Fekla Bezubova Erzya folk storyteller. Date of Birth: 27.09.1880

1. Early Life and Family
2. Marriage and Life in Siberia
3. Discovery of Poetic Talent
4. Literary Success
5. Later Life and Legacy
6. Recognition and Honors

Early Life and Family

Fedosya Ivanovna Bezubova was born on September 27, 1880, in the village of Od Mursa, now known as Novyye Turdaki in the Kochkurovsky district of Mordovia. Belonging to the Erzya ethnic group, she was raised in a large peasant family. Despite having no formal education, her love of songs was instilled by her grandmother, Evdokia Ivanovna Zverkova.

Marriage and Life in Siberia

In 1901, Bezubova married Ilya Konstantinovich Bezubov from the neighboring village of Semelei. They welcomed a son named Grigory in 1902, who passed away six weeks later. In 1905 and 1914, they had two more sons, Georgy and Vasily, respectively. During the First World War, Ilya was deployed to the front. After his demobilization in 1918, the family ventured to Siberia in search of a better life. However, farm labor did not provide sufficient sustenance, and they eventually returned to Semelei.

Discovery of Poetic Talent

In 1923, the Bezubovs had a daughter named Lyubov. In 1930, Fedosya began working at the N. K. Krupskaya collective farm. The poetic talent of Bezubova was recognized and appreciated by participants of a folklore expedition from the Research Institute of Mordvin Culture in 1936. They recorded a vast collection of her folklore creations, including her original narrations.

Literary Success

Subsequently, Bezubova's works began to be published in newspapers and magazines. In 1939, she relocated to Saransk and published her first collection of works entitled "Narodnoy Morot" ("Folk Songs"). During the Great Patriotic War, she composed patriotic narrations, chastushkas (ditties), and songs. She also performed for soldiers on the front lines as part of an artistic brigade.

Later Life and Legacy

In total, 10 collections of her works were published in Russian and Mordovian languages, with "Skazt dy Morot" ("Narrations and Songs") being her last lifetime collection, published in 1958. In 1947, Bezubova was elected as a deputy to the Supreme Soviet of the Mordovian ASSR. She passed away in Saransk on May 12, 1966.

Recognition and Honors

Fedosya Bezubova was a member of the Union of Writers of the USSR from 1938. In 1940, she received the title of People's Singer of the Mordovian ASSR in honor of her 60th birthday. She was also awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor (1939), the Order of the Badge of Honor (1950), and the Medal "For Valiant Labor in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945" (1947).