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In Memory of B.Z.Zhumagaliyev

On June, 1, the heart of Bisen Zhumagaliyevich Zhumagaliyev, a journalist, writer, public figure and advisor to the head of the West-Kazakhstan Region of the Kazakhstan Republic, stopped beating. For long years he had been in a cordial relationship with M.A.Sholokhov and his family.

B.Z.Zhumagaliyev made a great contribution in spreading the works of Sholokhov, establishing the memorial museum complex of M.A.Sholokhov in Daryinskoye Village of the West-Kazakhstan Region and was a museum consultant.

Bisen Zhumagaliyev with his inherent energy organized trips to Stanitsa Vyoshenskaya, meetings with the people of the Museum-Reserve, many times took part in recitals devoted to the life and work of Sholokhov. On the days of celebration the 110^th anniversary of the great writer the audience bid a standing welcome to the honoured guest, an envoy of the Kazakh people.

B.Z.Zhumagaliyev was born on December, 22, 1922, in Saikuduk the Taipak District of the West-Kazakhstan Region; he worked as teacher. In the years of the Great Patriotic War he fought on the Leningrad front, was a sharpshooter, a deputy political instructor of the company of the 13^th infantry division located near Pulkovo Heights, then a correspondent for the front newspaper “Otandy Korgauda” (Defending the Motherland) issued in the Kazakh language.

After the war B.Z.Zhumagaliyev was a Party functionary, he headed the regional newspaper “Yekpindy Kurylys” in Uralsk. He was a Candidate of Economical Sciences, retired colonel. He was awarded orders of the Patriotic War II Degree, of “Krasnaya Zvezda” (Red Star), of The October Revolution, three orders of the Labour Red Banner, two orders of “The Badge of Honour”, 15 medals and other awards.

Bisen Zhumagaliyev got acquainted with M.A.Sholokhov when he was Secretary of the Ural Regional Communist Party Committee. He took part in the meetings of the writer with the people of Kazakhstan, in the talks about nature, preservation and enhancement of wildlife and about a necessity of creation reserved areas. He helped to purchase Edilbayev sheep and a party of Kazakh white-headed cows for breeding them in the Don region.

It was Bisen Zhumagaliyevich, who was the first to break the news about awarding Sholokhov the Nobel Prize in literature in 1965. He enthusiastically welcomed the resolution of the Nobel Committee, took part in the celebrations in Moscow, in the USSR Union of Writers in honour of the great event and said: “The whole globe is a witness that the novel “And Quiet Flows the Don” has become the best writing of the current century.”

The great and glorious life, optimism and responsiveness of Bisen Zhumagaliyev are an example for the young people. The children and youth environmental movement “Sholokhov Source” established “The Cup of Bisen Zhumagaliyev”, which is awarded for a big contribution in consolidation of friendship between peoples.

B.Z.Zhumagaliyev made a great contribution to cooperation of Russia and Kazakhstan, the Don and Ural countries in the name of the brotherhood of nations, prosperity of culture and in the name of a bright future.

The name of Bisen Zhumagaliyev will be remembered forever by the grateful people of Vyoshenskaya, all residents of the Don country, all those who knew this talented and wise man.

The people of the National M.A.Sholokhov Museum-Reserve