Sura Journal and the perception of identity and history in İdil-Ural Turks

With the 17 October 1905 manifesto, the non-Russian peoples living in Russia achieved some political, social and cultural gains. The most prominent among these was the right to freedom in press and broadcasting activities. These gains provided the emergence of the innovation movement after the Tsarist censorship was overcome. The most important journal that had a share in the civil, religious, economic and cultural development of the Russian Turks was the journal Shura. The journal was published uninterruptedly for ten years, from January 10, 1908 to December 31, 1917. Shura is accepted as the longest-lasting, largest and at the same time the best magazine published by Tatars. Its language is general Turkish, but there are also articles in Tatar and other Turkish dialects. The Shura was published under the sponsorship of Zakir and Şakir Remiyevs and under the editorship of Rızaeddin Fahreddin. The journal had a very large and rich staff of writers, some of whom were Turkish intellectuals. He made an intense effort to enlighten the Russian Muslims, who were backward in many ways such as trade, education and printing, and to save them from misery. He made serious publications on national history education and creating a historical consciousness in the public. He opened the way for a national consciousness and awareness by opening identity issues to discussion.