Amangeldy Uderbayuly Imanov (in Kazakh: Аманкелді Үдербайұлы Иманов) (April 3, 1873 – May 18, 1919) – one of the leaders of the National Liberation Uprising of 1916 against the Russian Empire in Kazakhstan, participant in the establishment of Soviet power in Kazakhstan. Participant of the civil war and member of the Communist Party.
Biography
Amangeldy Imanov was born in 1873 in village No. 3, Kaidaul district, Turgay region (now Amangeldy district, Kostanay region). His father Uderbay Imanov, from the Uzyn-Kipchak clan, and his mother Kalampyr, were engaged in agriculture, partly hunting and fishing. His grandfather Iman Dulatuly was a great “Batyr” – a hero and military leader during the reign of Kenesary Khan. Amangeldy lost his father when he was 8 years old. He grew up an orphan: farmhand and saw the plight of the people. In the dry bad harvest of 1887, Amangeldy, like many others in distress, could only exist at the expense of waste work. Amangeldy and his older brother work as shepherds for the “bais” – rich people. According to contemporaries, Amangeldy tried in his own way to resist the cruelty and arbitrariness of Bai. Not having received the full settlement, he stole a horse of bai went home. However, bai, with the help of the parish steward, returned his horse. The first clash and the first defeat, irresistible force bai and its impotence leave indelible footprint in the consciousness of future batyr [1]
Amangeldy’s youth was spent in the period of activity of the outstanding teacher, Ibray Altynsarin. By the way he attended to village school, then in a madrassah under the educator Imam Abdrahman. Here he studied for four years, mastered 3 foreign Eastern languages (Turkish, Persian, Arabic). In 1910 Teristibutak, where he lived on his initiative, the school was built [1]
Even before the uprising of 1916, Amangeldy was known in the steppe as a fighter for people’s freedom against colonial regime of Russian Empire. Under the influence of the liberation ideas of the first Russian revolution of 1905-1907, he participated in the armed struggle against the “bai” – rich persons. Having established a close relationship with a group of Communists, A. Imanov became famous throughout the Torgai steppe as an organizer of the national liberation struggle of the peasant masses. In 1896-1908, the Russian government repeatedly imprisoned him, considering him unreliable. The young Amangeldy, who has experienced bai arbitrariness and more than once tried to protect himself and friends from the arbitrariness of volost governors and aul elders, ceases to work as a farmhand. From about the age of 20, he together with his elder brother Bektepbergen was working in his forge, engaged in hunting. A sharpshooter, an excellent rider, by nature active, energetic, free-spirited, cheerful batyr had friends not only from His kaidaul parish, he is becoming popular beyond its borders. He had faced the powers that be more than once. [2]
Soviet historiography traditionally portrays Pro-Soviet leaders and other prominent third world allies as “Hero of liberated people” from an unusually early age. Amangeldy was no exception: Soviet biographical materials describe him as “an opponent of the Russian colonial system”, since childhood involved in the struggle with the Western bourgeoisie.
Publications of the 1950s, as well as some later ones, attribute to him also participation in the “armed struggle against the aristocrats” in his youth. During the unrest of 1905-1907, he was already 32-34 years old. However, there is no evidence of this participation in either Russian or Kazakh sources, apart from the canonical Soviet historiography, which does not contain references to archival materials or documents. [3]
In the article “To the twenty-fifth anniversary of the party” on March 7, 1923 A. T. Dzhangildin among the fighters who gave their lives for the power of the Soviets, named Amangeldy.
