Maulenov, Syrbai

Born Sept. 17, 1922, in the settlement of Turgai, now in Turgai Oblast. Soviet Kazakh poet. Member of the CPSU since 1944. Son of a peasant.

Maulenov studied in the department of language and literature of the Kzyl-Orda Pedagogical Institute in 1938-40. He served in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45. He has been editor of the newspaper Kazakh adebieti since 1971.

Maulenov’s works began to appear in print in 1937. In 1948 he published his Collection of Verses. His later collections include Voice of the Steppes (1949), The Fires of Mt Magnitnaia (1952), Comrade (1954), Selected Works (1958), The Turgai Gates (1960), The Leaves Are Burning (1964), and Midday (1966). Maulenov is a subtle lyric poet, seeking new forms of expression and new shades of meaning in his native language. His lyric heroes are the Soviet citizen who has passed the test of war with honor, the selfless toiler, and the spiritually wealthy man. Maulenov’s books of verse April Rain (1967) and Red Juniper (1969) earned the Abai State Prize of the Kazakh SSR (1970). He has been awarded two orders and a medal.