SULTAN RAEV: I BELIEVE KYRGRZ LITERATURE
IS A SIGNIFICANT BUT STILL
UNDERREPRESENTED PART OF THE WORLD’S CULTURAL HERITAGE

OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and your creative work. What is your creative and life credo and motivation for your creativity?

Sultan Raev: I consider myself a creative person – a writer and playwright. For me, creativity is a vital and deeply meaningful calling to which I have dedicated, and continue to dedicate, my entire life. Since 31 March 2022, I have been elected Secretary General of TURKSOY, and now the development and promotion of Turkic culture has become not just my personal passion but also my official international mission – something I am proud to serve.

OCA: How did you choose your path and who is your role model in the creative field or in life?

SR: Every writer has their own spiritual compass. I was born and raised in Kyrgyzstan, and for me that compass has always been the work of Chingiz Aitmatov. I try to follow in his footsteps through my own writing. He was my spiritual teacher and remains, in my eyes, a writer of truly global scale – an example for all other authors. For us, Aitmatov is a symbol. I perceive his works as a legacy and a guide on how to be a true writer. When I work on something new, I always return to his books. For me, he will forever remain teacher number one.

OCA: What is your main achievement(s) or positive impact on the world in 2024–2025

SR: The past year has been a time of creative growth for me. My books have been published abroad and are now read not only in Kyrgyzstan but internationally. I receive warm feedback, and it is truly rewarding – as a writer, I want to help people change their lives for the better, to find answers to important questions, and to hold on to hope.

OCA: What is the main feature that makes you and your art/work unique?

SR: I believe Kyrgyz literature is a significant but still underrepresented part of the world’s cultural heritage. We must work to make it known in every corner of the globe. This path is difficult, but it is essential. Of course, a key role here is played by high-quality literary translation into world languages. But at the moment, only a few authors are able or ready to work at this level, and this is our challenge. I am convinced that we need to show a new face of Kyrgyz and Turkic literature to the world.

OCA: Please tell us about the events or projects of the Eurasian Creative Guild (London) and projects you have already participated in and how does ECG influence your creativity and success in your work?

SR: We share a common mission – to open up the unique culture of our countries to the world and ensure their proper representation on the international stage. The Guild brings together creative people. I am a member myself and am always glad to invite colleagues to join our events and initiatives.

OCA: How do you think the creative professions have changed and how has the role of art in the development of the world changed in the face of modern realities?

SR: The very nature of creativity – its themes, place, and role in people’s lives – is changing. Yet the mission of the artist remains the same: to preserve humanity in humankind. Literature plays a crucial role in this. It is the purest form of catharsis in human existence. Today, the world is undergoing processes that contradict human nature itself, eroding its foundations. Spiritual and value degradation is the most dangerous sign – when ideas lose their meaning, it signals decline. For me as a writer, this is an important issue. The sacred duty and mission of every writer is to preserve human values and qualities, to help people through their creative work, and to share their vision. My works are, above all, dedicated to people and humanity. Contributing to this mission is a spiritually essential part of my life.

OCA: What would you wish for the members of the Guild and other creative people who are just starting their careers?

SR: Remember that the most important thing in creativity is to bring light and protect the souls of your readers. You create not for fame but because it is essential to your being – you simply cannot live otherwise. Creativity is work, and it must be treated with the utmost responsibility.