He wrote: “Imanov was one of the poor Kyrgyz (Kazakh) labor. One of the first Kyrgyz fighters of the oppressed, he awakened the working masses to conscious life. He felt that with victory the age-old fetters of slavery would be lifted, that a word would not break the iron hearts of the rulers, and from the first days of the uprising he became their enemy, joining the ranks of the active fighters of the revolution. Inspiring his like-minded people, he was steadfast until the last minute of his life.” [2]
Merits
Amangeldy is a typical representative of the advanced layers of the Kazakh labor “sharua” – poor peasants of the early twentieth century. Thanks to his active participation in the social life of the village, which contributed to its significant political development, he stood in the forefront of the liberation movement. In the context of the rise of the revolutionary movement in Russia in 1916, the uprising began in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. The reason for the uprising in Kazakhstan was the decree of king Nicholas II of June 25, 1916, called “requisition”, on the call of Kazakhs aged 19-43 years on the frontline trench work. During the uprising, A. Imanov showed himself as a staunch fighter, convinced of the anti-national nature of the state power. The uprising had a political significance, was directed against the colonial policy of the tsarist government, was aimed at the liberation of the people and continued until the February revolution in Russia. [4]
(Pic 1. Ivan Deev. “Revolutionary”. June 12, 1936.)
In the steppes of Torgay, the insurgency was so powerful that to cope with it for the authorities was a very difficult task, because almost all the conscripts were drafted and fought on European fronts. At the head of the rebels here were the commanders Amangeldy Imanov and Alibi Dzhangildin. Amangeldy managed to create a disciplined cavalry detachment with a well-established interaction of parts. At the height of the uprising, there were about 50,000 fighters under command of Amangeldy. [8] In October 1916 only in Torgay and Irgiz counties about 20 detachments were formed. Amangeldy established strict discipline in the units, taught the rebels to use weapons and demanded to learn the rules of warfare. “We have organized several forges. Here our blacksmiths together with the workers who fled from mobilization from Atbasar, Akmolinsk and even from Semipalatinsk, altered and repaired rifle, hunting and ancient match guns, forged knives, axes, pikes… We cooked the powder, prepared of the bullet, making saddles and harness,” recalled Dzhangildin. [5]
Out of tens of thousands of Amangeldy’s disorganized rebels, Imanov created a slender and disciplined military body with rigid hierarchical subordination and divided into tens, fifties, hundreds and thousands. At the head of each group stood their commanders: for ten warriors, the head of 10 people (onbasy), for 50, the head of 50 people (elubasy), for 100, the head of 100 people (zhuzbasy) and thousand, the head of 1000 people (mynbasy). A special detachment of “mergens” – snipers was also formed. Amangeldy Imanov himself was elected “Sardarbek” -the commander and chief of the rebels, with his well – functioning military Council- “Kenes”. [6]
Amangeldy was openly preparing for war against the tsarist regime. First, he collects weapons preserved by the population. To collect the horses, saddles, food in each village he appointed a Commissioner. According to his instructions, cattle are collected from the population at the rate of one head from 100 heads of cattle, one head of small cattle from 25 heads. 3 rubles from the peasant, and 100-500 rubles from rich people. Moreover, these fees, in case of refusal, were collected forcibly from the “bai”. In auls organize forges, special people are appointed to supply them with iron, coal, lead. The cities, towns and individuals with whom the insurgents are to communicate are determined, all the ways of communication with them are indicated, as well as the places of stops. Amangeldy sends special people to Irgiz, Kostanay, Atbasar counties, as well as to Dzhezkazgan and Karsakpay mines to prevent the penetration of troops here and prepare a post for his Sarbaz. [7]
In 1916, Imanov became the hero of the uprising that occurred after the local population was called up for the First World War. Imanov was engaged in agitation, using the cinematographic apparatus “Gok”, which belonged to Dzhangildin: they showed pictures to the steppe, and those, interested, joined the uprising. [5]
One of Imanov’s appeals to the urban population is known: “Evil people — all your and our enemies-started up a rumor that we, who rose up for their rights, will kill all Russians. That’s a lie. We are not at war with the working Russian people. We are at war with the king, with the Royal orders, with our bais and mullahs, who have sold us to the king and shed our blood. Do not believe evil rumors! » [5]
