Yuanyuan Notes - Kazakh Ballad Khayran Jalgan

When I first arrived in Kazakhstan, I always felt that the Kazakhs were serious and unsmiling. The faces of middle-aged and elderly people are engraved with wrinkles of the years, and there seem to be countless vicissitudes. Most of the young salespersons are also stern as if they are on a heavy yoke. Even the headmaster of the school had a solemn, intimidating expression. The principal comes from another country and has been teaching for more than 20 years.

After spending a few weeks with the principal, I found that the principal also likes to joke. Once I jokingly appreciated his humor. "You can't live in Kazakhstan without humor," he said with a smile.

Like other member states of the former Soviet republics, Kazakhstan has experienced the cruelty and pain of communist totalitarian rule. From the fall of the Berlin Wall to the present, these countries have been groping for transformation in the shadow of Russia's huge political economy. Although Kazakhstan has made remarkable progress, spiritual and cultural constraints still exist. After all, Central Asia and Eastern Europe are still very much constrained by the two neighboring powers, the Soviet Union and China.

I came across a very familiar Kazakh ballad " Khayran Jalgan" on the Internet . The lyrics read like this

"We were a happy nation milking camel milk,

Alas, these sad times,

Has your hometown really gone?

The afflicted people are in exile with the cry of the camels,

Alas, these sad times. "

I curiously asked my Kazakh friends to verify the writing time of this song. My friends asked many seniors very seriously, and came back and told me that many Kazakhs in their 80s and 90s would sing this song when they were children. I told him with a smile that the Chinese said that this song was composed by their composer in 1939. The Chinese were proud of this song and chose this song to launch the first lunar exploration satellite, Chang'e-1.

Once upon a time, a Kazakh sad song was altered into a Chinese love song. Listen, I seem to understand a little bit why when I talk to the Kazakhs about the Soviet Union and China, they silently fall into deep contemplation...

... I also seem to understand a little bit of the screams of Hong Kong people... Hey, in this sad era, has my hometown really gone?