The President, Arban Vagabundi, became the President with the strong support of this extended family. All of them worked very hard to make it happen, and it did happen. Resources were pulled together, arms were twisted, the resistance removed, and the wheels were greased nationally and internationally. Everyone knew everyone already, and not too many introductions had to be made. This was too important to miss, and they had maybe only one shot at it. The competition of young and restless was growing and fast. So, they put aside the differences and pulled together. This enterprise was not run on a shoestring budget. The budget was the size of the entire country, and it helped when needed or not. And, Arban Vagabundi became the President — one of the most powerful in the history of modern Mongolia, not counting the Khans and the Sultans of the past.
Come to think, the President was not a purebred Mongol. His father was a Mongol though and a Major in the internal security forces, but his mother was an Uzbek. That was not really bad from the Mongolian point of view because, over the centuries, many nations and even small national groups successfully contributed to the genetic pool of the modern Mongols. And, Mongols did it for hundreds of years throughout Asia, Africa and most of Europe, but somewhat more aggressively. So, there was a little bit of a Mongol in almost all of us as well as a little bit of everyone in virtually every Mongol. Would not you say that a Mongol has a universal meaning? More or less and maybe more of more than less. It was like the United Nations in a nutshell, in its singularity. One for all and all for one. Still, the purer Mongol blood you had, the better it was for the optics.
The President’s family on the mother’s side moved to Mongolia from Fergana, Uzbekistan before the Soviet Patriotic War of 1941–45. Her name was Gulzara, and her father was sent to Mongolia to build a run an apparel manufacturing factory in the capital of Ulaanbaatar. He started in the early days of Soviet Uzbekistan as a tailor, then an engineer and finally, the factory director. Why was he chosen to go to Mongolia? Well, with slightly slanted eyes, he looked somewhat Mongolian, he spoke Russian, Uzbek and some Chinese and was a respectable professional. Also, he was a member of the Communist Party, and the NKVD (the predecessor of the KGB) said he was in good standing. All that counted for much when the power in charge wanted someone to go to Mongolia.
There were not too many volunteers and none of the professionals and especially, party members with the language skills. The purges did the job and somewhat well. Now, many would claim the knowledge of many subjects, but only a few could demonstrate it. The equality of incompetence was finally achieved. Purges were the best and the most complete job the Party and the NKVD ever had done. Millions in the Soviet Union and the satellite countries were killed or imprisoned, and that affected every family everywhere, taking all these countries down technically, military, intellectually, and economically. The resistance to the government and the free-thinking became non-existent, but the choices of talents were getting more and more limited. No one wanted to stick the head out, not knowingly. It could be cut off, and it often did. But, the job had to be done, no matter what; no matter what the job was; no matter where.
The Soviet masters thought that Mongolia had to have two apparel manufacturing factories (one for men and one for women). There also was going to be two factories to manufacture the undergarments (one for men and one for women). One factory producing shoes and one leather goods factory had to take care of the country needs. They also considered separate manufacturing for children, but that did not go far. The Soviet Union and China were appointed to provide that so, children had less than even adults to choose from.
The administration also wanted to form the rest of industries, but good craftsmen or any craftsmen were in short supply. The steppes were getting empty of free-spirited Mongols, and more people were pressed into living in cities and towns and working in the factories of one sort or another. Hundreds, if not thousands, of the Soviet professionals, were sent to help the “younger brother” Mongolia in the development of socialism. For them, it was a chance to work overseas; thus, more money, including some hard currency and foreign goods. The Russian language was a part of the primary curriculum in every educational institution of the country, and that built a strong foundation for Russification. Thus, Russification was getting stronger by the minute but not prevailing yet. Intermarriage was not readily supported but not forbidden either, so it happened and often. Mongolia was integrated into the Soviet Union without being officially in the Soviet Union. Still, the day was young. Give it a little time, and anything could happen. It could become the new Soviet Republic. Was that on the minds of the Soviet leader? There were some talks and speculations.
Out of all industrial marvels the Soviet Union forced upon Mongolia, only the leather goods were of somewhat acceptable quality and design. Actually, it was desirable by the state members of the socialist bloc, and some of it even was sold for the hard currency. That was big considering the permanent lack of hard currency when it was so badly needed. Well, the rest of it, to say politely, was garbage but that was the trademark of the Socialist camp. Almost everything was Soviet-style — garbage in and garbage out. The stores were empty of the whole shebang, the black market grew exponentially, and all illegal was prospering. But, the prisons were full of amateurish businessmen. Illegal was a very booming business for as long as you kept sharing and did not argue with the powers in charge much. After all, they had the power and could take everything you had but wanted just a small percentage. Still, even Mongolia was slightly better off than the rest of the Soviet Union because of its proximity to the Silk Road and what it offered. The Silk Road provided the means for the goods to be obtained, moved and sold, taxes not paid and money to be made. At the time, it was an excellent place to be.
The Uzbek grandfather of the President, Yosef Galimov, was able to build a proper factory in Mongolia. Actually, it was a tailor shop, like the one he used to work in years ago, only a thousand times bigger. They designed the garments, cut the material, and sewed the pieces together in the way that someone could wear it one day. It was not very good or even enough for the country, but they still produce it, and that was good. People could buy something in the state-run stores, and the rest of it came from the private tailors and the bazaar. Bazaars had it all and even from the foreign countries. It was expensive, but what choice did you have. Go naked? That would not be polite, and climate did not promote it either. So, everyone had to participate in the “Silk Road activities” in one way or another. That was the bloodline of Central Asia. One would raise and sell a sheep or two a few times a year. Another one was good with the hands. That one could sing and dance, and the neighbor could cook well and for many. Almost everyone could find something extra to do, and that was up for sale or barter. They did not mind working but for money. If you were not too lazy, you could survive and even well. Soon, many people had found the way to make some additional money, and that moved the money around. And, as you may know, what goes around, comes around.