandon the slavish thinking and go to the next level, disclose national identity, write our history.

- One of the elements in the Kazakhstan heraldry is the ornament.

- Yes, the ornament - it is not just a word or decoration. Ornament - is the whole Institute, whole culture, a language, arts and crafts. There is animal style in ornament of Saks culture, it is necessary to refer to it. Many household tradition is related to ornament. Ornaments are different, volume – and not volume, applicated – and not applicated. Above this we have to work.

In conclusion, I would like to note that Zh. Malibekov is a true patriot, who earnestly concerned for our culture, always focuses on the national culture, promoting his views in the educational process.

By A. SULEIMENOV