Mintimer Shaimiev, The First President of The Republic of Tatarstan:
We lived with Tukay all the XXth century and entered into the XXIst century also with him. While Tukay’s body of work exists, our nation will live; while the Tatars are the nation, Tukay will live. Poems of Tukay, written during his short lifetime period, are still currently central and in keeping with our times. Being absolutely devoted to the nation, Tukay’s poetry crossed ethnic barriers even in his time. Due to Tukay the Tatar nation is still well-known nation.