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Shalhani Jongorov: A Torghut Partisan of Hobogsair


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Authors

Bulag, Uradyn E. 
Fuerwa, Dorjraa 

Abstract

Shalhani Jongorov was a recent historical figure who actively participated in the liberational army of Hobogsair during the 1940s. Initially a young lama, Jongorov, despite not being as knowledgeable as others, joined the Three District Revolutionary Army and became renowned amongst the Torghuts in Hobogsair. One of his comrades in the army, Tsedni Hotgor, provided detailed accounts of Jongorov’s deeds. In the 1940s, the Nationalist Party of Hobogsair forcefully conscripted 100 Torghuts and gathered horses for a supposed battle in the Altai region. Subsequently, the Torghut cavalry embarked on the journey to Ölöngö Nuur Lake with a Han Chinese leader from Obootin Khüree (Hobogsair town). These soldiers formed the initial body of the partisan troops in Hobogsair, later becoming a part of the Communist Party by the end of the 1940s. Tuulain Tamjav, another conscripted young male, asked others as they approached the lake, ‘Are you people aware of where you are heading? The Nationalist Party officials are taking us to the front line without real weapons, reducing Torghuts’ power through the war. If you don’t believe me, pull your trigger and see what happens, your bullets are fake and would never fire.’ After lengthy discussion on fake bullets, they proved it with several test sjhopts. The outraged soldiers, realizing their situation, suggested killing the Han Chinese leader and going back home. On Tamjav’s advice, these Torghut soldiers seized the opportunity at the lakeside and retreated to Hobogsair. However, upon approaching Obootin Khüree, the town of Hobogsair, four lamas, including Dowagn Jongorov and Khishigtin Bora blocked their route, trying to persuade them to go back to the Altai front line to battle with Kazakh bandits alongside the National Party soldiers. They said that retreating from the battle would be betraying the party, and Hobogsair will once again suffer from thousands of Nationalist Party troops. Irritated with the four lamas, Tamjav shouting that “Etseginchin Baadag (a curse), putting wooden bullets into our weapon and sending us to the fully armed enemy’s mouth was the deed of lamas? The war is none of your lama’s business; restrict yourself to your area.” The angry soldiers continued to gallop into the Obootin Khüree and Torghut Wang’s palace to claim justice from Chöjav, the last queen of Hobogsair, who was originally a Han Chinese from Urumchi and later aligned herself with the Nationalist Party. As the Torghut soldiers approached the Torhgut palace, Chöjav ordered Tatarin Haalag, one of the fifteen Palace rooftop guards, to take down the leading figures. He swiftly shot down the front three immediately. But Berin Khöh, another rooftop guard, pulled the gun from Haalag’s hand and knocked him down with the butt of the gun, angrily shouting: “Do you have a flesh heart? How could you shoot down Torghut soldiers who have your own blood and make their children orphans? Are you going to shoot down all 100 soldiers?” Observing that the Nationalist Party could really pose a threat, the remaining 97 Torghut soldiers turned and fled to the Hargaitin Salaa, where they joined forces with like-minded Kazakhs, broadening their future horizons. The Kazakh suggested to the Torghuts that, instead of launching an attack, they should procure food and livestock from Russia and Khalha to sustain the people of Hobogsair and earn their trust. Establishing themselves in Hargait Salaa and Öljeet Uliyas, the Torghuts and Khazaks endeavoured to expand their influence through various means, including forming alliances with other powers. One day, a young handsome man on a golden-brown horse arrived at their camp with two companies of soldiers. He was dressed immaculately, carrying a semi-automatic rifle on his back, said: “To protect your hometown from bandits by gathering crucial information from your relatives in Obootin Khüree is vital in the initial stage of organizing a guerrilla force. Subsequently, it is important to neutralize any stray National Party Members and arm yourselves with their weapons.” After several discussions with the Torghuts and Khazaks, the young man formed a team consisting of ten Torghuts and three Khazaks, embarking for Khalha to seek additional support. On the Mongolian border, they joined forces with Khalha soldiers, who then escorted the Torghuts to their generals. The young man explained their objectives and the shortage of ammunition for the large troop. They were impressed by the disciplined attire and weaponry of the Khalha Mongolian red armies. The Khalhas provided support to the Torghuts, with approximately 100 soldiers, to undertake a sophisticated plan for the liberation of Hobogsair. Dressed in lama robes, Khalha soldiers infiltrated the monastery, posing as Buddhist lamas. They claimed to be coming to Hobogsair to revitalize Buddhist traditions and knowledge that had weakened over the years. The first batch, about twenty Khalha soldiers, sneaked into the Obootin Khüree monastery particularly targeting individual soldiers of the National Party at night. One night, a Khalha soldier returned to the main camp in Hargatin Salaa from the monastery, reporting that the National Party had moved 200 soldiers from somewhere else, forming a division, and had stationed themselves in the old Süm, Huuchin Süm or the Jungarian city east of Hobogsair. Acting swiftly, the Torghut and Khalha troops not only cut off the connections of the old Süm and Obooting Khüree, but also launched separate attacks, seizing the opportunity to confiscate the enemies’ weapons. This marked the establishment of the first base of the Torghut Liberation Army in Hobogsair. However, the enigmatic leader, the handsome guy, disappeared the following morning. Consequently, Shalhani Jongorov emerged as a significant hero of the revolutionary army, becoming the founder of the Torghut partisans. Hojgur, one of Jongorov’s followers participated in most activities, revealed that the handsome guy's name is Erdei from Ili. He initially joined the National Party, gathering crucial intelligence before leaving to organize the Liberational Army in various locations.

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Keywords

Partisan, Hobogsair, liberation, history

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Publisher

Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge

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Sponsorship
Sponsored by Arcadia Fund, a charitable fund of Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin.