They don't become poets, they are born

 

The star of aitysker, our countryman Alexander Kauenov, lit up unusually rapidly in Soviet times. Neither censorship nor chauvinistic persecution of the stagnant era broke the freedom-loving spirit of the son of the Karatobin steppes, which nurtured many famous personalities, such as, for example, composers Mukhit Meraliev, Garifolla Kurmangaliev, Eskendir Khasangaliev, poet Sholpan Kydyrniyazova.

 

Alexander Kauenov was born in the village of Sulykol in the post-war 1952. His poetic talent was not revealed immediately, because he began his career as a zootechnician of a state farm. According to the memoirs of Sholpan Kydyrniazova, it took a long time for fame to come to the young aitysker, who inherited a poetic gift from his father and grandfather.

 

– Having won the district contests, he competed with strong opponents in the republican aitys. Alexander was distinguished by his originality, he never memorized texts, did not adapt to the situation. He was a poet-nugget, the soul of the common people. He lived a short, but bright, meaningful life in the countryside. He died twenty years ago, but the memory of him, as a bright man and an outstanding personality, remains alive in the hearts of many generations," said the director of the Center for Culture and Arts. Kadyra Myrza Ali Bauyrzhan Khaliolla.

 

At the Dala Daryna memorial evening, the poet's relatives and friends, as well as admirers of his work, shared their memories. The guests of the event were poets Dariga Mushtanova, Uzildik Eleubayeva, Sagyntai Bisengaliev, Talap Taymasuly, as well as the secretary of the district maslikhat Nurlan Mendeshov, who recalled that the republican aitys will begin in the Karatobinsky district the other day, and read poems from the poet's works with inspiration. One of them originated at the dawn of Independence, in 1991, when Alexander Kauenov competed with Kostanay poet Asia Berkenova at aitys, organized for the 150th anniversary of Mukhit Meraliev.

 

Nurlan Mendeshov invited the wife of the famous aitysker Raya to the stage and threw a doublet over her shoulders.

 

– A fragile and beautiful woman not only preserved the warmth of the hearth, but also passed on the best traditions of family upbringing to her sons – Shyntas and Yerkhat, daughters – Shynar and Zhazira, her grandchildren are also growing up, – said Nurlan Mendeshov.

 

The audience watched archival video materials about aitys with the participation of Alexander Kauenov in one breath. He performed at one of them in 1986 in Almaty, skillfully competing with the Kyzylorda poet Kulzhamal Durbayeva.

 

The poet's son, Shyntas thanked the staff of the famous hearth of culture and its director, Bauyrzhan Khaliolla for organizing a memorial evening and presented a symbolic gift.

 

The song "Sargaygan zhapyrak" was performed by almost the entire auditorium. The memorial evening ended with the song "Atameken" by Eskendir Khasangaliev.

 

Svetlana Sadyrova,

 

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