Based on published sources and materials, the article highlights the history of the activities of the largest representative of the Tatar enlightenment of the second half of the 19th century, Kayuma Nasyri. A prominent educator has written more than forty books and brochures on various problems of science in order to disseminate and popularize the latest scientific knowledge among his readers. K. Nasyri published works on natural sciences, history, language, literature, hygiene and anatomy, etc. K. Nasyri in his works as “Beliefs and rites of the Kazan Tatars, formed in addition to the influence of Sunni Mohammedanism on their lives” (1880), “Samples of the folk literature of the Kazan Tatars” (1896) published in Russian and telling about folklore, ethnography and other features of the Tatar people. “The book on education” by K.Nasyri is devoted to the problem of the physical and spiritual development of the individual. For 24 years, K.Nasyri published the annual desktop calendar. The author comes to the conclusion that the legacy of the enlightener was of historical importance for the Tatar culture and he showed a model of selfless service to the people.