Writer

On September 14, 2006 100th anniversary since the birth of D.K.Sivtsev – Suorun Omolloon is celebrated. He is an outstanding son of the Sakha people, great humanist, enlightener, an individual of planetary scale, the significance of whom we, the now living, are trying to comprehend.

Dmitry Kononovitch Sivtsev – Suorun Omolloon is the People's Writer of Yakutia, Hero of Socialist Labour, Honoured Worker of Arts of Russia and Yakutia, Laureate of P.A.Oyunsky and A.Ye.Kulakovsky State Awards, Honoured Citizen of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Academician of the Academy of Spirituality of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Member of the Writers' Union of USSR since 1934.

By request and with the support of the President of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) Mr V.Shtyrov and the Government of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), “Almazfilm” Cinema Company has begun the production of a documentary full-length film about D.K.Sivtsev – Suorun Omolloon.

The film is about the destiny and the life of an individual, known and respected in Yakutia and Russia , “the person from the people”, who has lived a long life seeing three eras: pre-revolutionary, Soviet, and after-perestroika (democratic).

His whole life was dedicated to serving people. He created the first Yakut ABC book using Cyrillic alphabet, became the first Yakut film script writer (three documentaries have been produced: “The tale of the Yakut land”, “Yakut diamonds”, “Art of the Land of Olonkho ”), the first person who has written libretto of a national opera and ballet, the first person who has openly and courageously defended the repressed writers and scientists. Suorun Omolloon was the first compiler of a collection of Yakut folklore and the creator of open air museums in Cherkekh, Ytyk-Kel, and Sottinsi of Ust-Aldan region. He became the first and the last Yakut writer who has been awarded the honorary title of the Hero of Socialist Labour. And, finally, he became the first person who has most correctly and fully translated the Great Book of all the Peoples of Earth – The Bible – into Yakut language ( Sana kes til ).

During the harsh and hungry war years Omolloon returns to theatrical production, turning to the spheres of music, opera and ballet. With his close friend and producer V.V.Mestnikov he creates a new masterpiece – “Nyurgun Bootur” Olonkho. And in the same “harsh forties” and the following fifties he wrote libretto of ballets “Sir simeghe”, “The stone of happiness”, “Eagles fly to the North” etc. In total, he created three operas and four ballets.

In the sixties Dmitry Kononovitch enters a stage of deep comprehension and high appreciation of folk art, that is: everyday items, architecture and, in general, the whole original material culture of the Sakha people. He was the initiator and the leader of the works on creating a museum of political exile in Cherkekh, literature-art museum in Khadayi, and “Friendship” Lena history and architecture museum-reserve in Sottinsi.

By the end of his long life Suorun Omollon comes to the issues and questions of religion, and now the writer puts spiritual and moral values in the life of society above all.

Omolloon came to theme of religion (Christianity) while creating the “Friendship” Lena history and architecture museum-reserve where, according to his idea, an old Zashiverskaya Church has been built. He is also largely to thank for the restoration of Preobrajensky Church .

He wrote: “ Russia and Yakutia are one. I think that we are alive now because by the logic and the will of history we met with the long-suffering and powerful Russian people… One must be a realist, not a deviser of impracticable schemes.”

Due to his outstanding contribution for the development of Yakut literature, dramatic art, popular schooling, art and museums Suorun Omollon has been awarded the highest State Order “For the Services to the Fatherland” of 3 rd degree, Orders of Lenin, two Orders of Labour Red Banner, “Honour Sign”, Order of the Friendship of Peoples, Order of the Honourable Prince Daniil, rare Medal of K.D.Ushinsky, Gold Medal of the Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy, and “The Polar Star” Yakutian Order.

Knowing thoughts and high civil mission of Suorun Omollon, well known Russian writers Valery Ganichev, Sergey Likoshin, Petr Proskurin, Valentin Rasputin and others considered him to be a real spiritual leader of the Sakha people.

His work and moral views were highly regarded by the Patriarch of All Russia Alexiy, Vladika Yuvenaly, Archbishop German, Yakutsk and Lena Bishop Zosima…

Translated by Valentin Struchkov