The Information Channel Felist.Com -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Issue 14 05.08.02 Chechen culture Late 19th and early-20th century Russian and Arabic-language literature Chechen literature has been drawing on the richest source of the 2000-year oral tradition. It cannot help reflecting historical devlopments and it is interrelated with world art systems. The spread of Islam gave birth to Chechen literature, in the late 17th century. Theologians, historians and poets wrote, till the middle of the 19th century, in Arabic. Few people could read their writings because most Chechens had no chance to study. The Arabic literature of Chechnya A member of the Russian academy of sciences I.Yu. Krachkovski felt that "the Arabic sources of the Caucasus played, in the 18th and 19th centuries, a role of primary, if not utmost, importance...Even though it took some parts of the Caucasus a long time to come under the banners of Islam, Arab culture took such a deep root there that the Arabic language emerges, due to a number of historical and cultural reasons, as the leading literary language of that region." The "nazmy" genre of religious songs was widely spread in Chechnya, in the years of the Caucasian war ("Doomsday is bound to come," The son of his people," "Praised be Mahomed," etc.) The moral influence grew, toward the end of the war, of those servants of God who rejected all display of human passions and a stubborn fight for self-realization on Earth for the sake of full submission to the Lord. Sheikh Kunta Hadji Kishiyev was of their number. Religious songs frequently styled as elegies rest on stories about his teachings and his martyrdom. A few of the captured political leaders of Chechnya took to writing in the wake of the Caucasian war. Shamil's well-educated comrade-in-arms Atabi Atayev composed, for example, a eulogy to the Royal couple, in the Arabic language. The poem leaves no room for the glorification of Islam. It focuses, instead, on the story of Atayev's life and the latest developments. A very narrow circle of well-to-do and well educated men wrote in Arabic in the early 20th century. They - S. Gaisumov, Sh. Sugaipov, A. Tuchayev - wrote mostly verse: hymns, elegies and love poems. Some highly educated clergymen wrote poetry in Arabic in the 20's and 30's of the 20th century. Their contributions to Arabic literature are, in fact, an attempt to disentangle the knot of the controversial developments of that period. A few translations from Arabic to Chechen came off print in the early 20th century: books on Islamic law, the basics of Islam, the grammar of the Arabic language, the teachings of Kunta Hadji. Those books were published thanks to efforts by Islamic clergymen. The religious and philosophic message of Arabic literature is traced into the Chechen poetry of the 20's. (in detail... http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=eng§ion=cliteratureeng&row=2) Famous Chechens Public figures Ziya Bazhaev An outstanding businessman, the president of the Alliance Group (Gruppa Alians)holding company, Ziya Bazhayev died in a plane crash , last year. He was39. Bazhayev was born into the family of a very well-known school principal, Yusup Bazhayev. A top-of-the-list graduate of the Polytechnical Institute of Krasnodar and the Gubkin Oil and Gas Institute of Moscow, he took a Master's degree in Technical sciences. In April, 1998, Bazhayev founded an inter-regional holding company known as the Alliance Group. His exceptional gift for the mobilization of human resources and the high professional qualities of his 70-man managing team enabled the Alliance Group to introduce a new type of a services on the Russian market - support to hard-put business companies. The West is well familiar with this kind of business support but Bazhayev had to blaze a new trail in this field in Russia. He drew up blueprints for moves in critical situations because he knew what it was all about: it took him a year to revive the Yunco oil company in the far-from-stable Chechen Republic of the early 90's, and he made the financial indices of the Sidanco holding company grow ninefold even though experts described Sidanco as a cardboard outfit. Bazhayev was a born statesman. He was born to blaze new trails. His focus on the experience of other countries prompted an idea to build a national oil company which might, along with a new natural gas complex, become the mainstay of the Russian economy. He was a born diplomat and political leader whose gift of persuasion turned enemies into partners. His fellow workers and media people frequently asked him if he knew a formula of success. Bazhayev would invariably say that it all boiled down to team effort, to an ability to build and consolidate a team of fellow workers and that the time of loners had gone. (more about famous chechens... http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=§ion=famouseng) Chechen ethnos The chechens after the caucasian war The drawn-out Caucasian war left an imprint on the Chechen economy, family and society, Remembering that "all Moslems are brethren," numerous representatives of the ethnic communities of Daghestan and other neighboring regions had moved to live on the fertile land of Chechnya. Up to one third of the Avars, Darghis, Andis, Kumyks, Circassians, Tartars, Kurds and others moved to live in Chechnya. Tsudakhar, Andi, Kumyk, Tartar and other communities have preserved their identity in Chechnya. The Chechens welcomed representatives of other ethnic communities, protected them and rendered them all the necessary aid and assistance. They marked off territory where the newcomers could build their homes. The Chechens and the newcomers enjoyed equal rights in the use of meadowland, community pastures and other vitally important places. They danced on rare occasions now that many families were mourning their dead and everyone felt the economic strain of the war effort. Simplified wedding rites got to take less time. That was a positive development in the life of Chechnya. On the other