Ishdorj
Basic information
Interviewee ID: 990497
Name: Ishdorj
Parent's name: Shagdasüren
Ovog: Ih Urianhan
Sex: m
Year of Birth: 1941
Ethnicity: Halh
Additional Information
Education: higher
Notes on education:
Work: retired, cooperative head since 2004
Belief: Buddhist
Born in: Urgamal sum, Zavhan aimag
Lives in: Uliastai sum (or part of UB), Zavhan aimag
Mother's profession: herder
Father's profession: herder
Themes for this interview are:
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politics / politicians
herding / livestock
foreign relations
work
privatization
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Summary of Interview 100508A with Ishdorj
Ishdorj entered primary school in 1949 and graduated fourth grade in1953. During 1953-1955, he herded in the countryside with his parents. Ishdorj then enrolled in Zavhanmandal 7-year school, which was established in 1955. He graduated 10th grade in Uliastai in 1961 and entered the Kiev Army Officer’s Institute, graduating in 1966 as an engineer and mechanic. He worked at the repair center during 1967-1980. At the repair center, he worked as a engineer technician, chief engineer, and head of the center. In 1961, when he was studying in Kiev, many Mongolian students studied in Germany, Czechoslovakia, Russia and a few were in China. However, relationship between China and Mongolia became problematic since 1963 and they stopped sending students to China. He also talked about how Russians and Chinese built many buildings in Mongolia.
There was a big difference between Mongolia and abroad when he was studied in Kiev and he talked about his first experience traveling by metro. He was appointed as a Head of the Division at the Aimag Party Committee in November, 1979 and as a head of the Transportation Agency in February, 1990. Ishdorj has visited Poland, Bulgaria, Russia and Japan through Party business and attended 2-3 month courses. At that time, engineers updated their training every 5 years. He talked a lot about what historical events happened in his life such as Party activities, the collective movement, cultural campaigns and so on. Ishdorj was for many years head of the repair center where he worked. It was interesting to note that they gave 30000 km guarantee for the vehicles they repaired. Ishdorj’s wife was a teacher at the vocational institution, therefore their family income was considered quite high at the time. However, people at that time did not save their money, so, they bought carpets, furniture, etc. if there was money left from the monthly expenses. The bank had a savings service, but people at that time did not use this. Ishdorj had challenges while he worked as a Head of the Transportation agency after democracy in 1990. Privatization started and Transportation agency was divided two companies named “Örgöö” and “Jinst”. The Democratic Party won the Parliamentary election in 1996, and Ishdorj was fired in 1997 since he was a member of Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party. Starting in 2000, he worked as a transport and road inspector and retired in 2004.