On October 22, 15 thousand rebels led by A. Imanov surrounded Torgay, the siege of which lasted several days. [8] Meanwhile, the expeditionary punitive corps of Lieutenant General A. Lavrentiev, consisting of 17 rifle squads, 18 Cossack hundreds, 4 cavalry squadrons, 18 cannons, 10 machine guns and other guns, was moving towards the city in three directions. Having received information about the approach of superior forces of the Royal punishers, the rebels lifted the siege of Torgay and went to meet the troops of the Royal troops. On November 16, 12 thousand Kazakh warriors attacked the punitive expedition of Lieutenant Colonel Catomin in near postal station Topkoima. The main mass of insurgents for preservation of manpower in the second half of November departed on 150 km from Turgay and concentrated near Batpakkara. From here, Amangeldy’s warriors’ raids against the punishers were carried out from the second half of November 1916 to the middle of February 1917. The fight between the rebels and the punitive place on Tatary, Akchiganak, Dugal-Urpek, in Kuyuk. Intense were the battles in the area of Batpakkara, where the headquarters of Imanov. [9]
In this operation Amangeldy’s organizational and military talents were clearly manifested. His “Sarbazdar” – warriors showed an example of courage and determination. The Russian government was forced to send punitive troops to repel the soldiers of Amangeldy. Only after the arrival of the main armed forces of the enemy, after 27 days, Amangeldy withdrew his army. In January 1917, he again took action to capture the city, but was forced to retreat, as the forces were unequal. At this time Amangeldy began to be imbued with the advanced ideas of the Bolshevik party. After the victory of the February revolution, the number of rebel groups in the steppe increased dramatically, and at the end of 1917, Torgay occupied Amangeldy. [6]
(Pic 2. Amangeldy’s warriors. Abylkhan Kasteev. Painting. 1970)
Between October 1917 — January 1918. Amangeldy actively participated in the establishment of Soviet power in Torgay city and in Torgay region, by the way he was a military Commissar of Torgay region. He joined the ranks of members of the Communist Party under the influence of Alibi Dzhangildin, participated in the work of the regional Congress of Soviets (Orenburg, 1918). [5]
In July 1918, at the head of a group of Soviet workers, he held elections of village and region Councils. During the Civil war, together with Dzhangildin, he formed the first Kazakh national red army units in Kazakhstan, helped the red partisans in the rear of Kolchak’s troops. [5]
In March of the following year Imanov became a delegate from the workers of Torgay district and participated in the first Torgay regional Congress of the Council of workers, soldiers, peasants and Kazakh deputies, held in Orenburg, and on April 4, he and other delegates had to fight with the people of Commander of white guardians Dutov, who attacked the city. And from that time to December Amangeldy led a guerrilla movement against Dutov’s troops. In mid-December, detachments under the command of Dzhangildin, Imanov and Kiselyov liberated Turgay, and Imanov became military Commissar of Turgay County. The Bolsheviks gave him money to form red army units. [4]
In April 1919, opponents of the Soviets made a coup in Torgay. After liquidation of the Soviet power in Torgay on April 20, 1919 A. Imanov was taken prisoner. White guardians killed him a few hours before the entry into the city of the red Army. [10]
Amangeldy Imanov was buried in Alakol, in 1940 reburied in the district center of Amangeldy region (former aul Batpakkara). A monument was installed on his grave in 1960. The author was the first Kazakh professional sculptor, H. Nauryzbayev. The monument is located on the square in front of the youth leisure center “Shugyla”. [4]
On May 15, 1944, the Central Committee of the Communist party of Kazakhstan adopted a decision “on the day of honoring the memory of the Kazakh national hero Amangeldy Imanov”. The party Central Committee ordered party organizations to spend the day of the 25th anniversary since the death of “Batyr” as a historical date for the joint struggle of the Kazakh and Russian peoples for approval and consolidation of the Soviet power, for the destruction of common enemies of the Kazakh and Russian peoples — whites, interventionists and bourgeois nationalists, explaining to the workers the outstanding role of Kazakhstan Amangeldy Imanov as the largest political figure of the Kazakh people, a revolutionary and a Communist fighter for the national independence of Kazakhstan, ardent patriot of the Soviet state”. [11]
The anniversary events of the Central Committee of the party of Kazakhstan provided for the publication of brief abstracts about the life and activities of the Hero, the organization of military sports games, equestrian competitions and the establishment of an equestrian statue, tombstone, plaques in places most significant in the life and activities of the hero.