hand, Shamil was trying to raise the defensive potential of his Imam ate, and his people were to follow to the dot his rules for family relations and in the economic and social fields of life. Transgressors against those rules faced up to capital punishment. All male Chechens were obliged to fight the imperial troops. People were forbidden to hire mourners for funeral ceremonies. A funeral would be over after a prayer and a few words of condolence. The slightest disregard for the Shariah ban on alcoholic beverages and smoking was severely punished. No girl could stay single if she had come of age. Neither could any grown-up man. Bride ransom (kalym) was reduced because people were encouraged to get married. But the law of Shariah practiced in the Imamate affected little, if at all, the highest-lying communities. They stuck to the older tradition. With the defeat of the Imamate, attempts were made to revive the ancient customs and traditions. The elders, Sheikhs, mullahs and alims again became the most honored of men. The Czar of Russia would not share his control over the Northern Caucasus with anyone. But apprehension of new uprisings and fear of Islam forced him to make some concessions . A Chechen court of law was instituted under the military administration of Chechnya. But its limited rights had been continually reduced to all the more limited ones as time went on, until it was replaced by district courts of Chechen law. The mullahs and elders, whose moves could hardly be controled by the military administration, retained their influence over the people. They collected taxes - zakat - under the law of Sharia', held clandestine court hearings, opened schools of Islam and determined the character of relations with the colonial administration. What was officially labeled as a military-popular government may be more accurately described as military occupation of Chechnya. The courts of Chechen law were forbidden to hold hearings of serious cases, such as blood feudcases. Nonetheless, Chechens would still turn to mullahs and elders for help in the settlement of complicated problems. The neighboring Russian and Cossack villages exercised a beneficial influence on the economic traditions of the Chechens. (in detail... http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=eng§ion=etneng&row=13) Chechen diary 05 August 2002 Holiday for Medical Workers in Shelkovsky District The competition for the best nurse of the year organized by the head surgeon of the district hospital and supported by the local administration has become a real holiday for medical workers in the district. According to the senior nurse at the central republican hospital Zalpa Alieva who worked there for 23 years, all were in a good mood even long before the competition. All prepared for the competition like preparing for a happy event. And it became such. Ten nurses from all areas of the district took part in the competition and all medical workers of the hospital carefully watched it. At the opening ceremony of the competition the best medical workers were awarded certificates. Then the head of the passport division of the police handed over the participants of the competition new passports. The competition included tests on professional knowledge, medical report, making jokey greetings, culinary experience and making an interesting emblem. The district administration awarded a gold chain to the winner Baisultanova and a watch and a television antenna to Magomaeva who won the second place and a watch and a tea service to Nasmakheva who came third. Nurse Idrisova won the sympathy of the audience. Then the participants of the competition and the audience took part in a picnic organized by local gas workers. The local police department also presented prizes to the best nurses. Zalpa Alieva said that the holiday was excellent and all its participants expressed gratitude to the head of the local administration and head surgeon of the hospital. This was the second such competition after 1999. The medical workers have no intention to wait for another three years for the next competition. They desire that patients of the hospital involved in the next competition too. Doctors believe that such a bright and kind act gives additional strength to their patients. (more from Chechen diary http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=§ion=diaryeng) 04 August 2002 Forced migrants are flocking back to Chechnya We ask for assistance to return to the Chechen republic reads the first line of applications from people who wish to return to their homeland. Forced migrants living in Ingushetia are increasingly willing to go back to Chechnya. Until recently, there were some 140 thousand removed settlers living mainly in tent camps Bella, Sputnik, and Sazita, the rest stayed with their relatives or friends. People have been long coming back to the republic, but the process is picking up over the last months. More than 27 thousand of forced migrants have returned to Chechnya since late last year and 10 thousand more have submitted applications asking to move back, according to deputy head of the Federal migration service Igor Yunash. At the same time presidential human rights representative for Chechnya Abdul-Hakim Sultygov said there were no cases of people returning to Chechnya under pressure. The migration service is helping with transportation, food, and registration, needed for receiving social subsidies. Such information is confirmed by the head of the Chechen government Stanislav Ilysov: Once or twice a week, some one hundred families leave Ingushetia for Chechnya. Now the Chechen government is facing the challenge of equipping temporary settlements, restoring apartment buildings, and providing jobs for returnees. These issues topped the agenda of an ad-hoc commissions meeting conducted by the Russian Minister for coordinating restoration of Chechnya as part of his visit to the republic late last month. The Minister intends to personally supervise an effort to restore socio-economic area, apartment buildings and