If a nation does not know its history, if the country loses its history, then its citizens have nowhere to go.
Mirzhakyp Dulatuly

Cultural Walk: House and Museum of Dinmukhamed Akhmedovich Kunaev

1550
Cultural Walk: House and Museum of Dinmukhamed Akhmedovich Kunaev - e-history.kz

As we were coming into the museum we saw the portrait of cultured man in a suit with beautiful eyes — he was Kunaev. Dinmukhamed Akhmedovich is a legend, outstanding politician and public figure, his name is a symbol of a whole epoch, he contributed significantly to social, economic and cultural development of Kazakhstan.

Dozens of cities and giant factories were constructed and virgin lands were developed in the country under the direction of Kunaev. Many architectural masterpieces being landmarks of Almaty was built under his wise guidance.

1e648a3cfa0b9fef24a70b6e9e7d47ce.jpg

Museum of Kunaev consists of two exposition rooms. Materials illustrating his childhood and studentship as well as the documents related to the start of his labor activity are presented at the first room.

In his family Dinmukhamed Akhmedovich was the fourth among eleven children. Photos of his relatives are on the big stand near his own picture.

fc3e38a3361ca1ab658255a3bbf57fb5.jpg09e42622eb1eccfb4e7d502caa955c49.jpg

Parents: mother Zaure Shymbulatova, father Akhmed Kunaev

3d07f03fc7a934828ed5771bf9baf0fc.jpg

Dinmukhamed Akhmedovich with his brother Askar Minliakhmedovich

6c693bbb1f6dbd2c7ecdee7f7ea4d054.jpg

Kunaev’s student days

Kunaev was a keen admirer and judge of collection weapon and liked to hunt; therefore his friend, coworkers and leaders of different states frequently presented him weapon. However, the collection of weapon was confiscate from the former leader of the republic. Part of it has not yet returned to Kunaev’s family…

d5826925202c676929f9e9e91f83a96f.JPG

Kunaev in the chase

a75bd20878ee17cd2ba07ba3ad0d4ce1.jpg

43f56eec05a9b66598172c65c1af2d7d.jpg

N. A. Nazarbayev’s present to his 70th birthday, 1982

In addition to weapon Kunaev had a weakness for lighter. His collection counts 476 pieces. In due time, many people knew about his interest, and the mighty of the world hastened to present him lighters. The collection has gifts from U. S. President John Kennedy, Iraq’s leader Saddam Hussein and many others.

0bc4cd4ed6dc166ea3808e580b5f0627.jpg

Collection of lighters

Exhibits in the second room tell about Kunaev — politician, scientist, diplomat and leading statesman.

Handmade wooden table, present from Indira Gandhi, stands in the center of the room.

b4781e68b26c2d3c871f20a65ad0c1e7.jpg

Another one expensive present, which is a pride of museum staff, is a collection of minerals; each of them is a part of richest Kazakhstan’s land.

445e275531bf21d13a6097eb93ddadce.jpg

Kunaev was a very tall man; this could be seen by his suit. His height was 1,98. The size of his shoes is 46th.

f9ca53c0379c67561cfb9caf9479adf9.jpg

Interest to the personality of Dinmukhamed Akhmedovich didn’t become weaker with the years; therefore the memorial flat-museum where Kunaev lived in 1969–1993 was opened in the year of his 100th birthday.

Flat-museum where Dinmukhamed Kunaev lived during 24 years has 200 square meters. It is an ordinary three-room flat with big sitting-room and hall for these days. Leonid Brezhnev who came to Alma-Ata for the first time and visited Kunaev in his apartment was surprised: «Is that all?» As spectators remember Kunaev answered that as far as he didn’t have children this flat is enough for him and his wife.

4b1d593a823fc87c0c4596af0aaa5bde.jpg

Sitting-room

ef0495424bcc62d9f12defb7189fd116.jpg

Bedroom

72768fee4b3829a8177b93350f30a2f7.jpg

Personal space of Kunaev’s wife Zukhra — her kitchen

f3582a7aed01b2967dac22e1c2b72494.jpg

Hall. Panasonic TV set. Sofa with pillows decorated by Kunaev’s wife

Kunaev’s wife Zukhra Yalymova was Tatar by birth, very striking and beautiful woman with light eyes. She was his first and the only beloved of Kunaev. They didn’t have children; however despite this they had long and happy family life.

3986a588b9b8671eb002ca825cefacda.jpg

918ef17e166b27108154a5e305e62976.jpg

This flat not only keeps the life style of Dinmukhamed Kunaev; it provides an opportunity to witness how talented and all-round he was — scientist, production worker, statesman and public figure and ordinary person who loved people and the life.

Visitors have an opportunity to look at the life of this great person from another side. The private office of Dimash Akhmedovich, which library counts more than 5000 volumes representing World, Russian, Soviet and Kazakh literature, is very impressive. Great number of albums on Art, another evidence of depth and catholicity of D. A. Kunaev’s nature, also amazes.

f3ebe94845f4f59a79cbf7a5f2b47212.jpg

c989e52941c5afc234dd559907ba86b2.jpg

054cb24a1b3ade4777b8b7bff89ae7ce.jpg

0bef38a2b1e6783583959b82fb556942.jpg

Working table of Dinmukhamed Akhmedovich

Lots of souvenirs and more costly presents tell about the cities and countries D. A. Kunaev visited as well as about people he met. Kunaev was proclaimed «Man of the Century».

b76ce506dbebb6aca3a71423965e46e4.jpg


c3215594fe6af63e2c7a63f039ccad75.jpg

Souvenir made of stone.

1044c0c262646c7d596d0455831e9c55.jpg

Not everyone receives such title. People still appreciate and remember everything Dinmukhamed Akhmedovich did and deeply respect memory of him.

Demchenko Alena


Author: