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Asel Sheinfeld BegalievaKyrgyz historian, public figure, publicist
Date of Birth: 18.10.1977
Country:  Kyrgyzstan |
Content:
- Early Life and Family Background
- Career in History and Education
- Social and Political Activism
- Personal Life
- Legacy
Early Life and Family Background
Begalieva Gulzat was born on December 20, 1945, in the village of Balbai (formerly known as Sary-Bulak), Issyk-Kul Region, to an educated family. Her father, Begaliev Suvakun Imanakunovich, was a historian, educator, and political scientist. Her mother, Kudueva Gulzara Askaronovna, was the director of the "Sputnik" travel agency in Frunze, Soviet Kyrgyzstan. She later worked in educational institutions in Bishkek and was a recipient of the "Excellence in Education" award.
Career in History and Education
Begalieva pursued higher education at the Kyrgyz State National University named after Jusup Balasagyn, graduating with honors in 1999 with a degree in history and regional studies. She continued her studies at the university, completing her postgraduate education in 2004 with a dissertation on the activities of the Oblast Executive Committee of the Councils of Kara-Kyrgyz Autonomous Oblast (KKAO) from 1924 to 1927.
Begalieva made significant contributions to the field of history. She was the first historian to delve into the study of cultural and religious tourism in Kyrgyzstan, earning her a doctorate in 2014 with a dissertation titled, "Cultural Tourism in the Kyrgyz Republic: History and Development Prospects."
Social and Political Activism
Begalieva was actively involved in social and political movements. She was a democrat of the first wave and played a key role in the Democratic Movement in Kyrgyzstan (DDK). She served as a member of the Bishkek City Voters' Club and an activist in the "Memorial-Aktykat" society. She ran for a seat in the Zhogorku Kenesh (Kyrgyz Parliament) as a candidate from the Tyoep District of Issyk-Kul Region.
Personal Life
Begalieva was married to Gregory Sheinfeld, a professor of sociology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) who is now retired. They had two children, Aya and Ariana.
Legacy
Begalieva was a prolific writer who authored numerous academic articles and publications. Her work shed light on previously unexplored areas of Kyrgyz history, including the 1916 Central Asian Uprising, the Basmachi Movement, and political repressions in the USSR.
Begalieva passed away on September 14, 2011, leaving behind a legacy as a respected historian, social activist, and pioneer in the field of cultural tourism in Kyrgyzstan.
