Dzhidzha Araeva, About the Lama Sangadzhi and My Maternal Grandfather

Abstract

Dzhidzha was born in Khavtkha-Barun. She is Kereit, from the Munakhn arvn. Her father was a herder, and her mother was a housewife. Dzhidzha had three siblings, two of whom died in Siberia and one in Kalmykia. When her older sister died, her parents went to see the lama Sangadzhi who by that time had disrobed in order to escape the persecution against the clergy. He was Dzhidzha’s mother’s cousin. Popular among people, his house was full of guests and patients, although among them were those who wrote letters of denunciation about him to the authorities Sangadzhi was soon arrested and sent to gulag. After his release, he returned to Kalmykia where he died. Being of an aristocratic origin, Dzhidzha’s maternal grandfather finished 10 years of education and had a judicial education. He was a wealthy man and ran a shop. He organized a rich wedding for his daughter that lasted for three days. When the Bolsheviks came to power, he destroyed his business and went to live in a dugout with his five children.