Mukhtar Auezov  Mukhtar Omarkhanuli Auezov (, Мұхтар Омарханұлы Әуезов, مۇحتار ومارحانۇلى اۋەزوۆ, ; , "Muchtar Omarchanovič Auezov") (September 28, 1897 — June 27, 1961) was a Kazakh writer, a social activist, a Doctor of Philology, and an honored academic of the Soviet Union (1946). He was born on September 28, 1897 and raised in Semey (Kaskabulak). Auezov's writings were influenced by the poet Abai. Mukhtar's father and grandfather Omarkhan Auez both highly revered the poet, who was a neighbour and a friend of the Auezov family. His grandfather was a storyteller of folk tales, and taught his grandson to read and write. Auezov was born in a nomadic family from an area known today as Abay District, in East Kazakhstan Province. His grandfather taught him how to read and write. Auezov was educated at the Semipalatinsk Teacher's Seminary and Leningrad State University. Auezov is best known for his plays. The first play he authored was "Enlik-Kebek", a story of two young lovers that resembles the story of Romeo and Juliet. He authored more than twenty plays that dealt with the issues relevant to Socialism in Kazakhstan. After writing plays, Auezov changed his focus to writing novels. Two novels – "Abay" and "The Path of Abay" – dealing with the life of Kazakh poet Abay Qunanbayuli were the product of the last twenty years of his life. Auezov's other projects included drawing and translating literature into the Kazakh language. Some translations made by him include Nikolai Gogol's "The Government Inspector" and Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew". Mukhtar first studied in Kaskabulak, then later a Muslim madrasa in Semipalatinsk. At age of eleven, he moved to a nearby, five-year grammar school. His father Omarkhan died in 1900, and his mother Nurzhamal in 1912. The young Mukhtar was raised by his uncle Kasymbek and his grandfather Auez and grandmother Dinas.