Opened in 1937, the college has since spawned several generations of pianists, violinists, singers, accordionists, conductors and music critics. Most of these people graced the citys musical life and were known far beyond the borders of their native Chechen-Ingush Republic. During its heyday in the Seventies and Eighties, the college had seven departments - piano, singers, strings, winds, conductors, folk music and of music theory. The applicants held their breath hearing the names of Ogarkova, Snitko, Milhailov, Nikogosov, Bezuglov, Sudenko, Voit, Lukinov, Vysotskaya and other leading teachers each boasting a school and style all his own Many graduates of the colleges piano department subsequently went on studying at the Gnessins Music Institute in Moscow and the Leningrad Conservatory. Once studying here, in the class of Merited Artist of the Chechen-Ingush Republic, Maina Snitko, was Ali Dimayev who, carrying on a family tradition, is now a popular pianist and singer. The singers department was equally renowned, its graduates very successfully working with opera companies across the former Soviet Union, including the Lunacharsky Opera and Ballet Theater in Saratov and the Yerevan Opera Company.The conductors and choir department was always the most populous, its teachers much credited for promoting the art of Chechen choir singing.The folk music department was equally famous providing excellent training on traditional folk instruments including, of course, dechik-pondur , concertina and other traditional Chechen instruments. The department of wind instruments was hugely popular among the students, especially during the Sixties when their jazz orchestra was a major city highlight playing in the style of the Glen Miller Orchestra, which was very hip back in those days. A. Edisultanov was the pride and glory of the winds department, setting up a big band at the republican circus and conducting the symphony orchestra of the local philharmonic society. Composer Said Dimayev once also studied there. Many graduates of the music theory department are equally admired in Chechnya, especially Adnan Shahbulatov , a well-known composer and public figure whose name is now borne by the music college he once attended. The Grozny Music College has at various times been led by a constellation of talented musicians and managers, among them Leonid Brailovsky. A Merited Artist of the Chechen-Ingush Republic and a graduate of the conductors department of the Gnessins Music Institute in Moscow, he once led a childrens choir at the citys Music School No 1, trained would-be students and did a lot of educational work in the republic. He put together a team of excellent teachers and developed a highly successful teachers training course there. The students regularly took part in all kinds of music competitions occasionally teaming up on stage with their teachers performing in Grozny and elsewhere in the republic. Teachers working at the Grozny Music College remain true to the lofty traditions of their much-respected institution. Those of them who stayed on keep working on, never losing hope that, someday, orchestras will be playing there again
(more ...)

Kunta-Khadzhi Kishiev
The life and work of Khunta-Khadzhi Kishiev, a philosopher, who lived in the middle of the 19th century, earned him the right to be called a saint. Why such a recognition? The ideas of Kunta-Khadzhi were very popular among the poorest representatives of Chechen mountaineers during the first Caucasian war. Good in response to evil, modesty instead of excess, sincerity of thoughts and deeds and appeal to God are the main ideas preached by Kunta-Khadzhi Kishiev. He called on his fellow countrymen to refrain from carrying weapons or killing, which, in fact, was an appeal for non-resistance to evil by violence. Kunta-Khadzhi and his supporters propagated their beliefs at evening religious meetings in Chechen villages. War-weary people were quick to respond. The number of Kunta-Khadzhis supporters exceeded 50 thousand by 1860. The growing popularity of the ideas caused concern both among the authorities and Chechen religious figures. The authorities were provoking a split among religious figures. The latter declared Kunta-Khadzhis views heretical. That, however, had no impact on the popularity of Kunta-Khadzhis peace movement. That is why thousands of mountaineers rushed to Shali as soon as news of the arrest of their beloved preacher reached them. By that time the arrested had been moved to Vladikavkaz but people knew nothing about that. The authorities, expecting a public outcry, had brought armed military units to Shali to confront the crowd. But the behaviour of Kunta-Khadzhis followers was nothing but peaceful. Three times they sent a delegation asking to release their teacher. After their requests were turned down, they discarded firearms, performed their ablutions in the icy waters of the Bassa River and advanced towards the lined-up troops.
(more about famous chechens...)

Ethnic Russians in Chechen history
A page of century old history: 7-19 century
The historically important contacts between the ethnic Chechens and Ingushis (the Veinakhs,) on the one hand, and the Russians, on the other, were motivated by what Russian politicians were doing in the mid-16th century in a bid to acquire more land and gain an access to the southern seas. But the first contacts go back to much earlier dates. Fighting common enemies. Both Caucasians and Russians fought the Khazars in the 7th through 9th centuries. Professor V.G.Gadzhiyev says in "The Russian Role In The History Of Daghestan" (Moscow, 1965) that North Caucasians joined the troops of Kiev Prince Svyatoslav in an attack on the Khazar settlements of Belu-Vezh and Semender. Tmutarakan Rus and the forebears of the Veinakh highlanders joined forces in the 11th century to fight off attacks by nomadic tribes. The old Russian "Lay Of Igor's Host" says a man of Caucasian descent, Ovlur, did his best to save Prince Igor from captivity. Professor Ya.Ahmadov thinks that the son of Andrei Bogolyubsky, Russian Prince Georgy, fled Rus for the Sundzha (Sunzha) River and was offered asylum by his North Caucasian maternal relations (the 12th century.) The Russians and Caucasians joined forces in an effort to rebuff the Mogol hordes in the 13th century. Khan Baty led the aggressive nomads in devastating raids on the Northern Caucasus and principalities of Russia, in 1237-1240. A growing wave of Russian and North Caucasian resistance forced Baty to split his forces into smaller units and, Professor Ahmadov says, to keep changing the direction of main attack. (more...)

