Tales of Manas

Book excerpt: Akylay Baimatova translated Epos Manas into English using Mar Baijiev's Russian translation as a guide. There are very few translations of this work available in English and the versions that are available do not do a work of this magnitude justice.Akylay is a native Kyrgyz who grew up studying verses of Epos Manas and celebrating its epic stories. This project started from Akylay's desire to teach her own American children (who only speak English) about their Kyrgyz family history and the rich culture of a country that is rarely studied.Akylay Baimatova lives in Florida (16 years and counting) and works as a high school science teacher. She strongly believes that bilingual translators present the best, most honest work. When she went to Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, she used to love Mar Baijievs' books, and when his version of Tales of Manas was published in 2011, she was in awe with this book, which expresses the ideas and cultural nuances in full color. Learn more about this translation and Akylay's other work at www.talesofmanas.comFrom the historical perspective, this great epos of the world, this huge legacy of the historical past of the Kyrgyz people has seen both fortunate and unfortunate times. Unfortunate because in a large cultural and scientific world no one heard of it for a long time, because in times of great manaschis like Choyuke, Tynybek and Balyk there were no possibilities to record their performances. The fortunate past was in the second half of the 19th century, when two outstanding turkologist-ethnographers and travelers like V.Radlov and Ch.Valikhanov literally "stumbled" upon this epos, immediately realizing the unique cultural heritage gem they have found.Ch.Valikhanov compared the Kyrgyz epos with the Greek "Iliad" in its steppe version, saying that it is an encyclopedic collection of myths, legends, ancient history and diplomacy of the Kyrgyz. Of course, "Manas" is not an "Iliad", and "Iliad" is not "Manas", for each epic story has its own unique bright artistic features. Kyrgyz people are obliged to these outstanding scientists, who introduced the epos "Manas" into the world of research and its first publication.This epos was fortunate finally that it has made its way into the global community, and in 1994 the General Assembly of the United Nations made a decision on the worldwide celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the epos Manas, which was implemented in 1995.But on its path the Kyrgyz epos met a lot of difficulties, many hurdles. Moreover, defending this epos, preparing translations into Russian language, people suffered, and scientists and scholars were shot during Soviet times.But the most interesting is that the Kyrgyz people used epos "Manas", when they experienced difficult, fateful times. It was actively discussed during October Revolution, when it was necessary to raise the national culture, in the 1920-1930s. During the WWII "Manas" was useful more than ever, giving support to soldiers in the front, lifting the spirit of people at home.During post-Stalin period scientists started researching, translating the epos, during Khrushchev's Thawing period the theme of historical roots and imperishable cultural values of the Kyrgyz became necessary upon prevalence of ideological mankurtism.It is not surprising; therefore, that it is the "Manas" with its powerful unifying pathos-and the idea of ​​national revival became the main cultural-ideological platform for a very young independent Kyrgyz state. It is clear that every Kyrgyz will always honor this heroic-tragic epos, be proud of being a part of it, continue to research and value its great ideas and learn lessons that it teaches.