Kalmykia celebrates the Day of National Writing

It was created by the great enlightener, the Buddhist monk Zaya Pandita, in 1648, reforming the common Mongolian script “khudm bichg.” Initially, the author of the “clear script” created it in order to translate Buddhist sutras and religious texts from the Tibetan language.

“Tod bichg” became the official script of the Kalmyks. It was used right up until 1924. However, even after that, Buddhist monks, despite the prohibitions, kept up correspondence among themselves in the Oirat language, copied Buddhist writings and prayers — it was important to preserve their heritage!
And now, for 374 years already, the national writing of the Kalmyks lives on and is currently experiencing something of a revival.

“It is gratifying today to see the interest of young people in ‘tod bichg.’ Among them, clothing whose prints use the Oirat script is gaining popularity. Young people give each other gifts, incorporating elements of the Kalmyk vertical script into them. In educational institutions, classes on ‘tod bichg’ are held. There are even online courses on studying the script of Zaya Pandita,” Badma Menyaev, the head of the “History of Buddhism in Kalmykia” museum of the Central Khurul, tells us.