Relevance. The relevance of the research lies in the fact that at this stage, post-Soviet Kazakhstan often refers to the beginning of the 20th century, when the intelligentsia fought for independence, modernisation of the consciousness of conventional society so the study of this experience will allow answering many challenges of the current time. Purpose. The purpose of the study is to identify the role of the intelligentsia in the transformation and modernisation of society at the beginning of the 20th century. The paper is devoted to the study of how the Kazakh intelligentsia managed to introduce new elements into the conventional society and form a special identity of the Kazakhs. Methodology. The leading approach is the historical approach, which allows considering the specific features of the political context within the framework of the existence of the Russian Empire. The main methods are the method of analysis, comparative, problem method, which allows identifying the features of the development of the intelligentsia in this period. Results. The paper examines the specific features of the development of the Kazakh intelligentsia, the problem of choosing a direction, analyses changes in the political, economic, educational, cultural spheres. The influence of the popular trend of Jadidism in Central Asia on the views of the intelligentsia is highlighted. The study delved into the multifaceted evolution of the intelligentsia and its profound impact on reshaping conventional society. The research yielded valuable insights into the profound impact of the intelligentsia on societal modernization and consciousness. Conclusions. The Kazakh intelligentsia played a crucial role in preserving the Kazakh nation, preventing complete assimilation by colonial authorities despite numerous decrees and repressive actions aimed at suppressing dissent. The Kazakh intelligentsia succeeded not only in preserving and advancing the concept of Kazakh identity but also in influencing many societal spheres. Keywords: development of the Kazakh intelligentsia; development of public education; Jadidism; pre-revolutionary period; modernisation