The article examines, along with the political and ideological situation in Kazakhstan in the 50-60s of the XX century, the productive work of the creative intelligentsia, including the great scientist Alkei Khakanovich Margulan. The author also emphasizes that A. Margulan using his comprehensive encyclopedic knowledge, collecting and reconstructing the missing parts of the history of the Kazakh people, managed to preserve and promote national identity during the period of ideological domination. The article notes that during the period when the authorities tried to impose the concept of "nomad" as "backward in development" on society, Alkei Khakanovich tried to refute this idea with his research throughout his conscious life. And also Margulan's contribution to personalistics was not left unnoticed on the bright example of Chokanology. The article was prepared within the framework of the project AP08956066 "Collection, systematization and study of the scientific-epistolary heritage of Academician Alkey Margulan (comments,reviews, letters, postcards.