The works of the writers, dramatists and poets of East Kazakhstan are no less famous than those of other literary geniuses in Kazakhstan.

East Kazakhstan is a region of great treasures, a region which has kept the nature's primal beauty full of folk legends and songs. This is the land which presented many magicians of literature to the World.

Chinguiztau stretched out the expanses of Sari-Arka (Yellow steppe), the motherland of three great individuals who became famous in lands not their home. The first is a poet, a thinker, a teacher-the father of the new Kazakh realist literature, Abai Kunanbaev. The second, Shakarim Kudaiberdiev, was a teacher-humanist who contributed much to the Kazakh Literature of the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries. And Muhtar Auezov, a writer, historian and theorist of the Kazakh Literature.

The literature life of many writers began on the favorable land of East Kazakhstan. There are eminent writers and poets. A wide circle of readers is familiar with the masterpieces of Anatoly Ivanov and Efim Permitin.

Among the other writers and poets of East Kazakhstan is Georguij Grebenschikov whose works were translated into several foreign languages and who received many different rewards and honorary titles from the Academy of Sciences and Arts, and from universities in the USA, India, France, Spain, Argentina, Mexico, and Brazil. Even after his emigration to the USA in 1920 he hadn't forgotten the land of East Kazakhstan.

A famous author of fairy-tales, and who was born in Ust-Kamenogorsk, is Alexander Volkov. His fairy-tales were translated into 30 languages. Today his books have sold millions of copies. Some others names of our talented people are Kasim Kaisenov, Nikolai Gorbachev, Oralhan Bokeev, Urii Antropov, Kalihan Iskakov, Vladimir Petrov, Dmitrii Cherepanov, Muhtar Magauin, Kamen Orazalin, and Sapargali Begalin.

And Priirtyshje (the land around the Irtysh) is the land of many poets.
First time, avoiding the losts of translators the original Kazakh steppe of Pavel Vasiljev burst into the Russian poetry. Semen Anisimov, Eset Aukebaev, Ulugbek Esdauletov, Evgeny Kurdakov and Michail Nemtsev sing the praise to their Motherland.

The discovery of akyn Dzhambul Dzhabaev is connected with the poet and translator Pavel Kuznetsov. The writer of local lore Stanislav Chernykh worked mostly in the documentary prose. Owing to the books of S.Chernykh, the history of Rudny Altai and life stories of many prominent people who live there, became more known to the citizens of East Kazakhstan.

The famous authors Pavel Bazhov and Nikolai Anov started their literature work in East Kazakhstan.

Still Mikhail Chistyakov, Serik Gabdullin, Galym Baibatyrov, Victor Aksyonov, Alexander Egorov, Muslim Kumarbekov, Turgazy Nukaev, Boris Scherbakov are fruitful artists of the word.

A writer, profound social worker, the person who opened the House of Abai in London, - Rollan Seysenbaev was born in East Kazakhstan. It was on his initiative that the magazine "Amanat" should be issued, where together with the recognized authors the works of a young generation of writers and poets are being published. Rollan Seysenbaev promotes the young talented authors who live in East Kazakhstan and amaze the raeders with their creative works.

As you can see, our land is rich in talented people!

 

Oralkhan Bokeev

Oralkhan was born in Chingiztay village of the Katon-Karagai region on the 28th of September, in 1943. After graduating from Chingistai secondary school, named after Sultanmakhmut Toraigirov , he worked as a Pioneer leader, and later he worked in "Altaisky" state farm as a tractor driver.

In 1968 he finished a correspondence course at Kazakh State University. Then he worked at Bolshenarim regional newspaper "Enbek tui", and at East-Kazakhstan regional newspaper "Communizm tui".

Since 1968, he has lived in Almaty and worked at the youth newspaper "Leninshil zhas" and "Zhulduz." Since 1991 he was promoted as chief editor of the newspaper "Kazak adebiety". His first collection of stories, "Kamchiger", published in 1970, in Almaty brought him recognition as a young writer.

