Reflection of the nature of interethnic relations in the literature of Buryatia

Serebryakova Zoya Aleksandrovna Doctor of Philology Professor, Department of Literature and Linguistics, East-Siberian State Institute of Culture 670031, Russia, Republic of Buryatia, Ulan-Ude, Tereshkova str., 1 serebryakovaza@mail.ru

Chimitova Irina Zorigtoevna PhD in Sociology Senior Lecturer, Buryat State Academy of Agriculture named after V. Philippov 670024, Russia, Republic of Buryatia, Ulan-Ude, Pushkin str., 8 rindaol@mail.ru

The features of large epic forms include the breadth of reality, the thoroughness of the portrayal of characters in different circumstances, the completeness and diversity of the display of their relationships, including the nature of relations between representatives of different peoples. Buryatia has long been developing as a territory of intensive interethnic interaction, and it is quite natural that the Buryat story and novel reproduce both the essence of interethnic relations and their typical manifestations at different stages of the history of the region.

A striking example of the development of this topic are three novels by M. Zhigzhitov, "My Baby Marikan" (1967), "The Path of Samagir" (1969) and "Beyond the Gorge of the Seven Wolves" (1970), the duration of which covers mainly the first decades of the Soviet period.

The writer created vivid and expressive images of brave and hardy taiga people: the first director of the Barguzin Reserve, the Czech Zenon Svatosh, who devoted his life to the preservation of the natural resources of the Podlemorye, whose dedication, enthusiasm and humanity became an example for his colleagues, guards of the Buryat Bimba reserve, Russians Viktor and Vasily, Evenka Boichen and others. The scale of Svatosh's personality, the strength of his character, and dedication so influenced the veteran poacher Petrovan Molchanov, nicknamed Habel, that he became a loyal assistant to Svatosh.

One of the main characters of all these works is Evenk Ostyak, who thinks a lot about the history and fate of his people. Open and responsive, he finds a common language with taiga people of different nationalities, he has friends all over the Barguzin Valley. Communicating with them helps him, who grew up alone, to find his place in a new reality.

The images of representatives of different peoples inhabiting the north of Buryatia, thanks to which its riches benefit society, differ in psychological depth, authenticity and artistic persuasiveness. As E. A. Balburov correctly noted, M. Zhigzhitov "is not above the heroes, but among them, or better, inside them" ^{[1, p. 85]}.

The topic of interethnic interaction was of interest to classics of Buryat literature, authors of widely known and popular historical novels. Already in the first national novel "The Steppe woke Up" (1949), dedicated to the events of the early twentieth century in Transbaikalia, J. Tumunov shows the mutual influence of peoples, the close intertwining of the destinies of characters calling each other with the Buryat word "tala" (friend). Russian hunter Petrov saved a mother freezing in the steppe with a newborn baby, the main character of the novel. The boys Punsok and Ivan, who were tending other people's cattle, became friends, and then met again in a partisan detachment. Punsok says: "We have been living together with the Russian people for a long time, helping each other" ^{[2, p. 319]}.

The good-neighborly relations of Buryats and Russians are deeply and comprehensively revealed in the novel by Ch. Tsydendambaev's Dorji, son of Banzar (1952) based on the example of the friendship of the main character, little Dorji, with Sasha, the son of the Russian blacksmith Stepan Timofeevich, who settled in Dorji's native ulus Ichetu. The relationship between the boys is naturally established in joint games, the process of learning to read and write, thanks to mutual interest in the lifestyle of another nation, and every day brings them something new. The children observe the mutual assistance, friendliness and trust of the Ichetuites and the family of Stepan Timofeevich, and this is taken for granted by them.

Poor Erdemte, who was rescued by Stepan, thinks: "How can I thank Stepan Timofeevich? May his sons and grandchildren never need anything in their long lives. May Stepan's neighbor always have a fire in the hearth, flour in a bag, and happiness in the house" ^{[3, p. 253]}. When the local elite tried to survive from the ulus, the Ichetuites did not leave him in trouble: "Every yurt was opened for Stepan Timofeevich's family. The neighbors helped him move, put up a yurt for him..." ^{[3, p. 303]}.

Residents of Ichetui highly appreciate the act of the Kyakhta paramedic Maria Nikolaevna Orlova, who adopted the sick orphan Seseghen and maintains ties with her adopted daughter's countrymen.

The next important stage in the formation of the main character is associated with studying at the military school in Kyakhta, where he again meets Maria Nikolaevna and the grown-up Seseghen. His best friend becomes a fellow student Alyosha Anosov, who brought him to the library, introduced him to the author of the famous song about Lake Baikal Dmitry Davydov and his friends. The young progressive teacher Vladimir Yakovlevich Svetlov had a particularly great influence on Dorzhi and his fellow students. From him, the future scientist first heard about Kazan University.

