Bishkek Baatyr Monument Controversy: How a Mythical Hero Became the City's Founder
The monument to Bishkek Baatyr, which is being erected in the center of the capital of Kyrgyzstan, has been accompanied by controversy almost from the first days of construction. Many people reasonably ask why spend money on another monument. Others wonder why a green zone was allocated for him, destroying part of the flower beds with roses. Still others believe that there has never been such a hero as Bishkek baatyr.
Not long ago, the inscription «Bishkek Baatyr – founder of the capital of Kyrgyzstan» appeared on the monument, which caused indignation among some townspeople.
«What other founder? As far as we know, Bishkek baatyr is a mythical hero – fictional character. This is funny, where are those responsible for installing the monument looking?» – wrote 24.kg reader.
«Bishkek baatyr is mentioned only in sanzhyr and oral traditions. Moreover, information about his life and activities in them is very contradictory. The period of life of Bishkek baatyr is presumably attributed to the end of the 17th – beginning of the 18th century. At the same time, no information about him was found in Russian, Chinese, Kokand and other written sources», – said candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of History and Cultural Studies of KRSU Pavel Dyatlenko.
He added that in the post-Soviet period, many new medieval characters appeared in the history of the republic, some of them legendary.
