Amirkhan Kamizovich Shomakhov

Member of the CPSU since 1938.

Amirkhan Kamizovich Shomakhov studied at Khetagurov North Ossetian State University. The recorded working language is Kabardian. Distinctions recorded are Order of the Badge of Honour, Medal "For the Defence of the Caucasus", Medal "For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" and Jubilee Medal "In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin".

• Birthplace —, Tersky District Russian Empire • Died — 13 July 1988 • Place of death — Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria, RSFSR, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics • Resting Place — Nalchik, Volny Aul Cemetery • Occupation — Writer, lyricist, playwright • Years Active — 1930–1985 • Known for — Lyrics for Children • Spouse — Lyolya Kupova (m. 1913–1999) • Parents — Kamiza Shomakhov, Gushaney Maksidova • Children — Tamara Shomakhova, Sultan Shomakhov

Amirkhan Shomakhov was born in the village of Kanshuei of the Terskaya oblast of the Russian Empire (in what is now Nizhnii Kurp of the Tersky District of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic, Russian Federation).

In his early childhood Shomakhov studied at a madrasa in his native village. After the October Revolution he finished primary school and entered a secondary educational institution called The Lenin's Campus in the city of Nalchik. In 1933 he graduated from the Northern Caucasus Pedagogical Institute in Ordzhonikidze (Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia-Alania). In 1955 he also finished the Higher Party School of the Central Committee of the CPSU.

During his lifetime Amirkhan Shomakhov worked as lecturer, editor, and official in governmental and civic institutions. • 1933-1936 Nalchik Pedagogical College (teacher, deputy principal, principal) • 1935-1936 Military service • 1938-1940 Republican newspaper (editor-in-chief) • 1941-1941 CPSU committee of the Baksansky District, KBR (chairman) • 1941-1943 People's Commissariat of Education of KBR (comissar) • 1943-1945 Republican newspaper, KBR (editor-in-chief) • 1945-1946 CPSU committee of the Baksansky District, KBR (chairman) • 1947-1949 Kabardian Publishing House (director) • 1949-1952 Ministry of Education of KBR (minister) • 1952-1955 All-Union Znanie Society, KBR (executive secretary) • 1955-1957 Republican newspaper, KBR (vice editor-in-chief) • 1957-1960 Literary magazine «Oshkhamahue», KBR (editor-in-chief) • 1965-1970 Republican Union of Writers, KBR (executive secretary)

For the first time Shomakhov's lyrics saw the light of the day in 1933 (in a literary collection «First Step»).

Shomakhov is the author of novels Kolkhoz Under Fire (1958) and Dawn Over the Terek (1968; Russian translation, 1972). The former tells about the events of the war years, and the latter concerns the Civil War and the first years of Soviet power in the Kabardian Republic. He also wrote a novel titled Horsemen on the Peaks (1970), about formation of the working class in Kabardino-Balkaria.

Amirkhan Shomakhov was truly a dedicated kids writer. A Moscow publishing house «Detskaya Literatura» in 1969 highly appraised his poem «Scouts». In 1970 he was nominated for the State award named after N. Krupskaya. His books have been translated into many of the languages of the peoples of the Soviet Union. Here is an abstract from his poemette translated to English by Margaret Wettlin: POOR LITTLE MUKHADIN Always something bad befalls me, I'm always on the outs with luck, Every day the teacher calls me To the board, and there I'm stuck. Yesterday I couldn't tell her Where our country gets its tea, I lost my pen, I lost my speller — What a life for such as me!

• Father: Kamiza Shomakhov. • Mother: Maksidova Guashane. • Wife: Lyolya Kupova − 26 January 1999. • Amirkhan and Lyolya had 2 children: the daughter, Tamara and the son, Sultan.

• Medal "For the Defence of the Caucasus" (1944). • Medal "For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" (1945). • Order of the Badge of Honour (1957). • Order of the Badge of Honour (1970). • Medal "In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin" (1970). • Medal "Thirty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" (1976).

• The City Council of Nalchik, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Amirkhan Shomakhov's birth, disposed to erect a commemorative plaque on the facade of the poet's residence house.