Jangar

More about the book

Jangar is the heroic epic of the Kalmyk nomads, who are the Western Mongols of Genghis Khan's medieval empire in Europe. Today, Kalmykia is situated in the territory that was once the Golden Horde, founded by the son of Genghis Khan, Juchi. Although their famed West-Wing khanates and cities have long since disappeared under the sands of the Great Eurasian Steppe, the Kalmyks have witnessed, memorized, and orally transmitted some of the most transformative developments, both victorious and tragic, in the history of civilizations. A tribute to the protectors of the mythical country Bumba, Jangar reflects the hopes and aspirations of the Kalmyk people, their centuries-long struggle for their cultural existence. This book is an important step in the Kalmyk people's struggle for cultural survival following Soviet repression. Making Jangar available in English is a landmark event, bringing a lost classic to the world's attention and restoring the voices of an almost erased tradition at the heart of the history of Eurasia.