transport network. People are coming back, bringing in peaceful life and settling down. Those who will restore their houses by themselves are planned to be put on the payroll of Chechenstroi. Chechen cities already have markets, cafes, and taxi services up-and-running. People are provided with water and gas. Television and radio are operating too. Of course, it is still a long way off until things will fall back into place. But the first thing is to have faith and back it up with action. (more from Chechen diary http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=§ion=diaryeng) 03 August 2002 Chechen interior units beefed up by flocking personnel An effort to build Chechen interior troops on local personnel is picking up steam in the republic. The Russian Deputy Interior Minister lieutenant general Alexander Chekalin said to the media that there were more than 12 thousand natives enrolled so far to interior units of the republic. 20 permanent district interior departments have been already set up in Chechnya with all personnel reattestated, the deputy minister said. They are all provided with regular job and steady wages. Chechen-born policeman feel more in sync with the situation in the republic than those contracted from other Russian regions, said Alexander Chekalin. However, a Russian Interior Ministry operative group is deployed at every district police office. It coordinates the work of the local personnel, shares expertise, and keeps in touch with federal center, according to the deputy minister. Permanent interior departments will be deployed in all districts by the end of the year. Many men are eager to join interior units despite tough selection and strict requirements. Only one applicant out of five makes it to the enrollment list. Then again, the locals already know where to turn for help. They inform about crimes quite quickly, even though not every household has a telephone. The point is that the locals are dealing with native policemen. This factor went a long way to improving criminal situation in Chechnya in the first half of the year. Republican prosecutor Nikolai Kostuchenko said at a session of the prosecutor office that all law enforcement agencies displayed better performance then last year. The number of premeditated crimes and terrorist acts has decreased, as the percentage of crimes investigation has grown. (more from Chechen diary http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=§ion=diaryeng) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chechen traditions Modern customs and traditions The right way to treat women Chechen mothers enjoy a special social status. The husband is no more than the head of a family but the woman has, from times immemorial, kept the fire, and the worst thing one Chechen can say to another is "I wish the fire went dead in your fireplace." The Chechens have always held in the highest esteem those who keep the fire. The fire-keepers enjoy a very privileged position. No one but a woman can break off a blood feud fight. A combat engagement may come to an end if a woman has showed up at the battlefield. A woman can stop bloodshed by baring her head and letting her headkerchief fall between the fighters. If your worst enemy touches with his hand the hem of a woman's dress, you have to lay down weapons: he is now protected by that woman. A man who was allowed to touch with his lips the breast of a woman, becomes the woman's adopted son. A woman who was determined to put an end to hostilities, sent out her children, with a mirror or a looking glass in their hands, to face the fighters. That put an end to the fighting. A man should, in keeping with a western tradition, let a woman go first. In Chechnya, a man goes ahead of a woman. This tradition is rooted in the past. Very dangerous encounters - with a wild beast, a highway robber, a deadly enemy - might happen on the narrow mountain paths...It was only natural for a man to walk ahead of his female companion and be prepared to defend his wife and the mother of his children from any kind of peril. It is customary to greet a woman standing. If an elderly woman passes by, a man, whatever his age, is to get up to his feet. He should be the first to utter words of greeting. Lack of respect for one's mother and her relatives disgraces a man. Respect of your wife's relatives is a merit that may earn you a place in paradise. (more about traditions... http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=§ion=traditionseng) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chechen history Chechens one the worlds most ancient people Chechens (self-assumed name nokhchi) are the worlds most ancient people with unique anthropological type and culture. They are the largest ethnic group in the North Caucasus (more than 1 million people). The neighbouring Ingush people are very similar in genotype, culture and religion. Together they form the Vainakh people related by blood, common history, territorial, economic and cultural links and language. Vainakhs (Chechens, Ingushes) are aborigines of the Caucasus and speak Nakh, a language that belongs to the Iberian-Caucasian language family. The Vainakh (Chechen) ethnic and cultural complex was formed on the basis of various aboriginal people. Historically the Chechen community was formed as multi-ethnic and it kept absorbing ethnic elements of nomadic people and neighbouring high-landers, the evidence of which being the non-Vainakh origin of many Chechen clans. The history of Chechnya can be described as a continuing struggle for freedom and independence against outside enemies, in which periods of prosperity alternated with defeats and new attempts to revive the statehood. In the early Middle Ages (4th-12th centuries) Chechens had to take up arms to defend themselves against invaders from Rome, Sasanid Iran, Arab Caliphate and Khazar Kaganate. The centuries-long struggle forged a military union of highlanders and laid the foundation for their statehood. Early class states on the territory of Chechnya and Daghestan A state