"The topics of my stories cast on memories about my homeland, the events of my youth",- writes O.Bokeev. My countrymen, Kazakhs are a people of solid character, honest and open at heart. In 1971, he published "Pleiades," and after that was published the following books: "Gde ti zherebionok belolobi" (Where are You White Forehead Foal) (1973), "Lednikovie gory" (Ice Mountains) (1975). His following stories were translated into Russian: "Sled molni" (Track of Lightning) (1978), "Poiyshie barkhani" (Singing dunes) (1981), "Krik" (Scream) (1984), "Poesda prokhodyat mimo" (Trains are Passing By)(1985), "Chelovek-Olen" (Man- Deer) (1987).

His stories are devoted to his homeland. His birthplace is wonderful and original, located in the east of republic: Deep Bukhtarma , which includes ranges of the Altai mountains and snow-caps of the mountain Belukha. Characteristic features of his stories are the inhabitants of village life: shepherds, horse-herds, deer-breeders, foresters, and machine operators, both young and old. These people, men and women, old and young rack their brains over secrets of human existence, over everlasting and fatal problems of spirit.

O. Bokeev is a indispensable and possessing participant of the events, by his nature. And this feature mixes with the life of his heroes. This is Aspan from "Krik", falling in an ice ravine. The shepherd in "Poiyshie barkhani", rescuing a large flock of sheep from a storm, young tractor drivers in "Snezhnaya devushka" having lost their way in severe January night and shaky devil bridge "Krik", spread over a fast mountain river. All of these are, real and metaphorical.

The prose of O. Bokeev is directed to the thoughts about kindness and evil, about forces and courage, about real and imaginary spiritual valuables. In his work we can see energetic, furious passion for life.

O. Bokeev has a rich gift of speech. His books were translated into German, Slovak, Bulgarian, English, Hungarian, Arabian, Chinese, and Japanese and into the languages of the former USSR countries.

O. Bokeev is a prizewinner of Republic of Kazakhstan. He was also awarded the bonus of Lenin Komsomol of Kazakhstan, the literature bonus named after N. Ostrovsky. He also received bonuses from "Molodaya gvardia" and "Zhalin" publishing houses. He was given the following governmental awards: order "Znak pochiota".

He is an honored citizen of Katon-Karagai region. He died in 1993, during his trip in India.

 

Mukhtar Omarkhanovich Auezov

Mukhtar Omarkhanovich Auezov's ancestors lived not far from Mekke - famous mausoleum of A. Yassaui. They were well educated for their time mullahs. Having been told about Kunanbai khan, Mukhtar's great granddad called Berdikhodzha moved to Chingiz Mountains. It was in 1852-1853.

On the 28th of September, 1897 was born Mukhtar.

When he was six, his granddad Auez began teaching him to Arabic alphabet. Mukhtar's childhood was spent in nomad villages. His uncle Kasimbek Auezov played a great role in Mukhtar's life. He took the boy to Semipalatinsk, and gave him to Semipalatinsk college of five grades.

In 1915, M. Auezov entered the Teachers Training College and there he was introduced with the works of Russian, Eastern and European writers and began to try his fortune in literature.

In 1917 Auezov wrote a performance "Enlik-Kebek". (About love of these two young people, which had an unhappy end).

Since November 1919, M. Auezov worked in the editorial office of "Kazakh Tili" (Kazakh language) newspaper. He issued a magazine titled "Abai" and conducted the literary circle titled "Es-Aimak". He also taught in Kazakh Teachers Training College.

In 1923, M.Auezov entered the Leningrad University, The Faculty of Philology, after graduating from it, he entered the post-graduate study in Tashkent Central Asian State University on specialty east folklore.

In 30-s, he was sent to prison, on a charge of nationalism. Forced admission of not existing guilty and refusal from his best works was a way to freedom.

Only in 60-es his following works were re-published: "Likhaya Godina" in Russian and in Kazakh, "Kan Kene" and his early stories were published in "Karash-Karash" collection. Since 20-es, he has been interested in Abay's creation: he collected and learned materials about Abay's life, his works, wrote articles, published his poems, wrote his biography adding some new materials.

