Khozh-Akhmed Bersanov facts for kids

Khozh-Akhmed Bersanov (Chechen: Берсан КIант Хож-Ахьмад; April 12, 1926 – March 22, 2018) was a Chechen writer and ethnographer. An ethnographer is someone who studies different cultures and people. Bersanov was known for working hard to keep Chechen culture alive during the 20th century.

He led the cultural department for the Chechen-Ingush region for almost 40 years. His many books taught important lessons about being responsible and good in Chechen culture.

About Khozh-Akhmed Bersanov

Khozh-Akhmed Bersanov was born in a village called Shami-Yurt. His father passed away when he was only five years old. His mother then had to raise him and his three siblings by herself.

Even with these challenges, Bersanov was seen as a very smart young person in his village. He was so bright that he skipped two grades at a boarding school nearby. People often thought he was wise and helpful.

However, he could not finish school. His school closed during a war in 1939. Older students had to join the army, and others, like Bersanov, had to go home. He returned to his village and worked as a secretary.

Life in Kazakhstan

When he was 17, Khozh-Akhmed and his family were forced to leave their home. On February 23, 1944, they were moved from Shami-Yurt to Kazakhstan. This happened because many Chechens were forced to move to Central Asia at that time.

This experience changed his life and his writing deeply. Living in the wide, open lands of Kazakhstan made him appreciate his Chechen homeland even more.

Returning Home and Becoming a Writer

Bersanov and his family came back to Chechnya in 1957. He earned his diploma and worked in different government jobs in both Chechnya and Kazakhstan. But he soon realized his true passion.

He wanted to help the Chechen become a stronger language for books and stories. Many old Chechen stories and traditions had not been written down. After the forced move, there was a risk these stories could be lost forever.

In the mid-1960s, Bersanov joined the cultural department of the Chechen-Ingush region. This was a time when people in the North Caucasus were becoming more interested in their own cultures.

During this period, Bersanov wrote articles about the Chechen people. These articles were published in newspapers around the world, including in Bulgaria, Germany, Poland, and the United States. They also appeared throughout the Soviet Union.

He also published two storybooks in 1966: Lame Starling and Adventures of Hadji Murad. These books were very popular with critics and the public. They made him quite famous in the region. By the end of the 1960s, Khozh-Akhmed became the head of the Chechen-Ingush cultural department. He held this important job until the Soviet Union broke apart in 1991.

Khozh-Akhmed Bersanov's Books

Over the years, Bersanov published many books. A lot of them were written for younger readers.

• In the Wake of the Father (1971) told stories about soldiers who fought in World War II.
• The novels Spring (1979) and Golden Ring (1979) explored the lives of the children of these soldiers.
• Horseman Steel Horse (1983) shared tales of Chechen bravery during the Caucasian War. It also covered the history of the Chechen people during peaceful times.
• Friendship, Bonded by Blood (1986) was about the friendship between a Chechen war veteran, Magomed Gaysurkaev, and a Russian man, Ivan Shumov.
• Perhaps his most famous book was Treasure of Wisdom, the Path to Happiness (1990). This book explored the Chechen honor code, which is a set of rules about how to live with respect and dignity. More than five million copies of this book were printed, and it received great reviews from around the world.

Bersanov once said, "Only books that help build and care for a complete human being will truly help children."

On April 12, 2006, Bersanov celebrated his 80th birthday. The celebration took place at the cultural department in Chechnya. Many writers, poets, journalists, and former co-workers attended.

He was married and had ten children, twenty-two grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. His daughter, Zalpa Bersanova, is also an ethnographer and writer. She was even nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.

List of Works

• Lame Starling (1966)
• Adventures of Hadji Murad (1966)
• Friends (1968)
• In the Wake of the Father (1971)
• Spring (1979)
• Golden Ring (1979)
• Horseman Steel Horse (1983)
• Gift From Afar (1985)
• Friendship, Bonded by Blood (1986)
• Treasure of Wisdom, the Path to Happiness (1990)
• Animals and Birds in this Region (1992)
• Ialamdovzar (2005)