Work of the Dorzhi Banzarov Buryat-Mongolian Scientific Society for the Study of the History and Culture of the Mongolian Nation in the 1920s

Abstract

The events of 1917 had a major effect on all spheres of society in the former Russian Empire. These events also had a major effect on the development of scientific and educational activities. The study of the features and experience of scientific and educational institutions of the 1920s is important and significant for more effective construction of research activities, state policy in the field of science. This article reviews the history and work of the first scientific and educational institutions of Buryatia. The processes of studying the history and culture of the Mongolian peoples are considered on the example of the works of the Dorzhi Banzarov Buryat-Mongolian Scientific Society formed in 1924. There is a connection between the scientific Oriental institutions of pre-revolutionary Russia and the new Soviet scientific organizations. The article views the history of the Buryat-Mongolian Scientific Society, its structure, main directions and results of work. The results of scientific and educational work in Buryat-Mongolia were also evaluated. The article is based on materials from the State Archive of the Republic of Buryatia and the State Archive of the Irkutsk region. The institution consisted of three main sections: political-economic (economic), physical-geographical and historical-ethnological. Special attention is paid to the work of the historical and ethnological section of the society, which has made a great contribution to the development of historical science, the study of the history and culture of the Mongolian peoples, educational activities, as well as the accumulation, description and preservation of archival materials. An important source for writing the article was the print publication of the Buryat-Mongolian scientific society “Buryatievedenie”, the lectures of participants published in it and reports on the work of the institution. An important aspect of the study is the matter of changes in state policy in relation to scientific, educational, local history societies in the early 1930s and its impact on research work in Buryat-Mongolia.