Chingiz Aitmatov Kyrgyz writer Date of Birth: 12.12.1928 Country: Kyrgyzstan

Biography of Chingiz Aitmatov

Chingiz Aitmatov, a Kyrgyz writer, was born on December 12, 1928 in the village of Sheker, Kyrgyzstan. Raised in a family influenced by Russian culture, language, and literature, Aitmatov developed a strong connection to Russian culture from an early age. In 1937, his father, who held a leadership position, was repressed, and Aitmatov had to face the realities of the people's lives. At the age of ten, he started his work experience, and by the age of fourteen, he became the secretary of the village council, making decisions on complex issues during the time of the Great Patriotic War when adult men were at the frontlines. After completing eight grades, he enrolled in the Dzhambul Zootechnical College, which he graduated from with honors, and was admitted without exams to an agricultural institute.

During his years as a student, Aitmatov wrote small notes, articles, and essays, publishing them in newspapers. After finishing his studies, he worked as a zootechnician while continuing to write. In 1956, he came to Moscow to study at the Higher Literary Courses, which provided him with invaluable knowledge. Upon returning to Kyrgyzstan, he became the editor of the magazine "Literary Kyrgyzstan" and worked as a correspondent for the newspaper "Pravda" in Kyrgyzstan for five years. Aitmatov gained wide recognition with his novella "Jamila" (1958), later included in the book "Tales of the Mountains and Steppes" (Lenin Prize, 1963). In 1961, he published the novella "My Poplar in a Red Kerchief". This was followed by the novellas "The First Teacher" (1962), "The Mother's Field" (1965), "Farewell, Gul'sara!" (1966), "The White Ship" (1970), and others. His first novel, "The Day Lasts More Than a Hundred Years" ("The Cursed Train Stop", 1980), was published. In 1988, his famous novel "The Scaffold" was released.

Aitmatov also had a successful diplomatic career, serving as the ambassador of the USSR to Luxembourg. Currently, he is the ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to Belgium, while still actively pursuing his literary activities, with his novel "The Cassandras' Tavern" published in 1994.