Malik Gabdullin
Malik Gabdullin (, ; 2 January 1973) was a Soviet-Kazakh philologist, professor, and writer. A veteran of the Second World War, he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union for his bravery in battle. Early life. Born on , in the village of Pukhalskoye (now in Zerendinsky district, Akmola region, Kazakhstan). Nationality – Kazakh. He is a direct descendant of Kanai Kuttymbetuly, a Kazakh biy, one of the leaders of the Kazakhs of the Middle Zhuz, a major commander, chief adviser to Abylai Khan and a public figure of the 18th century. Belonged to the Middle Zhuz, subgenus Karauyl  of the genus Argyn. From the age of 14 he was brought up in the family of the famous Kazakh writer Sabit Mukanov. After graduating from the Abai Kazakh Pedagogical Institute in 1935 he entered military service, where he remained until 1937. He then got a job at the newspaper "Socialist Kazakhstan", and later became deputy editor of the newspaper "Kazakhstan pioneer" before moving on to be a researcher at the Institute of Language and Literature of the KazFAN of the USSR before returning to the Abai institute to begin his postgraduate studies. World War II. In 1941-1945 he  participated in the Great Patriotic War as part of the Panfilov Guards Division. In January - March 1942, in the battles near the town of Kholm, Novgorod Region, Gabdullin led a group of soldiers. In a battle with the prevailing enemy forces, they knocked out 2 tanks with grenades, inflicted heavy losses on the enemy and captured 12 people. Gabdullin was wounded in battle, but did not leave the battlefield. For this feat, senior political instructor Malik Gabdullin was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR  dated 30 January 1943. Post-war career. After the war, he was engaged in scientific and pedagogical activities. Director of the Institute of Literature and Linguistics of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR (1946-1951), Rector of the Abai KazPI (1953-1963), head of the folklore department of the Institute of Literature and Art named after M. O. Auezov of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR (1963-1973). The main topic of Malik Gabdullin's research is the heroic epics, folk songs, aitys, fairy tales, proverbs and sayings of the Kazakh people. He took part in  the preparation and publication of the multivolume history of Kazakh literature. His scientific work "Kazakh heroic epic" was awarded the prize named after Shoqan Walikhanov in 1972. Author of a number of works of the genre of fiction: «Мои фронтовые друзья» (1947), «Золотая звезда» (1948), «Фронтовые очерки» (1949), «Будни войны» (1968), «О друзьях, товарищах» (1969), «Грозные годы» (1971). Some of the works were published in Russian, translated by I.P. Shchegolikhin. Gabdullin was a member of the CPSU since 1940 and was elected a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 2nd-4th convocations. Gabdullin had a daughter, Maidan  Malikovna, granddaughters Amin and Madina, great-grandchildren Malik, Jamilya, Ilyas and Maya.