Meerim, born on June 18, 1983, in the village of Terek-Suu in the At-Bashinsky district of the Naryn region, recalls how her life intertwined with that of her husband, Alymbai Kurmanaliev, who was born on December 17, 1979, in the same village. “We were neighbors and friends, but we couldn’t even dream of getting married. My husband had three older brothers, and he couldn’t marry until they started their own families. Time flew by, and I was finishing my studies. During this time, a guy from a neighboring village began to show interest in me and even talked about the possibility of ‘ala kachuu’ (bride kidnapping). Upon learning this, Alymbai came home and told his mother: ‘Tomorrow I am getting married,’ — and from that moment, everything started to unfold,” she recounted.
The next day, Alymbai took Meerim from her home, and everything happened quickly: they performed the ‘nike’ ceremony, and soon there was a small celebration in the village with the blessing of their families. “25 years have passed since then. We have seven children: one daughter and six sons. At the moment, I am preparing documents to receive the title of ‘Baatyr Ene’ [Heroine Mother],” Meerim added.
The couple recently won the “Exemplary Family” contest organized by the local administration. “We didn’t participate in the contest for the prize, but because we have always strived to be an example for others. Unfortunately, there is a trend now where young couples marry quickly and then divorce. This saddens me a lot. My main advice to young families is to learn to understand each other and overcome difficulties together. Everyone faces problems, and one shouldn’t expect that life will always be easy. But it’s better to face any trials together, not leaving each other in tough times,” she emphasized.
Meerim dreams of a good education for her children and hopes they become literate and decent people. In her free time, she enjoys reading books and listening to music, and sometimes even sings. “When I spend time with my children, I don’t notice how time flies. If they are happy and smiling, and there’s a supportive husband by my side — isn’t that true happiness?” Meerim concluded her story.