(Pic 3. Amangeldy’s forces attacks. Picture was taken from https://express-k.kz/news/pamyat/serdtse_geroya-119307?sphrase_id=3320208?P )
Articles of researchers, theses of the propaganda and agitation Department of the Central Committee of the Communist party of Kazakhstan were published for the anniversary.
What is new in these publications is that for the first time the role of Amangeldy Imanov as a political figure, his passionate struggle with bourgeois nationalists, his role in organizing the partisan movement in the rear of Kolchak, in turning the Irgiz and Torgay counties into a support base of the red Army units was more clearly shown. The researchers paid special attention to the action of Amangeldy in breaking the intrapartum partitions, to explaining to workers the nationwide nature of the struggle. [5]
A special place in the publication of these years is occupied by G. Musrepov’s article “Majestic image”. The author rightly opposed the simplification of the image of the Batyr. He condemned the views of those who viewed Amangeldy as a newly born Kazakh epic Batyr. In contrast to this view, there was no less lightweight opinion, according to which A. Imanov, the leader of the uprising, the first organizer of Soviet power in the Kazakh steppe, did not rise above a simple hunter, farmhand, brave horseman. Musrepov wrote further: “Such a simplified view of Amangeldy Imanov,” no less harmful effect on the creation of the image of a real commander and statesman of a new type.” [5]
Unlike many researchers, Musrepov paid special attention to the need to study the personal qualities and political beliefs of Amangeldy, which allowed him to correctly understand the political task of the national liberation movement during the revolution.
Thus, during the war, a step forward was made in the scientific study of A. Imanov’s biography, although researchers were excessively fond of studying generic genealogy. Amangeldy Imanov was considered by them as “a living carrier and will continue the development of the best heroic traditions of the Kipchak tribe”. Some historians have looked for the ideological origins of the national liberation movement of 1916 in the reactionary speech of Kenesary Khan. In the publications of those years there is no unity in views about the milestones of the development of revolutionary consciousness of A. Imanov. [5]
The study of the problem continued with renewed vigor in the postwar years. In 1947, a collection of documents and materials “the Uprising of 1916 in Kazakhstan” (edited by B. Suleimenov) was published. He systematized documents and materials that tell about the driving forces of the uprising, the treacherous role of the “bai” and the nationalist intellegensia, the spread of ideas of Communism in the rebel mass. A significant part of the collection was devoted to the disclosure of the content of the revolutionary performance of the rebels, including the Torgay hearth of the uprising. In 1949, an article was published by Pokrovsky where he wrote: “Amangeldy Imanov in the struggle for the victory of Soviet power in Kazakhstan”. For the first time in the literature, the subject of the study was the Soviet period of Batyr’s activity. The article put forward the thesis that “the preparation and implementation of the anti-Soviet coup in Torgay and in April 1919 were carried out with the participation of foreign imperialists.” [5]
In 1949 A. Nurkenov published his article “Hero Communist”. In it were laid the foundations of the concept, which in a variety of versions was found in all his later publications. The keynote by A. Scientists is the idea that A. Imanov — a revolutionary professional. During the first Russian revolution Amangeldy “took an active part in the revolutionary movement of the masses and joined the socialist party”, “several times visited the village Krivozerny (in Kazakh Saumalykol) Kokshetau district, where an underground printing house was organized.” “Thus,” writes A. Nurkanov— in the revolution of 1905-1907 A. Imanov in practice fully confirms the Communist ideas, promotes them among the working masses.” According to A. Nurkanov, Batyr in 1913-1915 “under the influence of Bolshevik groups, from the poor organizes troupes and fights against the volost governors and the Russian colonial administration. Amangeldy in that year visits Atbasar and Kokshetau counties, conducts conversations with the population and calls it to organized struggle”. “On his return from St. Petersburg, Amangeldy actively begins to prepare an armed uprising, explains to the working masses the purpose and tasks of the uprising, calls on the people to unite in the struggle against Russian Empire.” [11]
A. Nurkenov as a researcher contributed to the study of the biography of the warrior. The Northern detachment of the expedition of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR, which he led, collected a large memoir material. However, in their generalization, he failed to overcome the subjective motives of memoirists, recheck, compare these data with the materials of archival sources. [11]
Thus, for half a century after the tragic death of A. Imanov, a large historical literature was created about him, a solid source base was created, memories of Batyr’s contemporaries were collected. However, it should be emphasized that the created literature is mainly represented by articles published on the pages of the periodical press. Unfortunately, some of them are written superficially, without serious knowledge of the subject of research and contain many factual and methodological errors.
