Labor, Socialism, Revival (GotW x 1983: Doomsday)

Other Russian survivor states: Kalmykia

From the ruins of the Russian FSSR, some new countries who survived from the attacks began to rise.

Inspired by the Baltic and Nordic countries, who declared independence and became more western alligned, independent groups managed to seize some parts of southern Russia and small areas in the north.

In southern Russia, near the Volga...the Kalmyks would recover their independence

THE STORY OF KALMYKIA (GILYANA MANDZHIEVA)

As one of the luckiest territories in former USSR, Kalmykia was not nuked on Doomsday, and was just affected by small amounts of radioactive dust and rain coming from the direction of Rostov, as well as refugees from the strike on Astrakhan. Having refugees and fallout from the nearest strikes, and a (really fast) nationalism, the Kalmyk ASSR declared two times their SSR status, and later, independence.

House of the Soviets, Elitsa, Kalmyk ASSR. October 4th 1983.

After a week without news from other part of the USSR, the newly formed All-Kalmyk Congress of Soviets, located in the House of the Soviets of Elitsa, declared the creation of the Kalmyk SSR, as a way to improve their status, in case of a surviving USSR goverment founding the territory and to make it a part of the goverment that was loyal to the country.

Gilyana Mandzhieva, the representation of Kalmykia, who was living in Elitsa, supported that change, as would made her more relevant in the case of having the Russian SFSR back...

"This change is to make us still a part of the USSR...we want to restore order her!"-commented her, to the All-Kalmyk Congress of Soviets-

House of the Soviets, Elitsa, Kalmyk ASSR. January 6, 1984.

Less than 5 months since Doomsday, by pressure of certain nationalistic figures, the All-Kalmyk Congress of Soviets declared the independence of Kalmykia as an independent republic, which made the place to recover part of the identity and customs that were until 1920.

The independence was the beginning of the cultural, ethnic and religious revitalization for the Kalmyk people. Since then, Buddhism has become the focus of ethnic identity for most Kalmyks, incluiding their personification

Gilyana stood impressed at how the religion helped all the Kalmyks to survive those terrible times...

As part of their traditions, the goverment needed to re-establish the temples, so a small expedition was sent eastwards in 1986, that would reach the region of the Tibet in 1988.

Amazed to see travelers from so very far away, the Dali Lama granted them an audience, and they told him all about their reasons for making the dangerous journey from Kalmykia.

His heart was gladdened to hear that loyal followers still existed outside of the Indian subcontinent, but was dismayed to discover the conditions that they had to worship under - no guidance, temple, or anything of the sort. He promised to send them back, with some help and guards, after his troubles in Tibet were over.

After the war had ended, he introduced them to the man who would be entrusted with helping them - Erdne Ombadykow, a native Kalmyk who had been born in the United States and had been studying under the Lama since the late seventies. He also entrusted their care with a reinforced platoon of soldiers. They would leave in midsummer, before the snows came and blocked the passes again.

Before leaving, however, the Lama entrusted a small relic of Buddha to Ombadykow, which the temple in Elista that was to be built would be built around. However, no others were to be told about this until they arrived there safely. This relic today attracts a few pilgrims from Tibet each year, guarded by soldiers from the PRMDS, who have managed to make the long and difficult trip from Tibet. They would arrive back in Elista to much jubilation in 1991, largely intact.

Along the statue, Erdne-Basan Ombadykow, an american monk from Kalmyk parents who was living in a Buddhist monastery, accepted to join and resettle in the area where his ancestors came then. He became the Šajin (Supreme) Lama of the Kalmyk people.

Erdne-Basan Ombadykow would become closer with Gilyana Mandzhieva, and she helped him with the language and how to help the inhabitants of the country.