structure of early class type known as Serir kingdom existed in the mountains of Chechnya and Daghestan in the 4th-12th centuries; and the Alan multi-ethnic early feudal state was formed on the plains and foothills of the North Caucasus.The steppes of present-day Chechnya were part of the Khazar Kaganate. So, in the early Middle Ages Vainakh tribes together with kindred peoples of the Caucasus attempted to create their own statehood.The ancestors of Chechen people took an active part in the political life of medieval Georgia, Serir, Alania, Khazaria. The difficult process of the formation of the Chechen nation In the 13th 14th centuries Chechens were forced to retreat to the mountains by the Tatar-Mongols. In the late 14th century Tamerlanes troops defeated Semsim state that existed on the territory of Chechnya, after which Chechens suffered a long period of decline. The physical, material and cultural losses of the Vainakh people after the invasion of Tamerlane were so great that the historical link of times and cultures was once again broken. After the fall of the Golden Horde Chechens gradually descended from the mountains and colonized the Chechen plain anew. By that time Chechens knew only too well what the yoke of foreign conquerors and their own feudal lords was like and rejected serfdom as incompatible with the whole of their previous history. In most of Chechnya they revived their traditional lifestyle on a qualitatively new level setting up free communities, where personal freedom became a value in itself but was limited by democratic and strict common law known as Adat. Since then belonging to tribal or feudal aristocracy was not enough for power to become hereditary. Individualism, cult of freedom and democracy were developed so strongly among the Vainakhs that at a certain stage they turned against the people themselves and began to hamper the process of the formation of the Chechen people. It was not accidental , that Chechen communities were at war with one another, and for fear of the elevation of people in their own midst that would create a precedent of power being hereditary, they chose rulers from representatives of either Kumyk or Kabardin dynasties, which, if need be, were easy to get rid of (which they did). Tribal Chechnya was afraid of elevating representatives of any of the Chechen clans. Hence they invited an impartial foreign prince (and the consequences of the baneful tradition are still making themselves felt). Tribes and communities of highlanders all over the world live in big isolation and are notable for their independence and bellicosity. Slavery and serfdom are alien to mountain communities, where every man is a warrior. Feudal lords were able to spread their power on separate areas only and holding it was possible only when there was voluntary support from free and belligerent people. In the mountains family and tribal interests often prevailed over the national interests, so it was difficult to build a stable state structure there. The Chechen community has always been a sort of non-state ethocratic one (in Greek etos means customs). Chechens had a tradition of holding peoples meetings, at which temporary warlords and community chiefs were elected but Vainakhs never had a tsar. For them the problem of consolidation was always a pressing one. Officer of the Russian Imperial Army Umalat Laudaev, a Chechen by origin, wrote in 1872 that a Chechen tribe consisting of numerous families that had quarreled with one another from time immemorial unanimity was alien. Hence residents of Nazran were irreconcilable enemies of Chechens living on the lowlands and on the Terek River; they robbed and killed one another; residents of Shatoi attacked those of the right bank of the Terek River, who responded by kidnapping Shatoi people and selling them into slavery to west Caucasus. Aukhs are closer to Kumyks and Nazranites to Ossetians and Kabardins rather than to their Chechen fellow tribesmen. This absence of unanimity on the part of Chechen communities reduced to minimum the political importance of the country they live in. The structure of the Chechen society However, a constant threat coming from foreign enemies made the Chechen society relatively homogeneous and consolidated. Vainakhs institutes of tribal and military democracy and democratic principles of ruling the country lasted longer and developed in conditions different from those of other Caucasian peoples . Due to peculiarities of historical development (fighting against outside enemies) the level of social stratification among Chechens was not high and accordingly, social and class distinctions were underdeveloped. Whatever social conflicts flared up, they were effectively settled within the bounds of a tribe on the basis of common (Adat) and Islamic (Sharia) law. As a result, Chechens, who had a comparatively high level of spiritual, material and household culture, never knew feudalism in its classical form and lived in self-ruling communities. Every clan lived on its historical territory, which was in tribal ownership. All problems of fellow tribesmen on that territory were resolved by the council of elders. Government power and settlement of international, inter-tribal and inter-clan relations fell on elected members of the countrys council, known as mekhka kkhel, which dealt with issues that concerned all Chechen people. If it was necessary the council elected a temporary military chief of the country or byachcha. A characteristic feature of the Chechen society is maximum concentration of power on the local level and delegating power upward if need be. Traditional for the loosely-structured Chechen society was collective-decision making , formed on the basis of consensus. Independent Chechen communities never tolerated autocratic rule and tyranny and never bowed to superiours let alone elevated them. Most developed among the Vainakhs was the sense of honour, justice, equality and collectivism. This is a peculiar feature of Chechen mentality. 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