Holidays of Russia - Adoption of the Steppe Code (Constitution) of the Republic of Kalmykia

The term “Steppe Code” first appeared thanks to Iakinfu Bichurin This traveler, orientalist, historian and part-time archimandrite of the Russian Orthodox Church, among his other works, was engaged in translations of ancient literary monuments of the Kalmyk and Mungal peoples The primary source of his works is called succinctly, “Their Tsaaz” (Yeke сaaji) and the most accurate translation would be “The Great Code” But Bichurin did not dare to call this document “Great”; in the context of the Russian Empire it would sound absurd We were talking about the peoples (Oirats, Mungals, Kalmyks) who originally occupied the steppe lands of the Empire and based their laws on the peculiarities of living and living in the steppes That is why the epithet “steppe” was used, as denoting territorial and partly ethnic affiliation Kalmyks were clearly associated with these grassy plains So much so that Pushkin boldly called the representative of this people “a friend of the steppes” On his way to the Caucasus in 1829, Alexander Sergeevich spent several days with a Kalmyk family, lived in a tent, drank the famous Kalmyk herbal tea made with lamb fat, saw ceremonies, rituals and knew what he was talking about Since the majority of Kalmyks were then illiterate and could not challenge the accuracy of the translation, the term “Steppe Code” easily and quickly took hold and came into use in those circles where it was of interest The people themselves considered their charter to be the Basic Law, an analogue of the Constitution, lived by it and did not know what it was called outside of their lands When Kalmykia belonged to the USSR, there could be no talk of its own constitution However, with the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Kalmykia, having acquired the status of a federal subject, becoming a republic within the Russian Federation, received the right to adopt its own Basic Law This is what was done in 1994, on April 5th Since then, this date has been celebrated as the Day of Adoption of the Steppe Code (Constitution) of the Republic of Kalmykia On the territory of the republic, this day is a holiday and a day off; during it, ceremonial events are held, both at the formal and at the everyday level The region is the only one in Russia and Europe where Buddhism is officially practiced Representatives of over eighty nationalities coexist peacefully on its territory People of different traditions, cultures and religions Such tolerance towards one's neighbor and such peacefulness confirm the efficiency of the Basic Law of the Republic, its original effectiveness and rationality The steppe code corresponds to the realities of the territory where the document is applied It defines aspects of life, designates the rights of every citizen, allows you to realize yourself without causing harm to either society or the state Such a Basic Law can safely be called workable, protecting the interests of the people subordinate to it, and the tradition of the holiday in honor of its adoption must be solemn