“Fathers and Sons”
Remembering what has been said, let us try to determine the scale of the personality of the famous Kyrgyz politician of the 1920s and 1930s, Abdykerim Sydykov, and his associates, as their fates and the life of society are interconnected far from formally.
The forty-nine years of Abdykerim Sydykov's life, whose personal contribution to the history of the Kyrgyz people was distorted and silenced by the Soviet system and its ideologized history for many decades, were simultaneously the most interesting years of the modern history of Kyrgyzstan.
The biographical genre implies the provision of some information about the genealogy, childhood, and adolescence of the presented hero.
Abdykerim Sydykov was born in 1889 in the Bash-Kara-su area of the Pishpek County's Suburban District. His father, Sydyk Uzbekov, owned a large estate in Bishkek, and therefore the boy considered the future capital of Kyrgyzstan to be his hometown. There is reason to believe that this circumstance played a decisive role in the choice of Bishkek as the Kyrgyz capital, as in the 1920s, Jalal-Abad, Osh, Belovodskoye, and even Kochkorka also claimed this role.
Abdykerim came from a large and powerful Kyrgyz tribe of Solto, of the Talqan lineage.
Genealogically, he was closely related to the famous Kyrgyz ruler and military leader, the batyr Baytik Kanaev (1820—1886), who was the supreme manap of the Solto tribe and one of the main leaders of the uprising of the Chui Kyrgyz against the dominance of the Kokand Khanate. In 1862, at his initiative and with his assistance, Russian troops captured and destroyed the Kokand fortress of Pishpek. As a military leader and politician, Baytik-batyr played a significant role in bringing the Kyrgyz closer to Russia. In 1867, he was part of a Kyrgyz delegation to St. Petersburg and Moscow. In recognition of his special merits before the imperial house, Baytik-batyr was awarded the rank of captain in the Russian army. He was also awarded a large gold medal on the Annen ribbon, and the Order of St. Stanislaus of the 3rd class, which entitled him to the title of Russian nobleman.
The political role of batyrs began to decline steadily after Kyrgyzstan's annexation to Russia. In the new conditions, after the introduction of administrative divisions into districts and volosts, the cessation of clan feuds, etc., representatives of the colonial administration in the form of volost managers—bulushes—began to take the leading roles in Kyrgyz tribes and clans. This new generation of Kyrgyz rulers included Abdykerim's paternal grandfather—Uzbek Boshkoev (1826—1912), a nephew of Baytik. He managed the Talqan volost of Pishpek County for a long time. At the same time, he was known as a large entrepreneur and merchant.
His clerks traded in the cities of Fergana and Xinjiang, transporting goods to Russian cities. He was also engaged in industrial livestock breeding, agriculture, and beekeeping.
Uzbek Boshkoev was an active continuer of Baytik's work. In the political circles of Kyrgyzstan, he firmly advocated the position of rapprochement with Russia and the annexation of the Chui Kyrgyz to it. In 1872, “for excellent diligent and useful service,” he was awarded a gold medal on the Annen ribbon. In 1901, “in recognition of special merits”—a large silver medal on the Stanislav ribbon. On the eve of his 80th birthday, he was awarded a Red Cross medal “in memory of participation in the activities of the society during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904—1905.” In this society, U. Boshkoev was widely recognized for his generous charity, patronage, and assistance in conducting spiritual and civic events. Great Kyrgyz akyns such as Zhenizhok,
Arstanbek, Toktogul, and others were frequent guests in his home. Nothing in the world is perfect. Even ideal people make mistakes and do not always act in the best way. However, in oral traditions, U. Boshkoev appears as a wise, generous, and selfless ruler, “who did not like to exploit the labor of others and laid all household and economic concerns on family members and children.” He had three wives, seven sons, and three daughters.
He was called generous because he could forgive enemies, felt sorry for the weak, and valued loyalty and friendship. Among his Russian friends were the head of Pishpek, Terentyev, and veterinarian Vasily Frunze. Baytik and then Uzbek were buried in the family cemetery near Bishkek, commonly referred to as “the khan's graves.”
The people posthumously bestowed them with titles that they did not officially possess during their lifetime but were undoubtedly deserving of.
An original architectural mausoleum—a dome made of bricks fired with goat's milk—was erected for Baytik-batyr.
Next to him is the dome of Uzbek, of unusual construction made of metal reinforcement. Inside it is a stone boulder with an epitaph in Arabic script. The gravestone inscription provides the entire genealogy of Uzbek and the date of his death:
“In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate!..
On May 15, 1912, on Tuesday, Uzbek, son of Boshkoy, at the age of 86, departed from this world. The will of Allah. May Allah bless,
Amen!
Ancestors: Uzbek, son of Boshkoy, son of Kapay, Kanay—son of Tulsberdi, Tuleberdi—son of Jamansart. Jamansart—son of Koshoy, Koshoy—son of Talqan, Talqan—son of Chaa, Chaa—son of Solto.
He was just and merciful to the common man...”
Abdykerim's father, Sydyk Uzbekov, also followed in his parent's footsteps. He managed the Talqan volost for over ten years. In 1912—1915, he was elected as a biem (judge) of the Suburban District of Pishpek County.
He was engaged in entrepreneurship, and after the revolution, in private livestock breeding and agriculture. In 1930, he was sentenced to hard labor “for not fully completing the firm assignment” regarding tax payments. After serving his sentence, he lived with his son Abdykerim in Bishkek.
Direct ancestors and descendants are rarely equally gifted. However, Abdykerim Sydykov and his famous ancestors were similar in many ways, which was determined by the characteristics of the era in which they lived and acted, although Abdykerim's abilities manifested somewhat differently and his aspirations were different. Abdykerim's ancestors were hereditary leaders of the tribe and military leaders, closely connected with the patriarchal way of life.
All that they aspired to did not go beyond the traditional ideas and concepts that in no way exceeded the course of time. Their logic and ethics corresponded to the demands and possibilities of their time and consciousness. Ultimately, Abdykerim's ancestors never sought to outpace their time, did not think of the impossible, and did not set themselves insoluble tasks. What they achieved was bound to happen. This was the main difference between Abdykerim and his ancestors, as he was a person not closely tied to the past, traditions, possibilities, and tasks of his time. His worldview and logical thought were no longer burdened by the notions that existed before him and from which he himself emerged; they were subject to the dormant internal forces within him.
The Role of Personality in History