Kh.Purev: Top 17 Naadam wrestlers were my pupils
“Iworked for the state for 44 years and I spent 38 of those years teaching wrestling. Looking back on my ancestors and the years I’ve lived, not a day passed in my life where wrestling was not involved one way or another. When I retired, the workers of Autobus 3 station nominated me for the State Honored Transporter title. It was then that I said, ‘Thank you for honoring my line of work in the transportation industry, but I will not accept any awards that is not related to wrestling,’” said Kh.Purev. During this year’s Naadam festival, Kh.Purev was awarded the State Honored Cultural Contributor title. Kh.Purev had tears of joy in his eyes as his life’s work and contribution to Mongolian wrestling was recognized by the state.
When you were awarded the title, the wrestling fanatics were overjoyed. You are the eldest son of a family of wrestlers. Why did you not become a wrestler yourself when your father and uncle are such famed wrestlers?
My father comes from a family or wrestlers and my father’s brother was an ulsyn arslan. People know him best as “red necked” Deleg. My little sister gave birth to many sons who became wrestlers later on. My sister Kh.Purevbadam is the mother of ulsyn avarga D.Sumiyabazar, ulsyn nachin D.Serjbudee and top sumo wrestler Asashoryu D.Davagdorj. My father got injured wrestling and I too got injured and couldn’t wrestle. Other than that, I have done many things.
For a while, I tried to become a folk singer. In 1976, when it was the 50th anniversary of Mongolia’s independence, male folk singers were rare. There were no other male folk singers other than J.Dorjdagva and B.Lkamjav. When I was working in the energy sector, I took a six-month course at the People’s Song and Dance Ensemble. I was in the same course as actors such as A.Nergui, G.Terbish, and J.Nansalmaa.
I realized I had become decent at singing when the minister called me in and said, “Son, you have won the talent show of the people. Go to the ministry of culture and work as a singer.”
When he said that I left and ran to my mother and when I told her everything, she said, “Instead of screaming to put food on your plate, work and put food on your plate.” Then, I thought, “One day, my voice will no longer work. If I sweat to make a living, I will have food on my plate for the rest of my life. I won’t burden my mother like this, I won’t do it.”
Another reason was that my teachers had a salary of 350 MNT and working in energy, I got paid 750 MNT per month. Due to how one’s salary is not to be lowered, I would have still gotten 750 MNT at the Ministry of Culture. If so, I would have gotten paid more than my teachers, which I was not comfortable with and because I was embarrassed I couldn’t go for it.
After spending two months there, I told Minister of Culture S.Luvsanvandan my whole truth and went back to my old job.
For I while, I was back at my old job and the minister contacted me again saying, “I guess we are not fated to work together. The Inspection Agency wants you to work there, I suppose they need you there. Go to the place they need you.” That’s when I was appointed as the head of the production department of the Inspection Agency.
In 1980, I was still at the Inspection Agency, but I wanted to train wrestlers. When I told this to the head of the khoroo, he was very surprised and said, “What are you talking about? The head of a department at the Inspection Agency can’t train wrestlers.” It was no surprise that he said that because head inspectors of supposed to make ministry heads shake in fear.
He softened a bit eventually and said, “If you really like wrestling, why don’t you get a job that is different than training them?” I stood firm in my wish to train wrestlers. I used to secretly train them in the Naadams of the provinces and soums.
One time, I did so at a national Naadam. I didn’t call out their titles like the trainers had to but I still helped the wrestlers from the sideline. At that time, a tattletale called television came to be. My boss found out and said, “Buddy, why are you training wrestlers?” I responded saying, “I didn’t call out the titles.” And he replied, “Since you already trained them, you should have announced the titles anyways. It would have been worth it that way even if you got penalized for it.” Since he was a man, of course, he had a soft spot for wrestling.
What is the hardest part about training wrestlers?
The national Naadam takes place in many different climate conditions. Some years are extremely sunny, some are drizzling with rain, and other harsh conditions. Sometimes it rains so hard that the two wrestlers can’t see each other. It is also very hard to call out the titles of every single wrestler there.
Kh.Bayanmunkh has the most titles -- 25 in total. If I left out one of his accomplishments, the wrestling fanatics would say, “He didn’t announce this and that. He doesn’t know how to do his job.” Some of the wrestlers don’t know all of their own titles. One time, when I announced B.Bat-Erdene’s titles, he asked if he had that title.
