"A Maiden's Honor"

[Alta]

The following is another book recommended by me, by a Kalmyk author, Sandji B. Balykov; this one is called “A Maiden’s Honor”

You can also obtain this from the Mongolia Society. Details are below

A Maiden's Honour
by Sandji B. Balykov
Paperback | Mongolia Society | 1990-08 |
ISBN-10: 0910980551 | ISBN-13: 9780910980555

It is a story about the Kalmyks during the early 1900’s and ends about 1935.

It is a must read for those who want to find out how and why some of us ended up in the USA, it really starts during this time period.

It is a novel depicting how a series of events beginning with World War I and ending with the revolution in Russia and then the onset of the Russian Civil War and its aftermath, swept through the Kalmyks.

How each Kalmyk’s decisions played a part in these historical events is what the story is about and the essence of this is depicted through the various Kalmyks in his novel.

There is a part of how the Leader of the Don Kalmyk’s - Baksha Monke Bormanshinov, handled a typical Kalmyk wedding and various historical military leaders, one example is General Tepkin (a picture of him is in the Philadelphia Khurul – or hall).

Again, customs, taboos, civil war, marriage, love, Buddhist teachings, Baksha’s, loyalty, betrayal, bravery, hardships and atrocities are all presented in an uncanny way.

Also it shows how some Kalmyks tried to unite others in their cause.

The narrow escape out of Russia, the brothers against brothers, the ultimate kinship that all Kalmyks have, regardless of ideologies, is the ultimate meaning of this book.

It is our “Gone with the Wind” novel. It was a time and period in our past.

I now know what happened to the Bokshurganka (various spellings) or Denisovskaya aimag and the Kalmyks there and the other aimags and especially the Buzava.

My father's family is here because of their escape from Russia, into Yugoslavia, in 1920.

Again, I am offering also try to have copies made and have it available at the Khuruls, if you want (please kindly respond here and I will do this).

Anyone can pick up and read on their own. No worries. No questions. No pressure. No pushing.

It is your story.

Please do what you may with this.

When I was about 10 years old, my brother and I walked through a neighborhood in Patterson, NJ and someone yelled out from their window - Hey Bokshurgankun’s!!!!!

I now know now what she truly meant, after all these years, after reading this book.

I am proud to be a son of the “Bokshurganka Aimag” and I will always be one in my heart.

Thank you to Sandji B. Balykov for keeping this story alive and thank you to his wife and relatives who kept his novel alive and had it translated from Russian for all Kalmyks to read.

Om Mani Pad Ma Hum

Most Humbly

Alta.