Critic, translator, publicist K. Ukayev was born in the village of Dzhan-Alysh in the Kemin district of the Kirghiz SSR in a peasant-poor family. In 1948, he graduated from high school in his native village, and in 1952— from the philological faculty of KSU, and from 1952 to 1954, he studied in graduate school.
He began his labor biography in 1954 as the head of the criticism department at the editorial office of the magazine "Ala-Too," and in 1983 he was appointed editor-in-chief of this magazine. From 1955, he worked as a literary consultant for the Writers' Union of Kyrgyzstan, from 1957 to 1959— as a senior editor at Kyrgyzuchpedgiz, from 1963 to 1983— as the head of the department, deputy editor of the newspaper "Sovettik Kyrgyzstan," and from 1986— as the editor-in-chief of the magazine "Chalkan."
He has been publishing since 1952. Many articles included in the books "Turmush jana yir" ("Life and Poetry," 1968), "Mezgil talaby" ("The Demand of the Time," 1973), "Yir neshuru" ("Song, like a downpour") are milestone works in the writer's career. As a journalist, he is the author of numerous essays, urgent problem articles, and satirical works. He translated Jonathan Swift's novel "Gulliver's Travels," "The Adventures of Mullah Nasreddin" by V. Solovyov, works by M. Auezov, A. Nurpeisov, and others into Kyrgyz.
Honored Worker of Culture of the Kirghiz SSR (1974).
Member of the CPSU since 1966, member of the USSR Writers' Union since 1959, member of the USSR Union of Journalists since 1963.
Awarded the medal "For Valorous Labor. In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of V. I. Lenin," and a Certificate of Honor from the Supreme Council of the Kirghiz SSR.
SEPARATE PUBLICATIONS
in Kyrgyz:
Turmush jana yir: Literary-critical articles. — Fr.: Mektep, 1968. — 135 p. Life and Song.
Zhol chakyraat...: Essays, reports. — Fr.: Mektep, 1970. — 38 p. The Roads Call...
Soz kudureti: Literary-critical articles. — Fr.: Kyrgyzstan, 1972. — 159 p. The Power of Words.
Mezgil talaby: Journalistic articles, essays, satirical stories. — Fr.: Mektep, 1973. — 121 p. The Demand of the Time.
Orus sezu: Journalistic and literary-critical articles. — Fr.: Kyrgyzstan, 1975. — 105 p. The Russian Word.
Yir neshuru: Literary-critical articles. — Fr.: Kyrgyzstan, 1982. — 232 p. Song, like a downpour.
TRANSLATIONS
Anecdotes of Mullah Nasreddin: Stories. — Fr.: Kyrgyzuchpedgiz, 1959. — 107 p.
Swift J. Gulliver's Travels: Novel. — Fr.: Mektep, 1965. — 376 p.
Nurpeisov A. Blood and Sweat: In 3 volumes. — Fr.: Kyrgyzstan, 1981. Vol. 1: Twilight. — 258 p. Vol. 2: Disaster. — 89 p. Vol. 3: Collapse. — 349 p.
Swift J. Gulliver's Travels: Novel. — Fr.: Mektep, 1985. — 348 p.
Abdykadyrov K. The Hero Azhymukan: Novella. — Fr.: Kyrgyzstan, 1986. — 296 p.
Auezov M. O. The Hard Times: Novella and novel. — Fr.: Kyrgyzstan, 1987. — 432 p.