Malik Gabdullin Kazakh scientist-teacher, Doctor of Philology, Professor, Hero of the Soviet Union Date of Birth: 15.11.1915 Country: Kazakhstan

1. Biography of Malik Gabdullin
2. Education and Early Career
3. Hero of the Soviet Union
4. Later Career and Contributions

Biography of Malik Gabdullin

Malik Gabdullin was a Kazakh scientist, educator, and writer. He was born on November 2, 1915, in the village of Koysalgan, which is now part of the Zerendinsky District of the Akmolinskaya Oblast in Kazakhstan. Gabdullin was a direct descendant of Kana Kuttymbetuly, a prominent Kazakh biy and one of the leaders of the Middle Zhuz Kazakhs in the 18th century. He belonged to the Middle Zhuz and the Karauly clan of the Argy tribe.

Education and Early Career

At the age of 14, Gabdullin received his education in the family of the renowned Kazakh writer Sabit Mukanov. He graduated from the Abai Kazakh Pedagogical Institute in 1935. After completing his studies, Gabdullin served in the military from 1935 to 1937. He then worked as a literary worker for the newspaper "Sotsialistik Kazakstan" in 1937 and as the deputy editor of the newspaper "Kazakstan Pioneri" in 1938. He also worked as a researcher at the Institute of Language and Literature of the Kazakh Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences in 1938. From 1938 to 1946, he pursued his postgraduate studies at the Abai Kazakh Pedagogical Institute.

Hero of the Soviet Union

During the Great Patriotic War (World War II), Gabdullin served in the 8th Guards Division named after I.V. Panfilov, the 3rd Shock Army, and the Kalinin Front. In the battles near the city of Khomol, Novgorod Oblast, in January to March 1942, Gabdullin led a group of soldiers who destroyed two enemy tanks, eliminated a large number of fascists, and captured 12 enemies. He was wounded in the battle but did not leave the field. For his bravery, Gabdullin was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union on January 30, 1943, with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star Medal.

Later Career and Contributions

After the war, Gabdullin devoted himself to scientific and educational activities. He served as the director of the Institute of Literature and Language of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR from 1946 to 1951. From 1951 to 1963, he was the rector of the Abai Kazakh Pedagogical Institute. In 1963, he became the head of the folklore department at the M.O. Auezov Institute of Literature and Art of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR. His main research focus was the heroic epic, folk songs, aityses (oral folk poetry), fairy tales, proverbs, and sayings of the Kazakh people.

Gabdullin actively participated in the preparation and publication of a multi-volume history of Kazakh literature. His scientific work, "The Kazakh Heroic Epic," was awarded the Ch. Ch. Valikhanov Prize in 1972. He also authored several literary works, including "My Frontline Friends" (1947), "The Golden Star" (1948), "Frontline Sketches" (1949), "War Everyday Life" (1968), "About Friends, Comrades" (1969), and "Years of Thunder" (1971). Some of his works were published in Russian translation by I.P. Schegolikhin.

Malik Gabdullin passed away on January 2, 1973. He was elected as a deputy to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR for the 2nd to 4th convocations.