In Osh lives 68-year-old Colonel Үсөнов, who noted in an interview with Turmush that many people, upon hearing his name, start to think that he served in the army and achieved the rank of colonel.
The Colonel's father was engaged in beekeeping and honey trading. “During the war, he was a private and served in the Panfilov Division. It was a true honor to serve under the command of General Panfilov. At the front, he admired commanders who held the rank of colonel, which inspired him to give his children names related to the army. My mother gave birth to nine children, but only four survived. A brother who survived the war was named Akun, and later our younger brother was named Iskender. In the end, we had six brothers and one sister. The eldest son was named Captain, then Lieutenant, Colonel, General Panfilov, and Major. One of the brothers was very tall and large, and he was named Semetey. We called our younger sister, Pazilat, Sergeant so that she wouldn’t just be a private,” the Colonel Üсөнов recounted.
One of the Colonel's brothers, General Panfilov, passed away at the age of four. “My mother said that it is not worth giving a name to someone who has already passed away. I served in the Soviet army in Kordai, Almaty, Vienna, and the Caucasus. Every time the captain called my name during roll call, he doubted it was really me and asked again. Some recruits even addressed me as 'Comrade Colonel.' On days when we went to drink beer and met seniors, when asked about my name, I usually replied Kоңurbaı [Chinese Khan],” he recalls.
The Colonel also shared how his daughter was hospitalized with jaundice at the age of two. “At that time, I was the head of two large stores in the Oblkom. When I arrived at the hospital in an official car, the nurses would line up to hold my daughter. Perhaps this was because her last name was Polkovnikova, and they respected my wife. In Soviet times, the title 'colonel' held great significance,” he added.
According to Kyrgyz traditions, children born on the road are often named Zholchu. One of the Colonel's sons was born on the way, and he was named Zholchu. At the registry office, they suggested writing the name in Russian as "On the Way," but to make it easier to pronounce, the Colonel decided to use "Putin." However, due to constant issues with documents, after finishing school, his name was changed to Askat. In school, he remained Putin Polkovnikov, but at home, he was still called Putin,” the Colonel recounts.
The Colonel and his wife raised eight children — six daughters and two sons. “Now I am retired. I have received job offers, but I wouldn’t want to work under the youth. We have strict discipline in our house. I always tell the children that their happy future largely depends on us, the parents,” he noted.
The Colonel's father, Mamы chon ata, passed away in 1950. “All participants of the Great Patriotic War are true heroes. Even just participating in a war that lasted five years is already a manifestation of heroism in itself. Every year, I urge my fellow villagers to participate in the 'Immortal Regiment' march. Even the cook who worked at the front contributed to our victory. Our names are a gift from our ancestors who won the war,” emphasizes Үсөнов.
The Colonel's family was first mentioned in Turmush back in April 2015. At that time, he shared that the tradition of giving unusual names to boys continues in his family. “When my wife was expecting our second child, we were in the village on a jailoo, where the fresh air is beneficial for the future mother. Suddenly, she went into labor, and before reaching the medical station, she gave birth to a son. As is customary in Kyrgyz families, I named him Zholchu. At the registry office, they suggested a name in Russian — 'On the Way,' and thus the name 'Putin' [Polkovnik уулу Путин] came about. The son studied at a local school and then entered the Suvorov Military School in Russia. I had to urgently change his passport and name, as at that moment Vladimir V. Putin became the president of Russia. Friends and relatives were worried about possible problems,” he shared.
According to his daughter Aiperi, the unusual surname always attracts attention. She graduated from college with a degree in clothing design. “During roll call, all the students stop and double-check if my last name is really Polkovnik. I am proud that my father is a Colonel, and I have such a last name. We are a large family, and all our uncles and aunts with unusual names have interesting fates,” she said.