As a result, he wrote a book "Put Abaya". After the epic was published both in Kazakh and Russian, there appeared its translations in foreign languages.
Mukhtar Auezov contributed much in developing Kazakh literature, drama and theatre.

 

Efim Permitin

In 1896, on the eighth of January in Ust-Kamenogorsk a small town, in the family of a joiner- a handicraftsman, was born named Efim Nikolaevich Permitin. His father Nikolay Nikolaevich was a house-holding master. He had to work hard as he was responsible for nine sons and four daughters to be fed and clothed. Parents introduced children to work from their early age. When Efim grew a little, he was given to city three-year grades school. This is a short biography of Efim's life: "I always had a desire to study, to get knowledge, but because of the low income, after graduating from this school, I had to take an exam for village school teacher and deal with teaching children. I thought, that after saving some money, I would go Shanski University in Moscow, where there is free access for poor students without diploma. But early appeal to army ruined all my plans. I was stuck in a gray great coat, and military drills of recruit didn't meet spiritual demands. Germanic front, demobilization and Civil War made me teach children again. I was a teacher of a weekend school for adults, and in my free time I dealt with self-education. Kolchak and the new mobilization of former officers again prevented me from work till Soviet rule. And only in 1919 could I work in a cultural and educational sphere by conducting lecture-hours for adults". In the afternoon E. Permitin worked or hunted, in the evenings he wrote articles, stories. The results were poor. On the one hand, it was a lack of knowledge and experience; on the other hand there was nowhere to send his works to be published. He didn't dare send his writings to central publishing houses. Literary-fiction magazine "Hunter of Altai" played a great role in his life coming to be a writer. An idea about creating a magazine had come to him during a talk around the fire. And this idea strengthened after his trip on hunting lands in the southwest Altai. In fall of 1922 E. Permitin went on a trip studying the tasks of the hunting union board. He came back to Ust-kamenogorsk impressed by all he had seen. And exactly this trip turned Permitin into a writer.

Efim Nikolayevich offered to find a hunting magazine. At that time, even in Moscow, this kind of magazine was not published. His idea was supported, and in 1923, in January the first number of the magazine was published. It had 200 copies. The publisher was the Ust-kamenogorsk Hunting Union exchanged the paper with wheat. E.N. Permitin was an editor of the magazine. The second number had a circulation of 400 and the third was 550. The quality of the paper and design became better. By the beginning of 1924 the edition of this magazine totaled 800 copies. Around the magazine united the friendly editorial staff. In this magazine one could find articles by Maxim Zverev, Alexander Volkov, Permitin's and craftsmanship was sharpened. In April 1925, the editorial staff of the magazine moved to Nivinikolaevsk (Novosibirsk). E. N. Permitin was an editor of this magazine until 1931. "My literary birth - recalls the author,- my first literary articulate sounds closely connected with the first lines of "Okhotnik Altaya". On this magazine's pages were published his first poems, and articles of future writers such as: "V belkakh", "U kostra", "Vesennie motivi" e.t.c.

His novel "Kapkan" was published in the "Sibirskie ogni" magazine, then it appeared as a separate book. In 1931 after his story "Kokhti" had been published in "Zemlya Sovetskaya" magazine, he began to be treated as a big expert of the Altai village life. He moved to Moscow to work.

In 1938 Permitin was arrested on a false accusation. During the banishment time E. Permitin didn't touch a pen. At the end of the 40-s he wrote a novel about collectivization. It was called "K vershinam" (to the top). By this time the following novels: "Kapkan" (Trap), "Vrag" (Enemy), "Liybov" (Love) were worked out and were included in the epic "Gornie orli" (Mountain eagles). The following years of his life were devoted to the writing books such as: "Rannee utro" (Early morning), "Pervaya liybov" (The first love), "Poema o lesakh" (Poem about forests), which were combined into a trilogy "Zhizn Alekseya Rokotova" (Life of Aleksey Rokotov). One can easily guess that the main hero type is E. N Permitin, and other heroes are people who lived in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Moscow, Novosibirsk and Rudni Altai. To Permitin's pen belong the collections of stories "Okhotniche sertse" (Heart of hunter), "Tri pokoleniya" (Three generations), "Strast" (Passion). In 1978-1980 was published a collection of stories.

