2026 is the year of the 140th anniversary of Gabdulla Tukay (1886-1913). The program of events dedicated to the anniversary of the national poet at KNRTU included a meeting with students organized by the Educational and Scientific Information Center of KNRTU.

The meeting was held in the renovated reading room in Building D (D-227). The event was filled with a creative atmosphere. The Centre remembered the work of Gabdulla Tukay, his contribution to literature, and the cultural heritage of Tatarstan.

Svetlana Gatieva and Alevtina Magdanova, employees of the Department of Subscriptions, told the students of the Institute of Light Industry Technology, Fashion, and Design about the poet's life and work. A presentation and a book exhibition called "The Poetic Pride of Tatarstan" were prepared for the event, where visitors could explore Tukay's books in various languages, works dedicated to him, and newspaper and magazine articles about his life and work.

Tukay is not just words on paper. It is the music of language, a masterful play of words and sounds. A pleasant addition to the event was the musical accompaniment: the participants enjoyed listening to Tukay's poetry records played in his native language.

Tukay's most famous work is the fairy tale poem "Shurale." It is so popular that it has even been adapted into feature films and cartoons. The students watched a clip from the cartoon and then answered questions about its plot in a quiz. The first students to answer correctly received small prizes from UNIC.

"Shurale" is also a ballet by the composer Farid Yarullin. Alexander Kaigorodov, Director of the University, introduced the guests to a fragment of the ballet. He reminded them that the ballet can be seen at the M. Jalil Opera and Ballet Theatre. The students were greatly impressed by their introduction to the works of Tukay. Arzu Masieva, the head of the 751-21 group, expressed her opinion about the event:

— It was interesting. I didn't expect that the University could provide such an unconventional presentation of a poet. I liked that it wasn't just a lecture, but also included music. The gramophone records of Tukay's poems created an atmospheric atmosphere. The quiz on "Shural" challenged my memory, and the animated film based on this poem was a classic, reminding me of my childhood. I would like to express my gratitude for the recommendation to attend a ballet performance, and I may consider doing so with my group. The organizers did an excellent job!

"We are delighted that our D-227 reading room has become a place where students can immerse themselves in the culture of Russia and Tatarstan," said Alexander Kaigorodov. — It was nice to see the students’ interest, and we will certainly continue to hold such meetings.