Today marks 81 years from the birth of the National writer of Tuva, Laureate of Government prize of the republic, member of the Writers’ Union of Russia and Tuva, Kyzyl-Enik Kyrgysovich Kudazhy (1929-2006). A native of Iyi-Tal of Ulug-Khem district, he was born on December 13 1929 in a small village Cheenik, in the clan of Baryk Kyrgystary (Kyrgyses of Baryk, settled along river Baryk, a tributary of Yenisei). Later, he described these places in his novel-trilogy “Uygu chok Ulug-Khem” (Restless Ulug-Khem), which then became a classic.
Kudazhy first took up his pen in 1948. His first book of verse was published 10 years later, in 1958.
As the scholar of literature, Mariya Khadakhane relates about him, Kudazhy was one of the first Tuvan writers after Oleg Sagan-ool to travel widely; he visited Europe and South-East Asia. The writer’s favorite hobby was hunting in the taiga, observing the life of nature; he also ascended Mongun-Taiga. His motto was “Try everything, see everything, and write about it”. In his final years, he was active in publicity on the theme of acute problems of life. The writer’s heart stopped on November 4, 2006.
The house on Lenin Street 12, where the writer used to live, bears a memorial plaque. Tuvan pedagogical College was named after him.