E. N Permitin's life was heard, full of severe trials. And all his life was connected with his birthplace, with generous land of the Rudni altai from where he drew up materials for his works.

 

Anatoly Stepanovich Ivanov.

A.S. Ivanov was born in 1928, on the fifth of May, in Shemonaikha region of East-Kazakhstan. His father died in his early childhood, so as he was the oldest in the family, he had to help his mother with housekeeping. He prepared feed for cows, got fuel for the winter and looked after his younger sister and brother.

During the Great Patriotic War, he gathered bread, potatoes, and beets together with other boys. After the war had been finished, he took state examinations for school and received a certificate.

In 1946, in order to be a journalist, he entered Kazakh State University named after S.M Kirov in Almaty. Here, he began writing his first works. Often his articles were published in the Semipalatinsk regional newspaper "Priitishskaya pravda", where he conducted his practical work. After graduating from the university, Anatoly Stepanovich came there to work. After demobilization from the army, he worked as an editor of "Voinskaya znamia" newspaper of the Novosibirsk region. In 1954, his first story was published in magazine titled "Krestianka". In 1956, in Novosibirsk, his first book "Alkini pesni" (Alkin's songs) was published.

In his childhood he moved from one city to another; first in Shemonaikha, then in Almaty, in Semipalatinsk, and finally in Novosibirsk. During all this time, Antoly Ivanov was thinking about the processes, which took place in villages in 1910's through the 1940's. This included situations about the smothering influence of possessiveness in peoples' minds, and about the protest of old to new,that lead to dramatic consequences of his countrymen's lives. Life of Shemonaikha, like other villages, was full of contradictions. As a result of these processes, a novel "Povitel" appeared. In this novel, according to critic B. Leonov's sayings, Ivanov found objectivity in a real historian with social- class views to past time events and the gift of the artist. He also could see reactions to difficulty of the fight for new relationships in society. This problem was widened and went on in "Teni ischezaiyt v polden" (Shadow Disappears in the Afternoon) (1963), which in 1971 was made a film.

The light and the shadow. Conscience and dishonor. Crime and punishment. These contrasting categories always go together. And on these contrasts was written the following works: "Vechni zov" (Everlasting call) (1963-1975), "Zhizn na greshnoi zemle" (Life on an sinful earth) (1971), "Vrazhda" (Hostility) (1979). The plot of all these books covered the events, which took place during the first World Revolution, the collectivization time of Great Patriotic War and post-war period in the Uba and Irtish villages.

"Our village,- Ivanov recalls,- was typically Siberian, and I know well the features who I told you about. I need not to learn any additional materials about them, as I even knew the phrases they exchange. In 1971, Anatoly Ivanov was awarded a prize named after M. Gorki for his first novel "Vechni zov", and for the screen version of "Teni ischezaiyt v polden" , he was awarded a State Bonus of USSR.

Many years Ivanov worked at an editorial office of "Sibirskie ogni" and "Molodaya gvardia" magazines. On the fourteenth of March 1984, for making a great contribution to development of soviet literature, Ivanov was awarded a high prize Geroy Sotsialisticheskogo truda.

A.S Ivanov is a frequent and desired visitor at his homeland. He says: "I was born here, and I learned to differ exciting smells of a land ploughed up in Spring, here I for the first time realized the highest flights of human soul and gloomy depth of people's degradation". Here Ivanov draws the materials up for his works. He is drawn to this by an everlasting call for life.

