Kyrgyzstan Literature

Kyrgyzstan’s literary tradition spans centuries, although much of its early heritage was not written down. Due to low literacy rates historically, many poets, known as akyns, would travel from village to village, performing their works aloud. Some epic tales, such as the Epic of Manas, were memorized and passed down through generations by skilled performers called manaschi. It wasn’t until the Soviet era, when education became more widespread, that literacy increased, moving beyond religious teachings. By the 20th century, writers, poets, and linguists began to thrive, producing literature that gained international recognition.

Chingiz Aitmatov stands out as one of Kyrgyzstan’s most celebrated writers and politicians, achieving fame throughout the Soviet Union and beyond. His writing often focused on life in rural Kyrgyzstan as well as life under Soviet rule, which he did not always portray favorably.

Born in 1928 in Sheker, Talas, into a family of civil servants, Aitmatov faced tragedy early in life. His father was arrested and executed in 1938 for “bourgeois nationalism.” Despite this, Aitmatov went on to study literature at Moscow’s Gorky Literature Institute and later worked for the Soviet newspaper Pravda. His first stories were published in the 1950s while he was still employed at Pravda.

Aitmatov’s most famous story, Jamila, tells the tale of a woman who falls in love with a quiet outsider while her husband is away fighting in World War II. Set in wartime Kyrgyzstan, where much of the population was involved in growing grain to support the war effort, the story explores themes of love and duty, sparking debate among readers. Another of his notable works, Farewell, Gulsary, revolves around an old man reflecting on his bond with a horse named Gulsary, who is dying. This story takes place during the collectivization period of the early Soviet Union, highlighting the protagonist’s struggles with local authorities. Aitmatov’s most renowned novel, The Day Lasts More Than a Hundred Years, blends futuristic space travel with the life of a man in a remote Kazakh steppe town as he tries to arrange a traditional burial for his friend.

Aitmatov’s works are revered for their rich depictions of Central Asian folklore and nature, all while remaining relevant to modern life. His stories honor the nomadic heritage of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, even as they examine, often critically, the changes brought about by Soviet rule.

In addition to his literary achievements, Aitmatov played a significant role in politics. He served as an advisor to Gorbachev during perestroika and held various diplomatic positions, representing both the Soviet Union and later Kyrgyzstan in Luxembourg and other European organizations. He also contributed to the establishment of Ata-Beyit Cemetery, a site built over a mass grave where over 130 political prisoners, including his own father, were executed. Aitmatov was buried here following his death in 2008.

Aitmatov’s literary contributions have been widely recognized, earning him numerous awards. Writing in both Kyrgyz and Russian, he sometimes translated his own works. His stories have since been translated into many languages, making him one of Kyrgyzstan’s most renowned literary figures. His home, located south of Bishkek, has been converted into a museum and is open to visitors by appointment.

Kyrgyzstan’s literary tradition was primarily oral until the 19th and 20th centuries when these works began to be written down. Before then, improvisational poets, or akyns, were known for reciting their compositions, often accompanied by music. The Soviet period saw a major development in Kyrgyz literature, with writers and poets creating original works and translating texts for the local population.

One significant barrier to literary development before the 20th century was the absence of a standardized alphabet. Until 1927, Kyrgyz was written using the Arabic script, which is still used by ethnic Kyrgyz in China. Poet and academic Kasym Tynystanov developed the first alphabet specifically for Kyrgyz, adapting the Latin script to better suit the language’s unique characteristics. In addition to his linguistic contributions, Tynystanov also collected Kyrgyz folklore and made advancements in other academic fields before his execution in 1938. Yasyr Shivaza, another prominent poet and linguist from the early Soviet period, played a key role in creating an alphabet for the Dungan language and translating well-known works into Dungan.

Aaly Tokombaev and Alykul Osmonov are two other influential figures in Kyrgyz literature from the Soviet era. Osmonov contributed to translating classics, such as Shakespeare and Pushkin, into Kyrgyz, while also composing poetry that helped bridge the gap between oral and written traditions. Tokombaev wrote poems that highlighted the injustices he believed Kyrgyzstan faced under Soviet rule. Osmonov’s face now appears on the 200 som bill, and Tokombaev is honored with a street named after him in Bishkek.