The Impulso Podcast E45: Where in Europe people share common birthday?
Dec 14, 2023
A lively tour of Kalmykia, the little-known European region with Mongolian roots. They trace migration stories, Soviet-era deportations, and the decline of the Kalmyk language. Listeners hear about Elista’s Buddhist temples, Asian-inflected architecture, local festivals like Zul, and meat-centric cuisine and economy. Personal memories bring everyday life and cultural resilience into focus.
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A Mongolian People In Europe
- Kalmykia is a European republic whose people are ethnically Mongolian, descended from Oirats who migrated in the 17th century.
- Their history explains cultural blends and geographic uniqueness within Russia.
Language Loss After Mass Repression
- Kalmyk is officially recognized and taught, yet most people speak Russian today.
- Historical tragedies severely weakened intergenerational transmission of the Kalmyk language.
Deportation To Siberia Broke Culture
- Dalia recounts the 20th-century exile of Kalmyks to Siberia under Stalin and the brutal transport conditions.
- She says many people died en route and cultural continuity was broken by those deportations.