 

Nikolay Andreevich Gorbachiov

On the abundant lands of East -Kazakhstan began the life of a famous writer -Nikolay Andreevich Gorbachiov. His ancestors were closely connected with the Acmola steppe. And at the beginning of the century, his grandfather, in order to find the happiness moved to legendary region of Belovodiye, which is on upper reaches of the Irtish and Naryn rivers.
Here, in the village of Bolshenarim, on the 13th of September 1923, was born a famous writer. He lived in Bolshenarim only a short time, just seven years, but it was enough for him to always remember wide fields, blue mountains and travel with his father to Kazakh villages. All these memories remained in the bottom of his heart, neither moving to Voronezh, Rostov region, and Dagestan, nor front lines could erase them. He began writing poems, when he was studying at Makhachkala road constructing and at Rostov Navy Training Colleges. He continued writing even at the front, during short respites between fights for Caucasus, at clearing from german-fascist invaders of Hungary, Austria, Czechoslovakia.

In 1946 he returned home together with his unit. From1948 till 1953 Gorbachiyov studied in the radio-engineering academy named after L. A Govorov. At this time were issued his stories "Razvedchitsa"(Scout), "Vstrecha" (Meeting), and others published in the almanac of "Kharkov" and in the regional and republican newspapers of the Ukraine.

In 60's Nikolay Andreevich worked on the editorial staff of two of the largest magazines, "Moscow" and "October". In 1961 his first book titled "Returning" was published, after that " Rockets and snowdrops" (1962), " Star gravitation " (1963г.) And " One night " (1967г.) were published. All of them are devoted to jet pilots, using their military arms, their hard destiny on protection of peace of the Soviet people. Gorbachiev's novels such as, "Daite tochku opory"(Give a point of a support) (1970), "Udarnaya sila" (Shock force) (1972), "Bitva" (Fight) (1976) resulted from his many years of experience and thinking about the radical transformations, which took place in the army during post-war years, and representations about technical arms. In October 1975, the writer for the first time after a long separation returned to East Kazakhstan. He felt as if he had rediscovered his homeland. He was literally shaken by the beauty and variety of the landscape, vegetation and fauna's rich depth. In the regional heritage museum Gorbachiov's attention was attracted by the materials about the contribution of Rudny Altai's working people in devastating hitlerite Germany. Being in Leninogorsk, he had heard about imaginary records of borers, such as Georgy Haidin, Vasili Dementiuk and many others on mining ores, within Great Patriotic War.

"And after this trip,- recalled the writer, - I wanted to write a book about my countrymen, who contributed a lot to mining lead and to hasten a victory together with all the rear heroes. Since that time, the writer has been in Rudni Altai several times. He dealt in archives, talked to old metallurgists and veterans. He watched how metal was being smelted. All these were described in his novel called "Belie vody"(White waters), which has been created more than ten years.

The first part of the novel "Bergaly" was published as a separate book at publishing house "Sovietsky pisatel", in May 1983. After that, in 1985 was issued the second part "Svinets" (Lead), and in 1990, the final part "Smertnye" (Deadly) was issued. Everyman, who has read "Belie vody" noticed, that main events are taking place in Rudny Altai. In spite of fiction conjecture, while reading the book we realize our homeland on description of nature, by names of mountains (Ivanov Belok, Tigretsky khrebet), rivers (the Uba, the Ulba, The Irtish, the Turgusun,) and by the names of localities (Ablaketka, Strelennaya, Voniyavka). And there, where town Leninogorsk should be, we come across to Svintsevogorsk, name outcome by author. Instead of Ust-Kamenogorsk we meet Ust-Mednogorsk.

In Svintsevgorsk, the author was at his best in describing the best features of rear town, which helped to win the victory, by its war industry (products). Permanent watches of metallurgists, Stakhanovism records on mining ores and the workers' courage on saving their mine from flooding were described with great craftsmanship and love of the author.

In his novels Gorbachiov confirms that Bukhtarma, Ulba, and Uba were named Belovodie. But the way to the humanity's best action can be got not only through ranges but through suffer, difficulty, the death of near relations, through getting with the fear of death. And there is no other way.

Nikolai Andreevich Gorbachiev has lived and worked in Moscow for many years, but he did not lose a link with his birthplace. His articles about shepherds' life in the Kurchum region, the miners of Leninogorsk, about metallurgists of Ust-Kamenogorsk's titanium and magnesium plants, and the Irtish polymetal plant are published in the magazines of "Selskaya zhizn", "Pravda", and "Yzvestie".

