Töleuzhan Ysmayilov

(1932-1973)

One of the prominent representatives of Kazakh poetry, a graduate of Kainar secondary school – Töleuzhan Ysmayilov was born in a place called Akkora in the former "Socialist Kazakhstan" state farm. His father, Mukhametjan, was the head of the collective farm and was drafted into the army in 1942, never to return from the front. Orphaned at a young age, Töleuzhan completed his primary education in Shon and later studied at Kainar secondary school. The gift of poetry came to Töleuzhan from his maternal relatives. His mother was also a dombra player and a singer. Töleuzhan, whose ancestry traces back to the famous bard Janak, graduated from secondary school at the age of 15. He then studied journalism at KazMU. While studying there, his poems began to be published.

After graduating from the university in 1951, he worked as an editor at the "Zhazushy" publishing house, later becoming a consultant at the Union of Writers of Kazakhstan, and worked fruitfully at the newspapers of Pavlodar and Qyzyljar regions, as well as at the "Leninshil Zhas" newspaper. Regarding Töleuzhan's talent, the well-known writer T. Akhanov said: "Among the poets I have seen, the most remarkable talent was Töleuzhan Ysmayilov." The writer A. Nurshaikhov played a significant role in the widespread recognition of Töleuzhan's works.

Töleuzhan was not only a talented poet but also a skilled journalist. The artistic essays and articles that came from his pen were eagerly read by the public. Unfortunately, he only worked in literature for about ten years. Towards the end of his life, he struggled with a severe illness related to lung disease.

During his lifetime, two of the poet's books were published: "A Slap for Someone" (1958) and "Esil" (1959), all written before he turned thirty. One aspect of the poet's literary legacy is translation. Special attention was given to the artistic translation of T. Dreiser's "An American Tragedy" (1962). Töleuzhan, who was able to skillfully convey many Russian poets in Kazakh, has two major works that showcase his prowess as a translator: A.S. Pushkin's "West Slavic Songs" and M. Lermontov's poem "Mtsyri."

The book titled "I Will Tell My Truth," published in 1984, consists of several poems, satires, and poems.

In 2023, as part of the "Abai Way" library project implemented with the support of the Akim of Abai region, Töleuzhan Ysmayilov's book "The Flower of Life" was published.

Töleuzhan Mukhametjanuly passed away from tuberculosis on August 11, 1972, in the city of Semey.

Töleuzhan Ysmayilov is remembered as a poet with a uniquely delicate lyrical style and profound thoughts in Kazakh poetry. Despite his short life, he was recognized as a prominent representative of his era in Kazakh literature and became a source of inspiration for later generations of poets. His works reflected the life and spiritual world of the people, introducing the advanced examples of world literature to Kazakh readers through literary translations. Töleuzhan's poetic legacy remains a valuable literary example that continues to provoke thought and touch the heart of readers today.