Issue 18
20.08.02

Chechen diary

20 August 2002  Commander of Russian forces S. Makarov: The situation in Chechnya will remain unchanged until local residents are attracted to rule the republic
The situation in Chechnya will remain unchanged if the Russian authorities fail to attract local residents to rule the republic. In an interview the Moscow-based daily Kracnaya Zvezda the commander of the Russian forces in the North Caucasus Lieutenant-General Sergei Makarov made this statement. He said Chechnya had been under the full control of the Russia forces. There is no question that militants will step up activity since they have no strength to withstand them. Concerning a possible crossing of militants onto the Russian territory from Georgia Sergei Makarov said that Russian forces were ready to repulse any intrusion. According to the commander, selective checks and detention and intelligence operations have mainly helped to normalize the situation. Russian forces have ended an operation in the Vedeno district during which bandits in the outskirts were killed. Now police are working actively with the involvement of military commandants. According to Sergei Makarov, they work successfully and detain culprits who committed crimes in and outside the republic. Concerning the withdrawal of Russian forces from Chechnya, the commander said that if such an order was issued military would carryout it. After the withdrawal of Russian forces from Chechnya local law enforcement agencies will maintain the law and order. Sergei Makarov believes that this will happen when Chechen police can really withstand militants. He emphasized that it was impossible to say a fixed date because it would take time to train police and gain experience. He spoke highly of relations between military and the Chechen administration. According to Sergei Makarov, the two sides have close contacts and work under a single plan to achieve the result and the situation prompts them to work together with the local administrations to solve many tasks.
(more from Chechen diary)

19 August 2002  Gudermes district is the slickest in Chechnya
A two-month slick-up campaign in Chechnya showed that the Gudermes district coped with the task best of all. The district administration has made a priority of cleaning up territory in all population centers. Clean-up activities kicked off in March and gathered pace through April and May as nearly all of the districts population became involved. The effort followed the scheme that proved perfectly workable before every apartment building, enterprise, or organization has a clear-cut area on hands. Thus, everyone knows his chunk of job and everyone knows whom to take to task for setbacks. Everybody put his heart into work, all people tried to do their best on their lot, said head of the district administration Akhmet Abastov. He pointed out big contribution made to the effort by communal services and water supply utility Vodokanal. Their heads did a great job, leveling any snags that came along. Thumbs-up to schoolchildren who planted 1800 trees. Akhmet Abastov invites everyone to come to the park in Gudermes full of greenery and flowers and have a cup of coffee or eat an ice-cream ordinary pleasures, which seemed something like a paradise just a year ago. As the cleanest district in Chechnya, Gudermes was awarded a Volga. The car will be brought to the district capital later in August. Akhmet Abastov said that his administration had made its mind what to do with the car just when the campaign started. Should the district win and get the prize, it was decided to sell the car, and divvy up the money among all organizations and enterprises that took part in the effort.
(more from Chechen diary)

19 August 2002  International charity organizations help to Chechen residents

The United Nations World Food Programme together with the British non-governmental organization of Islamic Relief and the fund of People are in Trouble distributed more than 2 000 tons of food among the residents in the Chechen capital and the districts of Grozny and Achkhoi-Martan in July alone. Islamic Relief, according to its President Dr. Hani al Bann, has been working in Russia since 1999 and has had strong links with the governments of Ingushetia and Chechnya. This is a non-governmental and non-religious organization that has nothing to do with politics and engaged in humanitarian issues and helping people who are in Trouble. Islamic relieve has sent 2 million US dollars worth of aid to Chechnya in the past year. It plans to bake 5 000 loafs of bread daily to distribute them among old people, disables and widows. The WFP has already supplied flour and other things for this purpose. Under a WFP project to supply food for people in health facilities the Danish Refugee Council distributed ten tons of food among patients in 12 hospitals in the capital and the district of Grozny. According to the United Nations department for the coordination of humanitarian issues, 134 000 people received food aid from international organizations. Meanwhile, the Russian Presidents human rights envoy for Chechnya Abdul-Khakim Sultygov commenting on the out come of his meeting with head of the regional department of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Josef Georky has said that the work of the mission will be much more open in the future. He said that the two sides agreed to make the work of the UN mission in Chechnya more transparent. To this end an Internet site of the mission will be opened to inform its work.
(more from Chechen diary)

