Tsydendambaev, Chimit-Dorzhi

Born Feb. 23, 1918, in the village of Tarbagatai, in what is now Zaigraevo Raion, Buriat ASSR. Soviet Buriat writer.

The son of a peasant, Tsydendambaev first appeared in print in 1937 as a poet; he later turned to prose. His principal works include the novella Banzarov’s Inkwell (1948) and the novels Dorzhi, Son of Banzar (1953; Russian translation, 1955) and Far From the Native Steppes (1957–58; Russian translation, 1962), all of which deal with the life of Dorzhi Banzarov, the first Buriat Orientalist. Tsydendambaev’s works also include short stories and the novellas The Buriat Girl (1961; Russian translation under the title Bon Voyage, Zhargalma!, 1963) and The Year Begins With Spring (1973). His works have been translated into various languages of the USSR. Tsydendambaev has been awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor and various medals.