The significance of heritage is often overlooked. After all, there is a common misconception that heritage is confined to the past—something that has come to an end. And so, many may question the essence of even bothering to acknowledge it or inform oneself about it, believing it is over. Yet this is only a misconception. This is, in fact, what All About Tatarstan embodies: heritage does not come with a period but with a comma or an ellipsis—a punctuation mark that suggests continuity. Heritage may come from the past, but it does not stay there; it continues to affect us even in the present.
All About Tatarstan tells the story of the Tatars—the long oppression they faced and their commitment to preserving their culture, especially in art, literature, architecture, and music. As much as the book sheds light on what the Tatars endured, something worth noting as well is that it places heavy emphasis on how these experiences shaped Emil Julienne Habibulina Luy’s (the author’s) outlook on some of his core values, such as leadership.
By drawing a connection between the past and the present, Emil not only preserves the heritage itself but also its significance. In doing so, these words gain the capacity to reach not just the minds but also the hearts and souls of readers. One may look past historical accounts if they are framed merely as relics of the past, but one stops, looks, and listens when they resonate even today.
Hence, one of the best examples of cultural preservation can be seen in the author himself. He writes with a genuine desire to lift the Tatars from the periphery and reiterate the importance of Tatar heritage in the contemporary world. Through this book, he aims to give a platform to voices that have long been silenced and stories that have long been unheard. He writes less with a pen and more with his heart.
Perhaps this is the very message that All About Tatarstan aims to convey: Culture is best preserved through our hearts.
When we develop care and passion for our heritage, it remains.