 

Kasim Kaisenov

Kasim Kaisenov was born in Asubulak village, (Ulan region) in East Kazakhstan in 1918, on the 23d of April. His birthplace is noticeable for its high mountains, virgin forests and rapid rivers. And all these features of his homeland entered into his flesh and blood. One can easily find in him boundless height and purity of thoughts.

In 1935 he came to Ust-kamenogorsk and entered the political education college. Since 1938 he worked as inspector of education.

In 1940- 1941, he completed special preparation in a military college. After finishing it, he was sent to the southwest front.

In November 1941, he was re-sent to Ukraine, occupied with enemies. Kasim Kaisenov was one of the first partisan movement organizers in Kiev, the Poltava regions to be exact. And he was in command of detachments named after Chapayev and Zakarpatie, which made a great deal of impertinent operations on the territory of Moldova, Rumania, Czechoslovakia. For battle actions in war years, K. Kaisenov was awarded with the Patriotic War order of the first degree, Bogdan Kmelnitsky order and eight medals. After demobilization, K. Kaisenov worked as an assessor at the machinery of Supreme Soviet of Kazakh Soviet Social Republic, then he worked as chairman deputy of Sverdlovsk Regional Executive Committee, after he became an editor of "Kazakh eli", "Zhazushi" and "Kainar" publishing houses.

Kasim Kaisenov was invited to schools, colleges, and high schools as a veteran of Great Patriotic War in order to share memories about severe war years.

In 1954, his first book "Ynie Partizani" (Young Partisans) was written. In 1955 were published his two books: "Ilko Vitryak" and "Partisani Pereyaslava" (Partisnas of Pereyaslav).

Kasim Kaisenov received information, valuable documents such as: copies of orders to hold battle operations, photos, and memories of former partisans about partisan battles.

Due to this rich collection, in 1960, the author wrote his next book titled"Iz kokhtei smerti" (From clutches of death), a year later appeared "Malchik v tilu vraga" (A boy in the enemy rear) and "Na Dnepre" (On the Dnepr).

After war, the writer went to Ukraine several times, he visited the places where they fought, he met with his friends, and former partisans. As a result of this trip, in 1964 he wrote a book "Partizanskoi tropoi" (By Partisan way). In 1978, Republican Youth Publishing house "Zhalin" published his collection of stories "Narodnie mstitely" (Peoples avengers) as a gift to his 60th jubilee. This collection included the best stories and was devoted to partisan movements in Ukraine. Kazakh-partisan's books, which fought almost all the war in Ukraine, is an interesting case in Kazakh literature. It shows not only the heroism of Kazakhs in war, but also the friendship of the Soviet Union countries.

"Nothing must be forgotten",- considers the writer. K. Kaisenov treats all his works as a monument for those, who fought for the peace and freedom of their Motherland.
"Starana moego detstva" (Country of my childhood) is one of the latest books of K. Kaisenov, which was devoted to his birthplace- Asu-Bulak.

"The source of kindness and beauty in humans begins from childhood,- writes the author. In his childhood stories K. Kaisenov tells us about mischievous tricks of Tentekkari, who could take away the Asiks* of other boys, he remembers the toy (party) with baursaks (Kazakh national dish), made by his mother for holidays.

Kasim Kaisenov is a member of the Kazakhstani Writers Union. He wrote more than thirty books, which were translated into Kyrgysian, Ukrainian, Russian, and Hungarian.

Now, he is writing memories about famous people, he has met. They are: marshal S.M Budionny, leaders of partisan movement S.A Kovpak, A.F Fiodorov. His friends not only on feather but in life were: Sabit Mukanov, Gabit Musrepov, Baurzhan Momushuli, Tair Zharokov, Alibek Zhangildin.

K.Kaisenov says: " I have a lot of ideas, plans. I would be happy, if I do even half of them".

Asik*- a national Kazakh game popular among boys and played with the knucklebones of sheep.

You can learn about writes und poets life of East Kazakhstan on this websyte: http://imena.pushkinlibrary.kz

 

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