It doesn’t matter whether the wrestler knows it himself or not, it is for the people. Announcing the titles is very tiring in general. During the national Naadam, I go on stage 18 times to announce titles. When 1,024 people wrestle, I go on stage 24 times to announce titles. At the end, my feet go numb. Even so, I can’t sit and must finish it at all cost. If I eat too much food, it makes it difficult to announce titles because I am so full.
You contributed greatly to the development of the Wrestling Palace. At the time, how did you fundraise from the public?
At the time, I was working as the general director of the Construction Material Factory and the head of the Wrestling Association. P.Davaasambuu and I brainstormed for a lengthy amount of time to fundraise. I said, “Whether they give it or not, let’s start at Bulgan Province.” I said this because the first national champion was born from Bulgan Province and other famed wrestlers such as seven-time avarga B.Tuvdendorj, S.Tserem and Jamiyadorj.
After I left the Inspection Agency, the new head of the agency became provincial zaan L.Javzmaa, who was also the mayor of Bulgan Province. When I arrived, the director of a flour factory was there and he offered five tons of flour as investment. We had no transportation to take the five tons of flour. I went to the VII Bulgan Transportation Station to get transportation and the other half was transported by the Construction Material Factory.
Due to all that hard work and fundraising from Arkhangai, Sergelen, Bat-Tsengel, we fundraised 600 million MNT. The total construction cost 1.4 billion MNT and the remaining 800 million MNT came from the government, but the government’s money is money from taxes so it belongs to the people.
Now, there are issues going on because they want the Wrestling Palace to become someone’s property. I said, “You all have no rights to want the Wrestling Palace. This is the property of the people and if somebody must have it, give it to the government.”
Why must they fight over a clay building and bring shame to their names.
One of the things that is perhaps most honorable to young wrestlers is becoming ulsyn avarga. How many of your pupils became national champions?
From 38 years that I’ve been training wrestlers, 17 of my pupils became national champions. The garids I.Dorjsambuu and N.Ganbaatar are also my pupils. Those I’ve trained always became champions. There were no zaan or hartsaga. I guess I had the destiny to have one nachin.
What did you study at school?
I studied geology. I studied economics as well. In order to become a demantment head at the Inspection Agency, I studied at the party’s school.
You stopped training wrestlers in 2013. Why did you retire?
I didn’t teach since 2013 and I realized it is hard to sit at home and watch Naadam on television. I was feeling sorry for myself with tears running down my face. To think such a day would come. I am thinking of starting to train wrestlers again.
As long as I have the ability to see, hear and move my four limbs, why not. President Kh.Battulga’s father J.Khaltmaa was a wrestling trainer. When he reached 75, he said, “I’ve taught wrestling for many years and the green arena has treated me well. I can no longer do this. The next generation should train the wrestlers well,” and my teacher left.
For this reason, I think I still have it in me to train wrestlers. My father has not wrestled since he got injured and got into race horse training instead.
These days, I have been trying to get into horse training as well. My father used to say, “There is no such thing as perfectly making a horse fit for racing. This is the hardest part.” Now I see that this is true and I don’t do it very well either.
In 2011, my horse raced in the national race and placed 23rd. He could have gotten a higher place, but I didn’t know that he caught flu.
Did you have a small body seeing as you were a jockey at 17?
I did and now people almost don’t believe me. This was almost the age to have a family and lead a household. I raced horses starting when I was six and did so for 11 years. When children ride horses for that many years, they try to keep riding regardless of whether they know the horse trainer and whether the horse moves or not.
These days, the reputation of wrestlers is tainted. The honored titles have become a business. What is your stance on this issue?
I completely agree. There are wrestlers who wrestle honorably, but for the most part it is becoming a business. Following this, the tactics, tricks and sharp wrestling techniques have decreased as well. It was depressing to watch this year’s Naadam.
Back in the days, the wrestlers used to argue but it was very unlikely. There is a standard that wrestlers have to follow, but these days, negotiations for titles have increased. Aside from insiders like me knowing, even the audience knows now.
The wrestlers with higher titles used to support the new ones, kiss them on the forehead and say “become a great wrestler.” It is unfortunate to see that this heritage and tradition perished.
...Now, there are issues going on because they want the Wrestling Palace to become someone’s property. I said, “You all have no rights to want the Wrestling Palace. This is the property of the people and if somebody must have it, give it to the government...