Chinghiz Aitmatov (1928–2008)

An den Büchern von Tschingis Aitmatow mag ich immer gern, wenn sie Welten entstehen lassen, die lange vorbei sind. Hier entsteht ein Ail im Jahr 1924, der begeisterte Lehrer Düischen beginnt voll Vertrauen in die Sowjetrepublik, die Kinder und die Bildung mit dem Unterricht, gegen alle Widerstände. Und bei dem Mädchen Altynai schafft er es, holt sie sogar aus der Zwangsehe und ebnet ihr den Weg. „Ich hatte einen Lehrer“. Es muss uns Lehrerinnen und Lehrern immer bewusst sein, dass wir vielleicht oft nichts bewirken, aber an einigen Stellen dafür umso mehr.… (més)

This is a short story, or communist propaganda tract, set in
Kurkureu village 1924 when Kyrgyzstan was changing from Russia to the USSR. It features Duishen, an idealist Komsomol member (All-Union Leninist Young Communist League) who is sent to the village to educate the children, despite having seemingly fairly minimal education himself. I admired his passion and commitment to ensuring the children received some education despite strong opposition from the villagers who saw no value in it, not seeing that Kirghiz had any need for book learning. His favourite student Altynai feels her life has changed direction due to the opportunity and Duishen has a lasting impact on her life.… (més)

Set in Kyrgyzstan during WWII, this story is told by a young artist, Seit, as he looks back on his village childhood, and recalls the love which develops between his young sister-in-law Jamilia, and a disabled young man Daniyar, while most of the village menfolk are away fighting. Seen through the innocent eyes of a young boy trying to live up to being 'the man of the family', this story has a charming, freshness which paints a picture of a community going through hard times, while conveying its rural setting and the ways of the village in a moving and sympathetic way.… (més)