Chinggis Khaan Festival

The year 2012 mark the 850^th  anniversary of the birth of the Great Chinggis Khaan, the founder of the Mongol empire.  By a decree of the President of Mongolia the 14 of November, the day chosen for this celebration, will be a national holiday and at the same time it will be celebrated as a “National Pride Day”.

Surely this has nothing to do with homonymous celebrations going on around the world.  Chinggis Khaan, the legendary initiator of the Mongol empire remains a major figure of reference for the recovered identity of this young post communist democracy.

No doubt Mongolia has many reasons to be proud of.  The last June political elections which saw the passage of power from the ancient communist party to a Democratic coalition, is indicated as an example of great democracy, peace and stability among many regions in central Asia.

Moreover this former communist country of almost 3 million people has the world’s fastest growing economy, due to rampant gold, tin, copper and coal mining. Investors  and political delegations from all corners of the world are flogging in this country which appears to be like a new “Eldorado” in a difficult world economic situation.

Needless to say, the wild  beauty of the country, its famous landscapes filled with emptiness and silence, make this nation a special attraction for tourist and nature lovers.

There is also a sense of proudness in the heart of each Mongolian citizen. How many times we hear the expression: bi bol mongol khun (I am a Mongolian). It is a way to affirm a national identity, to recall the memory of a glorious past  and maybe to express  the will to take an active part in the world’s new upcoming scenarios.

If these are some of the reasons to be proud of, the Mongolian people and its governing bodies are the more aware of the challenges and difficulties, which lay ahead.

Growth Poverty

The 17% of last year and the 11/12% of national growth expected this year has to take into account  the 30% of the Mongolians who still live in poverty.  A situation which has described the nation as a “beggar sitting on gold”. The distribution of wealth from mining revenues to the population must be looked into with a long distance planning. The indiscriminate distribution of money cash to people, in an old socialist and populist style, may risk reducing opportunities for more durable investments in infrastructures, services, formation, industries, quality of life and it may boost inflation.

The will of part of the government to restart a discussion on already signed mining agreements with powerful multinational companies, like Rio Tinto and its associate Ivanhoe (Turquoise Hill) has put many investors on the alert about the security of their investments with the risk to slow down a flow of capitals so much needed  in this moment.

New reach and new richness are creating an evident economic social divide with a middle class which can hardly reach the end of the month with their monthly salary.

Environment

Mining resources and mining revenues, make the principal motor for the actual Mongolian  fast growing economy.  But among the population, and especially among the herders, who have seen their grazing lands invaded by huge infrastructures and their soil turned upside down by powerful machinery, are questioning the impact of mining on the fragile environment already stressed by 40 millions head of animals and an advancing desert. Strong laws to protect environment are needed to balance the need in one side to take advantage of the enormous mineral recourses and on the other to protect nature and the still existing traditional nomadic style of life.

Corruption

It is the virus corroding the system from within. The sentence by a court in Ulaanbaatar condemning the former President Enkhbayar Nambar to four years in prison on corruption charges, even though, as somebody suggested, tainted with some political intentions, may indicate the strong will of the government to get rid of this situation which seems to be spread, in different ways and forms, in all the strata of the politico-administrative apparatus of the nation.

Old and new

Since the 1990 collapse of communism, Mongolia has changed considerably. Today, modern towers stand proud around Ulaanbaatar’s central Sukhbaatar Square, which soar over Soviet-inspired monuments from the mid-20th century. The mines also provide relatively well-paid jobs to local people who take advantage of the available opportunities. But inevitably such a fast and uncontrollable development is injecting in the traditional nomadic Mongolian culture new elements and new models of life easily absorbed by younger generations but maybe more feared by the older or traditional segment of the population.  Newspapers, televisions, public talks , parliament discussions are much focused on mining, investments, projects…etc  and less aware of how the Mongolian way of life is changing.  To balance progress and modernity with traditions, global market economy and local way of life it won’t be an easy task  but surely a must for this people proud to affirm their identity as sons and daughters of the great Chinggis Khaan.

Conclusion

850 years ago the founder of the Great Mongolian nation had the ability to unite into one people tribal clans, stealing and fighting each other.  With great skill he organized an army, which his successors and generals will use to create  one of the greatest empire that history can remember. He established a common system of  laws, the Great Yasa,  ensuring, often by force, what it was also termed a period of “Pax Mongolica”.

In this much different historical phase the descendants of Chinggis Khaan, in their young democratic experience are facing new situations and a new set of problems. Will they succeed in solving them in view to build a modern Mongolia enriched by all the positive values of their ancient tradition? It is our hope that this may well happened.

So Happy Chinggis Khaan Birthday and happy national pride day,  Mongolia!

Fr. Ernesto Viscardi