The monograph presents to the reader the life and work of the great scientist, educator, and democrat Chokan Chingizovich Valikhanov. The biography of the scientist is described in the context of historically great events in Kazakhstan and Russia in the mid of 19th century. His close friend G.N. Potanin notes that Chokan shared his interests with his contemporaries, shared ideas with them, but he was interested in the fate more than in future. The book also describes the circle of his close and outstanding contemporaries. The book is intended for students, teachers of history, as well as a wide range of readers.