One of the innovative features of the second novel about Banzarov, "Far from his native Steppes", published in a separate book in 1962, is his space. Almost all the events of the work take place very far from the hometowns of the main character, in Kazan of the first half of the XIX century. and some of its surroundings. The main characters, not to mention the secondary ones, are residents of this large, developed region of the country for the time being described, representatives of the most diverse strata of Russian society and different peoples, with whom studies, scientific work and life circumstances connect the young orientalist, a candidate for a degree from Kazan University Dorzhi Banzarov.

For an open, sociable, inquisitive young man who has been friends with Russian boys since childhood, studied for several years at the Kazan gymnasium, and is working hard on his dissertation, communication with his comrades is both joy, rest, and help in scientific research. He actively participates in university life, is interested in new trends in the student environment, and studies the life of Kazan. A young Leo Tolstoy enters his circle of acquaintances.

However, the most significant is his communication with major scientists who influenced his professional development, primarily with the rector of Kazan University, the great mathematician N. I. Lobachevsky. This image turned out to be the most capacious and convincing of all the diverse surroundings of the central character. Conversations with Lobachevsky, his speech on the defense of dissertations on the mission of the scientist and the problems of science, differ in depth and content.

Lobachevsky is shown as a thoughtful scientist, a citizen, an astute, intelligent, democratic person who perceives people without any arrogance, a caring senior fellow of scientific youth who finds time to read the works of dissertators, personally get to know them. Thanks to the efforts of the rector, a trip to Transbaikalia took place by the famous orientalist, the current scientific supervisor Dorzhi O. M. Kovalevsky, which resulted in the publication in the Kazan Gazette of his articles "Trip from Irkutsk to Urga", "About the Trans-Baikal Buryats" and others.

The novelist conveys the warmth of the rector's attitude towards Dorji: Lobachevsky somehow especially hopes for him. With the help of Nikolai Ivanovich, the optimal topic of Banzarov's dissertation was chosen in the then situation. The perception of the main character accurately conveys the essence of the outstanding scientist's character: feeling his affectionate and demanding gaze on himself, Dorji feels "as if Nikolai Ivanovich looked inside, immediately saw everything there and understood" ^{[4, p. 91]}.

It is necessary to agree with the opinion of V. B. Makhatov, who rated the pages dedicated to the image of Lobachevsky as the best in the novel ^{[5, p. 34]}.

It is obvious that the topic of interaction between representatives of different peoples is revealed in many ways and in detail in Ch. Tsydendambaev's novels about D. Banzarov. As V. Ts. Naidakov wrote, "they occupy a worthy place among historical and biographical works about the best representatives of the peoples of our once united, great, multinational country" ^{[6, p. 125]}.

Due to the foundations laid down by the classics of Buryat literature, its inherent quality, one of the most important traditions has become "the image of the Buryats not in an immanent, nationally closed circle, but in constant and friendly communication with representatives of other peoples, most often with Russian people" ^{[7, p. 8]}.

Since the content of B. Sanzhin's novel "The Righteous Path" (1963) about the Khori-Buryat campaign to Peter the Great is connected with the most important historical moment: the choice of ways of development of the Buryat people, the problems of relations between the Buryats with Russia and neighboring lands occupy a large place in it. They are artistically explored both at the level of issues of national importance and big politics, and when describing everyday life.

The main positive characters, Turakai, Badan and their supporters, pursue a policy of strengthening the alliance with Russia, make decisions concerning the fate of their tribesmen, and implement them. The active inclusion of images of real historical figures in the narrative is natural. For example, Raguzinsky informs the Russian Empress about the faithful service of representatives of the Buryat people on the borders of the empire, about their bravery and diligence. Golovin and Bilibin appear as wise and fair nobles who enjoy high prestige among the indigenous Siberians.

Along with this, communication with representatives of the Russian people is an important part of the daily life of the Buryat characters. So, for a long time, the origin and strengthening of relations between Badan and the Russian Cossack Vasily Bulavin have been traced, who became close and reliable friends who helped each other out more than once in difficult circumstances. Vasily, Mikhail, Semyon and other Russians have friendly relations with their Buryat neighbors. Of course, there are different people among Russians and Buryats, and the essence of the characters is manifested in their communication with representatives of other nationalities, but the main idea of the novel is to affirm the need for peaceful relations and mutual respect for peoples and people, which meets the interests of the vast majority of any nation.

The ideas embodied by B. Sanzhin in his novel are close to V. Mitypov's assessment, expressed in his literary and historical essay "Peter the Great and Buryatia" (2007), about the mutual interest of the leadership of the Russian Empire and representatives of the Khorin people in the acceptance of Russian citizenship by the Buryats ^{[8, pp. 100-101]}.

