O Dashbalbar (1957-1999) was the youngets of Yavuuhulan's three main students, but also the one whom the other two recognised as somehow their leader and their teacher. He spent the first thirty-seven years of his life immersed in books and poetry and the land with which he felt a close connection. Then, in 1994, he was elected to the Great Hural as an independent parliamentarian, and proceeded in this way to lobby against the proposed Land Law, which would grant private ownership to tracts of the Mongolian state, which historically had been free for the nomadic people to use as pastureland and as a place to set up their camps. He died, at the age of only forty-two, in October 1999, in a mysterious death which some consider to have been murder by poisoning, in response to his political activity and popular support.
His book The River Flows Gently was published in 1986, and about half of it is reproduced for download below. This includes his famous love poem "For You," as well as a number of poetic prose pieces dealing with culture and the nature of art and beauty. In addition to my introductary essay to this book, you can also download the portrait by his friend and fellow-poet Mend-Ooyo (see yesterday's post), which includes a final section written a few days following Dashbalbar's death.
Download The River Flows Gently (excerpt)
Download Dashbalbar River Gently Flows Intro
Download DASHBALBAR’S PRAYER OF LOVE
Tomorrow: Ts Bavuudorj
