Evgeny Dmitrievich Polivanov
At the origins of the theory and history of poetic translation of "Manas" into Russian stood the outstanding philologist and orientalist Evgeny Dmitrievich Polivanov (1891–1938). In the last years of his life (1934–1937), he worked with us in Kyrgyzstan as a research associate at the Scientific Research Institute of the Kyrgyz Language and Writing, actively engaging in the study and translation of the epic "Manas." A significant coincidence: the lectures of Professor E. D. Polivanov were attended and noted by the father of Mara Baidzhieva, who was then a student in the philology department of the Kyrgyz Pedagogical Institute.
The theses of E. D. Polivanov's report "On the Principles of Russian Translation of the Epic 'Manas'" are of particular scientific value, presented in the collection authored by him "Kyrgyz Heroic Epic 'Manas'. Research and Materials," compiled by Professor M. A. Rudov and published in 1999 in Bishkek.
M. Baidzhiev initially adopted the methodological credo of E. D. Polivanov, which states that:
“...The translator's task is not to provide an exact representation of what is in the Kyrgyz text, but to create a Russian poetic work that is adequate to the Kyrgyz original in its impact on the reader. In this regard, the translator considers it permissible to make the same kinds of alterations and additions to the text that any of the Kyrgyz storytellers of 'Manas' had the right to make concerning the text of their teacher.”
As we can see, in this case, it is not about translation, but rather about the adaptation of the Kyrgyz original into Russian, which is what Mara Baidzhiev accomplished in "The Tale of Manas."
The name of E. D. Polivanov is associated with the tragic history of the first poetic text of "Manas" in Russian — the book titled "Manas. Kyrgyz Epic. The Great Campaign."
The publication of "The Great Campaign" in Russian was conceived at the initiative of K. Tynystanov, E. D. Polivanov, T. Zholdoshev, and the leadership of the republic represented by Bayaly Isakiev and Turekul Aitmatov in 1935.
Moscow translators S. Lipkin, M. Tarlovsky, and L. Penkovsky began work on the Russian translation of "Manas" based on the compiled version of S. Orozbakov and S. Karalaev. The work was quite challenging. K. Tynystanov had to invest a lot of effort, frequently traveling to Moscow to consult with the translators and clarify the original texts.
…“Up to this moment, we still have not received from the Moscow translators any quality translations that at least correspond to the general meaning and spirit of the Kyrgyz text — such is the general opinion of the institute's staff,” wrote E. D. Polivanov to the leadership of the republic in 1936.
In 1937, the party leadership of the republic prohibited the publication of "The Great Campaign" in Russian, “until the texts are finally edited and approved by the committee.”
But soon K. Tynystanov, E. D. Polivanov, T. Zholdoshev, B. Isakiev, T. Aitmatov, many leaders of the republic, and members of the Committee for the Publication of "Manas" were arrested and executed as “enemies of the people.”
The Target Setting of M. Baidzhiev for the Recreation in Poetic Form of the Russian-Language Variant of the Kyrgyz Folk Epic