Russian Russians have a number of novel conflicts related to the description of the stay of a Russian person or a Russian family in a Buryat settlement. An example of the first of them is in A. Balburov's novel "Singing Arrows" (1963), which recreates the life of the Buryat ulus of Khasang, where the Russian doctor Savely Kuznetsov comes to settle. Based on the experience of direct communication with the Khasangin people, thanks to acquaintance with the history and way of life of the Buryats, he expresses the opinion that they are "extremely modest people, unusually receptive, easily and firmly assimilate very complex things, but they will never take anything for granted" ^{[9, p. 153]}. He also expresses admiration for the strength of the spirit of this small people ^{[9, p. 181]}. An episodic character, a talkative Russian trader, characterizes the Buryats as a good, peaceful people.

The situation when a Russian family lives in the Buryat ulus at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War is reflected in the novel by Ts-Zh. Zhimbiev's "The Year of the Fiery Snake" (1972). The narration is conducted on behalf of a fifteen-year-old Batozhab, who became a night herder at the beginning of the war. The residents of the ulus always treat the only Russian Tyurikov family kindly. The Tyurikov's son Alexey khorsho speaks Buryat, together with inseparable friends Sandak and Gunga, he famously rides horses, works easily and deftly, dances a dancer. Together they go to the front.

The composition of the characters in most novels about modernity is most often polyethnic. The closest friend of one of the main characters of the novel C-Zh. Zhimbiev's "Steppe Roads" (1967) by Chabanki Oyun is the driver of the Roza Kuznetsova mobile technical workshop. Her father Sergey Petrovich was a pioneer of mechanization of the Agin steppes. The Kuznetsov family was loved for its simplicity, hard work, and responsiveness. Rosa is friends with Komsomol Bulat, a shepherd mechanic Dugarzhab. Kalmyk zoo technician intern Sanji Bumbeyev takes the affairs of the collective farm to heart. A visiting teacher, Lidia Demidova, who married a local and became a party organizer of a collective farm, is one of the most authoritative and popular personalities. It is no coincidence that people easily come to her house with their worries. Among those who come to the Chabanskaya parking lot, Lydia Vasilyevna is most expected: "With her, as with a mother. Shepherds ask her about everything!" ^{[10, p. 306]}.

The author shows that the characters from different nationalities are united by a common cause, similar life principles and fundamental values, they understand each other well.

In the trilogy of Dr. The Batozhabaya "Stolen Happiness" (1965) unfolds a wide panorama of the existence of several Asian and European countries in the conditions of the late XIX-early XX centuries, colorful images of representatives of the peoples inhabiting them are displayed. At the same time, the writer mainly managed to weave the fates of the heroes, the trans-Baikal Buryats, into the context of world-scale events, to convey the drama of the era.

Among the huge variety of subjects of author's interest are the relationships between characters, bearers of different cultural traditions. It is shown that in any Buryat and Mongolian yurt, a traveler has always been a welcome guest. The main character of Alamzhi, following this custom and faithful to his sincere and honest nature, saved a man freezing in the steppe, welcomed him cordially, became convinced of the commonality of their interests, and later received news from him, offers of help. The fact that the rescued man turned out to be an opponent of the regime who escaped from hard labor complicated the life of Alamji and his family, but did not change their behavior.

Having violated his father's plans to marry Alamzhi to the daughter of a rich man, the young man and his beloved Zhalma were forced to leave their native ulus. They found shelter in the Tunguska camp, easily became friends with its simple-minded and selfless inhabitants.

During his long wanderings through the expanses of Mongolia and China, Alamzhi meets with various people, and many of them, including a Mongol groom, employees of the Russian consulate in Mongolia and others, help him, and he himself does not remain indifferent to others. So, he managed to save the brave Van Tumer twice.

Alamzhi's son, Bulad, was replaced by a Russian revolutionary Tatyana Iskrova. Bulad feels deep gratitude to her, calls her mom, and Tatyana Lvovna cannot imagine life without Bulad.

One of the vivid images of the epic is Galsan, crippled by noyon, pursued by enemies, but saved by the wife of a political prisoner and the forester Klimenko. Hard trials hardened the young man, he became an exponent of the interests of people of labor, an associate of Klimenko and his friends.

An organic component of the worldview in the novel "Alar-gol" (1979) by P. Malakshinov is interethnic relations in one of the uluses of the west of Buryatia. The image of the elderly Barbaari, the mother of three sons, who are in the rear works, is distinguished by reliability, for whom the appearance of travelers in her dwelling located on the outskirts is familiar. Accepting them, she remembers her children. He helps Barbaari and teacher Bolshakov.

An accurate description of the behavior of this heroine and her neighbors in the ulus is the statement of a representative of the Russian people: "The Buryats are generally a generous people, they always greet those who come to them with an open soul..." ^{[11, p. 578]}.

Thus, the literature of Buryatia comprehensively and deeply reproduces the character of the centuries-old interaction of the peoples of the republic, primarily Russian and Buryat. The stories and novels reflect different stages of their history of Buryatia, convincingly showing that their relations were dominated by good neighborliness, mutual assistance, cooperation, friendship. This is due to the mutual tolerance of peoples and their specific representatives, the proximity of lifestyle features, the commonality of essentially universal values, meanings and landmarks, and the feeling of a common native land for all.