The honored scientist of the Kyrgyz Republic, Manas scholar Raissa Kydyrbaeva has passed away.

Raisa Kydyrbaeva. Photo of the National Academy of Sciences of the KR.
On January 10, after a long illness, the world lost Raisa Zaitovna Kydyrbaeva — an outstanding figure in Kyrgyz science, a corresponding member of the National Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Philological Sciences, and Professor. The information about her death was announced by the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers.

Raisa Kydyrbaeva was born on November 30, 1930, in Frunze. In 1952, she graduated with honors from the Philological Faculty of Kyrgyz State University. From 1953 to 1956, she studied in graduate school at the A. M. Gorky Institute of World Literature, where she defended her candidate dissertation in 1956. In 1983, she defended her doctoral dissertation, and in 1997, she received the title of professor, becoming a corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences in 1989.

From 1986 to 2025, Kydyrbaeva worked at the Chingiz Aitmatov Institute of Literature of the National Academy of Sciences of the KR, where she held various positions, including head of the "Manas" department, as well as leading and chief researcher.

In 1988, she became a scientific consultant for Melis Ubukeev's documentary film "The Great Manaschi".

Under her guidance, 22 candidates and four doctors of sciences were trained, and the scientific school she established gained recognition both in Kyrgyzstan and beyond.

In 1998, Raisa Kydyrbaeva was awarded the State Prize of the Kyrgyz Republic in the field of science and technology for her participation in the preparation of the "Encyclopedia of Manas". She actively worked on state and international programs, including preparing a dossier for the inclusion of the art of Kyrgyz akyns in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO, as well as forming scientific and cultural policy related to the epic "Manas. Semetey. Seitek".

For many years, Raisa Zaitovna remained an active member of the scientific community and dissertation councils in folklore and literary studies. Her contribution to the development of science and her legacy will forever remain in the memory of the people of Kyrgyzstan.