Hero of the Kyrgyz Republic Kunduchelova Kuliipa

Kuliipa Kunduсhalova

Born June 15, 1920, in the village of Kara-Jigach, Alamudun District, Chui Region — a Soviet Kyrgyz stateswoman, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Culture of the Kyrgyz SSR.

In 1938, she graduated from the Frunze (Bishkek) Pedagogical Technical School. After graduation, she was assigned to work in the village of Kulanak (Tien Shan Region), where her labor and pedagogical activity began.

Initially, she worked as a primary school teacher, later became the deputy director of a seven-year school, and then the director.

Party Activity

From 1938 to 1940 — teacher, head of the educational department, director of a rural school.

Since January 1940, she entered the party system of the USSR. Initially, she served as the secretary of the Tien Shan Regional Committee of the Komsomol. Later, she was the deputy chairperson of the executive committee of the Tien Shan Regional Council of Workers' Deputies, as well as a lecturer for the Tien Shan Regional Committee.

From 1943 to 1945, she studied at the Higher Party School in Moscow. After graduation, she continued her work activities.

1945—1947 — deputy head of the propaganda and agitation department of the Frunze Regional Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Kyrgyzstan, deputy editor of the magazine "Communist," head of the women's affairs department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Kyrgyzstan,

1947—1948 — secretary of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Kyrgyz SSR,

1948—1949 — secretary of the Jalal-Abad Regional Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Kyrgyzstan for propaganda and agitation,

1949—1952 — deputy chairperson of the Supreme Soviet of the Kyrgyz SSR,

1952—1953 — head of the women's affairs department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) — Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan

1953—1958 — deputy chairperson of the Council of Ministers of the Kyrgyz SSR,

1953—1963 — Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz SSR.

In 1958, K.K. Kunduсhalova became the Minister of Culture of Kyrgyzstan and held this position for 22 years. As a minister, Kuliipa Kunduсhalovna personally initiated many progressive directions in the development of national culture and art, giving a "ticket to life" to many artists who became outstanding Masters and still consider her their "godmother." During K.K. Kunduсhalova's leadership, the arts of Kyrgyzstan gained truly international resonance.

Kuliipa Kunduсhalova's name is associated with the flourishing of professional art and the education of a whole generation of qualified cultural personnel. Under her leadership, not only did Kyrgyz culture make the world take notice, but "all flags" also came to visit us. And the people of Kyrgyzstan had much to present to the planet: the phenomenon of prose by Chyngyz Aitmatov, the fantastic rise of the opera-ballet theater, which featured "Morning Star – Cholpon," and, of course, the "Kyrgyz miracle" (as the great Russian director S. Yutkevich called the successes of national cinema).

She was elected as a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR for the 4th and 5th convocations, was elected seven times as a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the Kyrgyz SSR, and was a delegate to women's congresses in Kyrgyzstan.

Awards and Titles

Hero of the Kyrgyz Republic
Order of "Manas" I and III degrees
Order of Lenin
Order of the Red Banner of Labor (2 times)
Order of the Badge of Honor
Honored Worker of Culture of Kyrgyzstan
Laureate of the International Kurmanjan Datka Prize
Honorary Citizen of Bishkek

She passed away on September 7, 2013, in Bishkek. A civil memorial service was held on September 9, 2013, at the Kyrgyz Drama Theater named after T. Abdykadyrov. On the same day, she was buried at the Ala-Archa Cemetery.

Hero of the Kyrgyz Republic