ONTOLOGICAL ESSENCE OF THE CONCEPT OF “ATA ZHURT” IN THE POETRY OF ALYKUL OSMONOV

Abstract

This scientific article presents the first comprehensive study of the rich creative heritage of the great Kyrgyz poet Alykul Osmonov from the perspectives of philosophical anthropology, ontology, and the philosophy of culture. The relevance of the study is driven by the necessity of preserving national identity in the era of modern globalization and the need to establish a new methodological direction within the Kyrgyz humanities — the "philosophy of literature." The central object of the research is the concept of "Ata Zhurt" (Fatherland) in the poet's worldview, analyzing its transformation from a conventional geographical or politico-administrative notion into an absolute value and an ontological category endowed with transcendental meaning. The author characterizes the image of "Ata Zhurt" in Osmonov's poetry as a "house of being" (Haus des Seins) in the Heideggerian philosophical sense and as the primary guarantor of the individual's spiritual security and cultural identity. Utilizing hermeneutic and phenomenological methods, the article offers a fresh interpretation of profound existential categories in A. Osmonov's lyrics, such as life, death, time, and immortality. Particular attention is paid to the phenomenon of ethical self-sacrifice and the ideas of spiritual purification (catharsis) in the poet's classical lines, "Do not be ill, let me bear the illness instead, Fatherland!", which are substantiated as the supreme philosophical form of universal humanism and a means to overcome existential anxiety. Within this context, drawing upon Martin Buber's dialogical concept, the study demonstrates the dissolution of subject-object relations and the transition toward the ontological identification of the individual with the Fatherland. Furthermore, Osmonov's work is examined as a vital stage in the formation of Kyrgyz national philosophy. A comparative analysis is conducted to explore the methodological similarities and national-worldview distinctions between his perspectives and the currents of Western existentialism (J. P. Sartre, A. Camus). The study concludes that the poet's heritage serves as a powerful ideological tool for shaping spiritual values in contemporary society and providing a scientific foundation for the state concept of "Kyrgyz Jarany" (Kyrgyz Citizen). Additionally, Osmonov's translation activities are scientifically evaluated as a "linguistic leap" that expanded the capacity of the Kyrgyz language to express metaphysical categories.