Documentary on Tatar primer Alifba premieres 24 October on TNV in Tatarstan

A documentary-drama about the legendary Tatar primer Alifba will premiere on 24 October at 19:00 on the TNV channel. The film was prepared by a commission under the head of Tatarstan. Its broadcast coincides with the birthday of Salay Vagizov, one of the textbook's authors and a teacher.

The film covers the history of the textbook, first published in 1965, and the lives of its creators, Salay Vagizov and his wife Ramziya Valitova. The couple spent five years developing it, drawing on Tatar national education experience. Vagizov fought in the Great Patriotic War and was held in concentration and GULAG camps for about ten years. He later faced rejection by society but continued teaching, living in Archa district and working at a pedagogical college.

The film also traces the history of the Tatar people and their language. For nearly six decades, Alifba helped Tatars living in various countries learn their mother tongue. Its total print run exceeded one million copies, and it was reprinted 42 times. The textbook is also recognised as one of the best tools for teaching native languages in USSR regions.