Kyrgyzstan - Famous People

Toktogul

Toktogul Satylgan uulu (1864-1933) was a Kyrgyz poet - regarded as a democrat, a thinker, an outstanding komuzist (a performer of komuz music and improviser). He was born into a poor family in a village near to where the Toktogul reservoir now lies. His mother was a good singer and he began singing at the age of eight. Later, as a shepherd, he made up songs about the hardships of his life – a theme recurrent throughout all his life. He remained poor throughout his life – even losing his beloved to a richer man – and he always performed at gatherings of poor people – not for the rich, about whom he composed derogatory verses describing how they exploited the masses. (He seems to have had a talent for this – he turned “professional” at the age of eighteen after winning a traditional competition in which two contestants made up derogatory verses about each other.) The manaps (aristocracy) were unhappy about his and he was accused of participating in an uprising against the Russians – and sentenced to exile in Siberia . He escaped once – but was recaptured – and a second attempt was also unsuccessful. On a third attempt, in 1910, he was successful, aided by rum ours spread by his friends that he had drowned. His later songs have many references to his Russian friends – Semen and Hariton – who helped him escape from his penal servitude. At first, praised by the Soviets as a socialist – it is said that democratic ideas in Kyrgyz history began with him, and that Kyrgyz poetry dates from 1919 when he sang a eulogy of Lenin for the local Commissar – he later fell into disfavour with the authorities.  

His life and work are usually divided into four periods: the first “Before Siberia” period is characterized by traditional folk songs and lyrical love songs; the second by songs of advice and admonition; the third marks his return from Siberia and the before the Soviet Union – and includes the tragic song, “I have no son” – composed as a lamentation for his son, Topchybay, who died whilst Toktogul was in Siberia; the final period is known as the “Soviet” period when he composed songs such as “Long live Soviet Power” and “What a mother could give birth to such a son as Lenin”.

He has one of the main streets in Bishkek named after him; a statue of him stands outside the Theater of Opera and Ballet - the Komuz shown in his hand is exhibited in the museum opposite; the house in which he lived in Bishkek is now a museum dedicated to him; the Philharmonia is named in his honour and he is one of the bests of famous manaschis which stand in the courtyard.