Memory
(Pic 4. Amangeldy’s elder son Ramazan with his friend in 1937)
Amangeldy Imanov had 2 sons. The elder Ramazan Amangeldiev and the younger Sharip. Ramazan Amangeldinov was born in 1911 in the same village where Amangeldy of Batpakkara parish of Turgay County was born. He lost his father, he didn’t feel an orphan, he was adopted by people who went for Amangeldy.
In 1938, Ramadan successfully graduated from the Communist Institute of journalism and became the editor of “Pioneer” – a Republican magazine for children. Stories, essays and poems of the journalist are published on the pages of Kazakh publications. To write a vivid narrative about the life and heroic deeds of Amangeldy Imanov, who embodied the best features of the people, was the dream of Ramadan. But he did not have time to implement it. Only short stories, literary sketches devoted to individual episodes of amangelda’s eventful life, were published.
In the cold autumn of 1941. Hitler’s divisions from the West, South and North were advancing on Moscow. The whole country watched the gigantic battle with bated breath. Ramazan, like many other understood the Soviet soldiers knew that near Moscow, the fate of the Motherland. And they stood to their deaths. On one of the sections of the front, near the city of Aleksin, the defense was held by the 843rd rifle Kazakh regiment of the 238th rifle division, in which the son of the legendary Amangeldy served. The language of official documents of military units and formations is stingy and laconic. “Heroically fought the son of the legendary Batyr of the Kazakh people, the leader of the uprising of the Kazakh poor in 1916 against the tsarist government of Amangeldy Imanov – Ramazan Amangeldiev. Private submachine gunner Amangeldiev, finding himself alone surrounded by a group of German soldiers, took an unequal battle. Mercilessly, with malice he shot at despicable enemies from his machine gun. To the last bullet fought back hero by stalking the Germans. Embittered by the persistence of the Soviet submachine gunner, the Nazis threw a grenade at him. Amangeldiev died, but he gave his life dearly. Thirteen enemy dead were lying all around him…” [13]
The heroism of Amangeldy Imanov many well-known thanks to books, movies. Streets and schools bear his name. Movies have been made about him. In the same area there is a Museum of Amangeldy Imanov. This time this photo helped to remember Batyr. In the picture the second son of Amangeldy – Sharip.
