Cultural Life of Kyzyl - the Capital of the Tuvan Autonomous Oblast (1944-1961)

Abstract

The article deals with the history of cultural and educational institutions of Kyzyl in the period of radical transformations experienced by the Tuvan people and associated with Tuva’s incorporation into the USSR. The study is relevant due to the fact the culture of Kyzyl during the Tuvan Autonomous Oblast period (1944-1961) has not been subject to any special historical research. It is noteworthy that in recent years there is growing public interest towards the regional history, life of ordinary citizens and their everyday activities. Those were local periodicals which had most fully and consistently reflected all aspects of Kyzyl’s life that served as the main sources for the paper. The article introduces into scientific discourse a number of materials from the State Archive of the Tuva Republic, including protocols of meetings of the City Executive Committee. The 19441961 cultural life of Kyzyl was developing at an accelerated pace. The main objectives of the authorities were to eradicate vestiges of the past and introduce new types of leisure activities aimed to acquaint the Tuvinians with the ideals of the Soviet way of life. The most important innovations and qualitative changes within the Tuvan traditional society were introduced in the sphere of public education resulting in a significant rise in educational level. Due to the rapid growth in the number of literate people that in the early years of the Soviet rule had been provided only with elementary education, there was increase in the number of secondary schools. In the 1950s, there were established the first colleges - medical, pedagogical, agricultural ones. In 1952, the Teachers’ Institute was opened in Kyzyl; this marked the beginning of higher education in the region. An important role in the organization of the leisure-time system was played by the museum. One could learn there not only about the natural resources of the region but also about the socio-economic and political history of Tuva. As townspeople grew to like visiting the library, a culture of reading was created. Socio-political and classical literature was especially popular. The library also organized exhibitions, lectures and conferences celebrating important historical events. Tuvan national literature and painting stem from the same the period. The fashion of Tuvan young writers and artists’ works was set and predetermined by the state ideology.