Baktybү Zhanilishova, a teacher of the Kyrgyz language and literature at the Bayymbet Secondary School in the village of Jangy-Talap, shared with a Turmush correspondent that she has been collecting materials about the life of Tepkedei Sarala kyzy for eight years, who witnessed the events of Urkun and was forced to leave her homeland.
The woman recounted that her father-in-law, Tursunbek Ibraimov, born in 1902, held responsible positions in the district executive committee. During the repressions, he was arrested along with Torokul Aitmatov but was later acquitted. He left behind numerous manuscripts of memories. The poet Kazibek kazalchy once handed him a notebook, but her father-in-law, hearing rumors of the approaching police, hid it through a third party. Later, the police indeed came, conducted a search, and threatened arrest, and the person who hid the notebook never returned it.
Tepkedei, being the same age as her father-in-law, asked him to record her story so that future generations would know about the events of Urkun. Her father-in-law, who was proficient in Arabic and Latin scripts, agreed. Baktybү says that her husband has a notebook with the records, but it has not yet been found. Tepkedei also had a photograph that a journalist borrowed for her article but never returned.
Next follows the story of Tepkedei, recorded from the words of Tursunbek Ibraimov
The Journey to China
Tepkedei Sarala kyzy was born in 1902 in the Jumgal district, in Bazar-Turuk, in the family of Sarala Janish uulu. In 1916, under pressure from the tsarist authorities, 42 families, including the Sarala family, were forced to leave their homeland and head towards Kashgar and Turpan. At that time, Tepkedei was only 14 years old. They traveled for two months in search of a safe place and reached Ak-Suu in the Turpan region. To feed her six brothers and sisters, Sarala worked for wealthy people, bringing food home.
Unlawful Deal
Tepkedei was distinguished by her strong build and hard work. One day, a manager named Orozakun took notice of her and demanded that her father marry her off to his brother Toktakun, offering in return a sack of corn and assistance. Despite Sarala's resistance, he understood that Orozakun could force him to do so. Ultimately, with no choice, he agreed to the deal for a sack of corn, a sack of rice, and 80 silver coins. A religious scholar, Akun, who had fled from Issyk-Kul, became Tepkedei's "godfather."
Life in the New Home
Tepkedei spent about a year in Toktakun's house, where her life was full of suffering. Toktakun's wife, Zheenbyubyu, caused her much torment, forcing her to do hard labor. Every day she collected dung and performed all household chores, remaining without food. A year later, in the autumn of 1917, rumors of the overthrow of the tsar and the rise of Lenin spread across Kashgar and Turpan. Refugees began to return home. Sarala also decided to return and asked Orozakun for help with the journey, but he refused.
Left without support, Sarala said goodbye to his daughter and, loading her belongings onto a donkey, headed towards the Kyrgyz lands with the people. In despair, Tepkedei cried out: "Father, mother, am I really parting with you forever?".
Oppression
Since her parents left, Tepkedei was left alone in Toktakun's house, where she was persecuted even more. She wore old clothes, ate only scraps of food, and lived in constant fear. In the field, she composed a song about her life, full of sorrow and longing:
I ride on a donkey, collecting dung,
The sun shines again in the skies,
When will the time for goodness come?
Will life in Kashgar pass,
Or will equality come for those like me?
My thoughts are of returning home,
But I cannot find the way there,
And there is no companion nearby,
To show me the path to salvation.
Escape Plan
One day, while Tepkedei was singing her sad songs, her godfather Akun noticed this and asked about her feelings. She opened up to him and shared her sufferings, expressing a desire to escape to see her relatives. Akun supported her and agreed to help. He promised to prepare everything necessary for her escape.
The next day, Akun provided Tepkedei with food, clothing, and a bronze stirrup for protection. He explained how to successfully escape and repeated the route. Tepkedei followed all his instructions. In the morning, when Akun's horse fell, she seized the moment and fled. For the entire first day and night, she walked without stopping, hiding from pursuers, and the next day saw a dead person but had no strength to bury him.
Encounter with a Wolf
On the fourth day of her escape, Tepkedei encountered a hungry wolf. She remembered Akun's advice and, gathering all her strength, fought with it. Once she was sure the wolf was dead, she continued her journey and on the fifth day reached the border between China and Kyrgyzstan.
Meeting Other Refugees
On the sixth day, Tepkedei met a group of people who were making a fire. They turned out to be Kyrgyz from the Chui Valley. The head of the family, Dooletaldy, upon hearing of her sufferings, called her a heroine and invited her to join them. After five days, they reached Kochkor, and then Tepkedei headed to Jumgal, where her parents were waiting for her.
Happy Reunion
When Tepkedei finally reunited with her parents, they could not hold back their tears of joy. But still full of resentment, she reproached them for leaving her to suffer. The next day, her father arranged a feast in honor of her return, where she shared her experiences of the escape and how she managed to survive.
A New Life for Tepkedei
Five months after her return, Tepkedei still could not forgive her parents. One day, she told them that she would now decide her own fate. At that time, a young man named Akunaaly came looking for a bride, and upon learning about Tepkedei, they got married. In their marriage, which began in 1918, 17 children were born, but 13 of them did not survive to adulthood. Akunaaly worked as an irrigator, and then together with Tepkedei, they engaged in livestock farming.
During the collective farm years, Tepkedei often received awards for her labor. Akunaaly passed away in 1971, and Tepkedei spent her last years in the village of Kaiyndy-Bulak, where she passed away in 1995.
