Aaly Tokombaev (1904-1988)
Aaly Tokombaev, whose name you may have seen on streets, museums, or theaters, was a poet, composer, and novelist who lived in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. He also worked as a translator, bringing classic Russian texts to a Kyrgyz-speaking audience.
Tokombaev, pseudonymously known as Balka, is most known for his poetry, which often took on political themes. During the Eastern Front of WWII (often referred to as “The Great Patriotic War”), he wrote about the tragedy of war and wrote poems expressing his personal political beliefs, a very risky thing to do at a time when censorship could go as far as execution.
Tokombaev also wrote specifically about Kyrgyzstan in most of his novels. In “Before The Dawn, Part 1: Bloody Years” and “Before The Dawn, Part 2” he wrote about what he felt to be the exploitation and unfair treatment of Kyrgyz people by the Soviet government.
Tokombaev wrote about sorrow and mistreatment, but he also wrote about simple beauties, like in his poem “Melodies of a Komuz” in which he rejoices to hear the sound of the traditional instrument.
Tokombaev’s poetry reflects the highs and lows of 20th century Kyrgyz society, and is a masterclass in capturing emotion.
