Sodnom Baldan Explained

Sodnom Baldan (January 4, 1908 – 1979) was one of the first Mongolian students to study in Western Europe, one of the first members of the Mongolian Writers' Union, a professor at the Mongolian National University, author of Mongolian literature, founder of the study of D. Natsagdorj, philologist, Director of Mongolian National Dictionary Chamber, and senior Mongolian Academy science scholar.

Early life

B. Sodnom was born April 1, 1908, near Lake Gun Galuutay in the state of Tusheet Khan, county of Darkhan Chin Van, village of Nuurentey (now it is called Bayandelger Soum of Töv Aimag) to a poor family. Baldan was their only son and he had two sisters. Until he was 15 years old, he and his family were hired help for master herder Gonchig. When he was 15 years old Baldan moved with his family to Amgalanbaatar (which is near Ulaanbaatar) to go to school.

Education

Academic career

Family

He married Norjmaa Baldan in 1952 and they had 11 children. He met her in 1950, she was related to Batmonk Dayan Khan, her great-grandfather was one of the state of Tusheet Khan's nobility – Sandag Taij, who had a Silk Road trading business that had been handed down through the generations.

Political victimization

All of the Mongolian students that had studied abroad in Western Europe were jailed from 1938 until 1940 by orders of the Mongolian Government officials, who were influenced by Soviet officials. Baldan Sodnom was one of them. They were imprisoned yet again from 1947 until 1949 when most of them were again subjected to prison including Baldan Sodnom again based on influence from Soviet officials. They pardoned them in 1951 for their 1938–1940 prison time and expunged their records. In 1969 they pardoned them for the 1947–1949 prison time. Yet until he died, the Communists kept checking up on him. The records of this are stored and on display at the Memorial Museum for Victims of Political Repression.

Articles and poetry

"Genghis Khan's Twin Stallion" old scripts transected to Cyrillic and poetry style by Ts. Damdinsuren, edited by B. Sodnom - 1956

Founder of academy:1. Study of Mongol 2. Study of Mongolian Literature and Culture3. Study of Mongolian Epic and Oral literature4. Study of D. Natsagdorj5. Study of Mongolian Dictionary6. Study of Mongolian Modern Literature

Publications

Newspapers and magazines

First poem "Zaluuchuud – Youths" published in "Direction of National culture" Journal – 1933, "Aeroflot" – 1935

Books

"*Dictionary of Russian and Mongolian" J.Dashdorj, E.Banduy,boti II-book II, edited by B. Sodnom 1970

Published in English:

TV

External links