Gulbubu Barkytbaeva, a distinguished educator of the Kyrgyz SSR and an Honorary Worker of Education of the Kyrgyz Republic, is currently working on a book about her life. In this work, she seeks to reflect the hardships of the post-war period, losses, love for her profession, and the strength of spirit that helped her overcome life's difficulties.
Gulbubu was born in 1943 in the Sokuluk district. Her childhood was not easy, filled with losses and trials. At the age of eight, she lost her mother and was taken in by her father's older sister's family. In those difficult post-war years, her mother worked hard on a collective farm, and Gulbubu hardly remembers her face.
Memories of women driving trucks loaded with beets remain in her mind as symbols of those challenging times. Living in a foster family in the village of Zhany-Alysh became a true test for her, but it was there that she found her second mother—an aunt who became close to her. Unfortunately, in 1957, at the age of 14, Gulbubu lost her as well.
“In our foster family, my aunt lived with her daughter and son-in-law Bartykbay. At that time, it was not customary in Kyrgyz traditions for a son-in-law to live with his mother-in-law, but Bartykbay was an orphan and had no home of his own. After the death of my second mother, my aunt and her husband took guardianship of me, and he gave me his surname. They had many childhood losses, and eventually, Bartykbay decided to return to his native village, believing that this way he would have healthy children,” Gulbubu shares her memories.
Following the folk traditions, she took the surname of her foster parents—Barkytbaeva—and moved with them to the village of Kalininskoye (now Belek), where a new stage of her life began. Every day she walked 3.5 kilometers to school, which did not break her determination to pursue education. Gulbubu became the only one in her village to finish the 10th grade. After graduating from school, she had to choose between the professions of a teacher and a doctor. She chose a teaching career and enrolled in a women's pedagogical institute, specializing in Russian philology. At that moment, her fate was irrevocably tied to pedagogy. Later, she met her future husband—a dental student—which became an important event in her life.
After marriage, Gulbubu taught in various schools, including in the village of Ak-Bashat and the Suzak district. Over fifty years of work, she raised more than one generation of children, instilling in them a love for books and art. “I love children very much, and they reciprocate my feelings. I especially remember the lessons when I engaged them with Russian literature. In one of the schools in Suzak, the children showed no interest in reading, and as a young teacher, I tried to draw them into the world of literature. One day, I read them Turgenev's 'Mumu'—the whole class cried. Since then, they began to treat not only me but also my lessons with respect, eagerly awaiting new stories and happily discussing literary characters. The main thing is that the children started to read,” Gulbubu recounts.
Today, in retirement, she has dedicated herself to writing a book about her life, sharing the bitterness of losses and gratitude for every moment of happiness. In her family, there are three children, eight grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren growing up.
Her story serves as an example of how even in the most difficult times, one can preserve warmth and love if hope lives in the heart. This is not only a tale of personal trials but also about how pedagogy helps find the strength for life and brings hope.
Gallery: Gulbubu Barkytbaeva.