(Pic 5. Amangeldy’s second son Sharip during the opening monument of Amangeldy Imanov in Kyzylorda in 1998)
The oldest Kyzylorda pjournalist Bolat Omaraliyev said the following: “ In 1998, a monument to Amangeldy Imanov was erected in the center of Kyzylorda. The solemn event on this occasion was attended by the leaders of the city of Bakbergen Dospanbetov and the region Berdibek Saparbayev, numerous members of the public. In those years there were no monuments dedicated to outstanding personalities of our country in Kyzylorda. The beginning of this tradition was laid by Berdybek Saparbayev. In connection with such a significant event for Kyzylorda, the descendants of Batyr, including his son Sharip, were invited. This photo I took directly at the monument to Amangeldy Batyr. According to Sharip, it turns out that at that time there were two monuments to his father in the country, and this one was the third”. [14]
Not a single lifetime photograph of Amangeldy Imanov was survived, later Abylkhan Kasteev painted his portrait from the words of Dzhangildin. The Soviet authorities in the 1930s began to perpetuate his image. Books were written about him, a film was made, the famous poet Jambul composed a poem, streets and villages were named after him, he turned into a legendary bronze Batyr. [5]
The bust is made of bronze. Amangeldy Imanov is depicted with a resolute look, his head proudly raised, in his left hand clutching a sword, and his right hand is half-bent at chest level. The bust is mounted on a rectangular pedestal lined with marble slabs. At the top of the pedestal embossed inscription: “Amangeldy Imanov 1873-1919.” The lower part of the pedestal has a trapezoid shape. The height of the bust is 2.5 m. The total height is 4.7 m. The area around the monument is fenced with a decorative metal fence, in front of the monument there is a granite stone with an inscription in Arabic. The territory is ennobled, paved with paving stones. [12]
In conclusion, most scholars say that the uprising of 1916 occupies a special place in the historical spiral of chronological events. Under the conditions of the imperialist yoke and the First World War, Amangeldy Imanov and other leaders of the uprising were pioneers in the struggle for the independence of the Kazakh people on the way to people’s democracy. Amangeldy Imanov occupies a worthy place in the historical canvas together with such “batyrs” – heroes as Isatay Taimanuly, Syrim Datuly, Makhambet Utemisuly, Kenesary Kasymuly.
As writer Ilyas Yesenberlin wrote, “The lion’s heart should be in the one who rules people and takes responsibility for them before God.” The lion heart of Amangeldy Imanov bravely fought for the aspirations of the common people.
A hundred years have passed since his death. For these times, in memory of the national hero, many works of art, articles were written, plays, films and paintings were made. Famous poets and writers such as Gabit Musrepov, Zhambyl Zhabayev, and other poets dedicated their poems to him. The famous painter Abylkhan Kasteev painted a portrait of a national hero and the paintings “The Offensive of Amangeldy”, “Torgay Campaign”. In 1938, the director M. Levin made the film “Amangeldy”. In 1947, in honor to Amangeldy Imanov, a bronze monument was installed in Almaty. The district in the Kostanay region was named after him, monuments were erected, and streets were named in many cities of Kazakhstan.
There is currently a debate between historians. Some say that he is a great commander who dreamed that all peoples, especially Kazakhs, would live in freedom. Others think that he is a henchman of Soviet power. And for this, the hero can be forgotten. However, as you see in our independent Kazakhstan, all people love and honor this hero. And we objectively seeing his historical portrait can safely contribute his name and legacy to the park-encyclopedia “Great names of great steppe”
- Imanov Amangeldy Uderbayuly / / “Calendar of dates and events of Kostanay region”, Kostanay regional universal scientific library. L. N. Tolstoy, Information and bibliographic Department, 2010, pp. 41-43
- A. Nurkanov. “Amangeldy Imanov”, Kazakh State publishing house Alma-Ata -1959
- https://znanija.com/task/24034817
- http://tarih-begalinka.kz/ru/history/revolution/figures/imanov
- S. B. Beisembayev. Amangeldy Imanov: Articles, documents, materials. Alma-Ata, 1973.
- Uprising of 1916 in Central Asia and Kazakhstan. Moscow: Publishing house of the USSR Academy of Sciences, 1960, p-796.
- “News of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR” No. 44. Issue 3. 1947
- https://e-history.kz/ru/biography/view/8
- Kh. Tursunov. Uprising of 1916 in Central Asia and Kazakhstan. – Moscow: Nauka, 1966.
- S. S. Khromova. Civil military intervention of the USSR during the war: encyclopedia. Moscow.: The Scoop. Encyclopedia, 1987. – 720 p., on page 32
- A. Nurkanov “People’s Batyr”. Moscow, 1962.
- http://amangeldy.kostanay.gov.kz/kultura/turizm/amangeldi-imanov-beyitindegi-eskertkish-1959-zhyl/
13. P. Belan. Magazine “The truth of Kazakhstan”. Alma-Ata 1965.
14. Ainash Esali. Magazine “The independent Kazakhstan”. Almaty 2017.
Junior scientific researcher, Institute of history and ethnology named after Sh. Ualikhanov