The first of those is a famous participant of the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union, prominent writer, tactician and strategist. The second man is the "King of Kazakh Boxing", two-time Champion of the Kazakh SSR, the first Kazakh sportsman to become a master of sports in the Soviet Union.
| Bauyrzhan Momyshuly | Shokyr Boltekuly |
| The two men worked closely and were friends | |
Experts in the work of Bauyrzhan Momyshuly assert that he painted well. During the Great Patriotic War, he prepared strategic maps and various schemes. There is a picture that Momyshuly drew for his grandson Yerzhan.
| When Shokyr Boltekuly drew a portrait of Gabdulla Tukai, Tatar poet and critic, his friends were surprised by his great creativity. Additionally, there is the author’s drawing depicting him, his mother and younger sister.
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| In the Soviet Union, all Kazakh second named obtained the ending "-ov" or "-ev" (Russian style). However, Bauyrzhan wrote his name only as "Momyshuly". If someone called him "Momyshev", he responded that didn’t know this person and his name was "Momyshuly". That’s why he didn’t get the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and other awards. | During the Great Patriotic War Shokyr started writing his second name as "Boltekuly". Because of this he was deprived of many privileges and came under attacks. Once talking to investigator Kabanov Shokyr clarified that he was the son of Boltek and his second name — Boltekuly ("uly" means "son of..." in Kazakh): "So, I’m not the son of boar ("kaban" means "boar" in Russian), I’m the son of Boltek." |
| Bauyrzhan Momyshuly: "There are only two real Kazakhs. The first one is me and the second — Shokyr" | |
| After the Great Patriotic War Bauyrzhan Momyshuly lectured at the Russian Military Academy and returned to Kazakhstan in 1956. However, he couldn’t find a job for some time. Umirbek Zholdasbekov, Rector of the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, invited him to work as a lecturer of the Military Department. But Momyshuly refused the offer.
| When Shokyr Boltekuly was unemployed his friends — Shaken Aimanov and Kauken Kenzhetayev, invited him to work for the Kazakhfilm Film Studio as an artist. He was also a staff member of the Kazakh Adebiety newspaper.
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| Bauyrzhan Momyshuly wrote several novels, stories and tales that were published. He is the author of "Psychology of War". | Shokyr published his materials under his own name. He wrote about the theory of boxing, practical results and achievements of his students. Those experts who studied the life of Shokyr Boltekuly argue that his work on the history of boxing was lost. |
| At the invitation of Cuba, Bauyrzhan visited this country. After the trip, he wrote a book describing his impressions. | Shokyr Boltekuly travelled to China. |
| Though both of them lived in the Soviet period when it was prohibited to mention names of the Alash activists, Bauyrzhan and Shokyr knew leaders of the Kazakh intellectual community well | |
There are many facts confirming Bauyrzhan’s generosity. Thus, when Yermukhan Bekmakhanov, a famous Kazakh historian, defended his scientific thesis, by tradition he had to serve the table for his relatives and friends. Bauyrzhan Momyshuly donated him 4,500 roubles to do this.
| Shokyr was also a large-hearted person. Once, a man who appreciated the work of Boltekuly as a coach gave him a new jet-ski. And one young Kazakh man observed the gift-giving ceremony. Shokyr handed over this present to him.
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| Bauyrzhan who read national folklore in childhood skilfully adopted some images of the oral traditions in his works. | According to the famous writer Seidakhmet Berdikulov, Shokyr knew the full text of the Yer Kosai heroic epic consisting of 1899 lines. |
Bauyrzhan Momyshuly passed away on 10 June 1982 in Almaty at the age of 71. His body was kept in a morgue for four days.
| Shokyr Boltekuly died on 6 April 1994 in Almaty. He was 78 years old. His body was kept in a morgue for three days.
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| It’s noteworthy that Bauyrzhan Momyshuly and Shokyr Boltekuly were buried not so far from each other on the Kensai cemetery in Almaty | |
Zangar KARIMKHAN