Chechen traditions

Modern customs and traditions
The special figures 7 and 8

One of Chechen fairy-tales tells about a young Sultan, who courted his girlfriend for exactly 8 years. According to Chechen traditions, a baby must not be shown a mirror until he is eight months old. The Vainakh version of the myth about Adam and Eve the first man and woman went in different directions to find a pair; Eve said she had crossed eight mountain ridges on her way. Chechen tradition requires the woman to know eight generations of ancestors on her mothers and fathers sides. The man must know seven ancestors. This shows that the figure 8 is associated by Chechens with woman and 7 with man. The figure 7 consists of ones and the figure 8, consisting of four twos (or pairs), reflects motherhood and the principle of giving birth to one of its kind.Hence, digital symbols reflect the special, prevalent place of woman in society as compared to man and this has come from ancient times. A popular Chechen saying reads as follows: A spoilt man spoils a family and a spoilt woman spoils the entire nation. Chechens attach much importance to heredity on maternal side. The phrase mother tongue is used to indicate decent behaviour and mother milk to reprimand for unseemly behaviour. A Chechen man has every right to take a wife of any nationality but a Chechen woman marrying a foreigner is considered no good at all. (more about traditions...) 

Religion

Islam in Chechnya

Islam was adopted by people outside the control of the Golden Horde that called themselves Nashakh freemen community, as they moved on to flat areas. Though the Golden Horde had fallen, Islam had struck deep roots at the foothills of the Caucasus due to its moral laws, social justice and civil freedom that proved more attractive than adat law. Though, in many provisions Adat and Sharia turned out to be allies. Hence , allegations by some Chechen authors and atheist scientists that Islam was taken up by Chechens comparatively recently, are groundless enough. That most Chechens were Muslims back in the 15th 16th centuries, is indicated by the burial rite. The period, to be more exact, 1405-1406, marked the construction of the first known monuments of Muslim architecture the Borg-Kash Mausoleum near the village of Plievo in Nazran district. The mausoleum was erected in honour of a certain Bek-Sultan, son of Khudainado. Intensive penetration of Islam was facilitated by the economic, cultural and political ties between Chechens and Ingushes and people of Kabarda, Kumykia, the Crimean Khanate, Ottoman Turkey and Shakh Persia. In the 16th and 17th centuries Veinakhs established closer economic, cultural and political ties with other peoples of the North Caucasus professing Islam. The mere historical development pointed to the inevitability of Islam taking root in the region and that was an event of historic importance to the mountaineers. With the development of flat areas, farming, cattle-breeding and trade were boostingand people became conscious of the good points of Islam. Legends have it that the first preachers of Islam in Chechen community were Termol, Bat and Bers. They say the sermons brought about all sorts of reaction. And this is understandable, since the history of other peoples and countries knows only too well what difficulties might arise with the adoption of a new faith. As for the highlands, Islam was slow to spread. At the beginning the new religion was taking in age-old traditions trying to adjust to them. Quite often, around family vaults there appeared stelas that were erected over Muslim graves of relatives, who had departed from the old funeral rites but maintained links with pagan kinsmen. An amazing monument of the 16th 17th century is a Muslim tower in Makazhoi community on the border with Daghestan, designed for saying Muslim prayers. Especially famous is a mosque near Etkala village, not far from Itum-Kale in the Argun gorge. The grand mosque was built in line with traditional Islamic architecture. But the minaret is shaped like a miniature, typically Veinakh war tower with a stepped pyramidal roof and narrow loop-holes. Ancient pagan traditions made themselves felt in the ornamental design of gravestone stelas, some of which depict items that in pagan days were buried together with the deceased national costumes, decorations, belts, footwear, daggers, sabers and pistols. Some bear images of people, animals and birds. There is a suggestion of olden times about stelas depicting human beings. Patterns of this sort go back deep into the centuries.All that, however, did not prevent Islam from becoming the Veinakhs dominant and only religion in the course of the 16th through early 19th century. The first big leader of the national liberation struggle was shepherd Ushurma from the village of Aldy, where the Grozny fortress was built later on. Later Ushurma became known under the name of Mansur (the Victor). Mansurs religious and political program got the approval of the clergy of not only Chechnya, but of Daghestan and Azerbaijan. The years 1785-1791 in the North Caucasus were marked by turbulent developments connected with the name of Sheikh Mansur. The wave of popular uprisings subsided in 1791, following the arrest of the mutinous Sheikh. Later on, in the times of Shamil, the main advocates of Islam in Chechnya were Shamil himself and his chiefs. In the middle of the 19th century Chechnya saw the appearance of Sufi Islam, otherwise known as muridism (from murid disciple, follower.The Sufi teaching was propagated by the famous advocate of the principle of non-resistance to evil with violence Sheikh Kunta-Khadzhi Kishiev. But Imam Shamil and his men came to hate Kunta-Khadzhi for his speeches against the war and calls for peace and non-violence.
(in detail...) 

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