Sights of Adyghea and their creators

ADYGHEA BUILDERS: ASKERBIY NEKHAY
Part 1: About Cathedral mosque and State Philharmonic of Republic of Adyghea
To 100 years of the Adyghea autonomous oblast

Interview with the Honorary builder of the Russian Federation, Honored builder of the Republic of Adyghea, Honored builder of Kuban Askerbiy Eredzhibovich Nekhay.

Askerbiy Eredzhibovich Nekhay was born the 15-th September of 1950 in the village of Vochepshiy in the Teuchezhsky district of the Adyghea autonomous oblast. Graduated in Kharkovskiy Institute of civil engineering, faculty of industrial and civil engineering, he started his career in 1974 as a master in the Construction department of "Khimstroy-2" of the all-Union Association "Cherepovetsmetallurgkhimstroy". In the period from 1978 to 1981, he passed the way from a foreman to head of the Construction department № 58 of the "Krasnodarkhimstroy" trust. In 1981, he was sent by the decision of the Krasnodar regional party committee to work in the “Adygpromstroy” trust as a chief engineer, where he worked until 1986. Later, he worked in the city of Belorechensk in the Krasnodar territory as a managing head of the "Krasnodarkhimstroy" trust.
For his long-term and fruitful work in construction sphere, he was awarded with titles of "Honorary Builder of Russia", "Honored Builder of the Republic of Adyghea", "Honored Builder of the Kuban". He was awarded by the medal of the 1-st degree "for contribution to development of Kuban", the order "for merits in construction", the medal "Construction glory" and other departmental awards and diplomas. In 1998, he was awarded with the title of "Honorary academician" of the Adyghe (Circassian) international academy of Sciences, as well as the title of "Creator of Russia".
In Adyghea, with his direct leadership, different civil constructions and buildings of social and cultural institutions were built. Some of them have become recognizable sights of the republic. Among them, there are State Philharmonic of the Republic of Adyghea, Cathedral mosque, House of Justice and House of Culture in Adygheysk. He also took part from the beginning in the construction of the village of Mafekhable, built specifically for the Kosovo Adyghes. He built a school in his native village Vochepshiy.

- Over the past decade, the Cathedral mosque has become a recognizable sight or "visit card" of the capital of Adyghea. It is known it was built according to the drawing of the Circassian artist Abdulakh Bersirov by the construction company which you managed. In addition, it was constructed with your direct supervision the Republican Philharmonic building which hosts today the most significant socio-political and socio-cultural events in the region. Asker Eredzhibovich, tell us the story of creation of these two iconic buildings of the republic so that we can know it, as they say, "firsthand".

A. N.: Let me start with the State Philharmonic building. At the time when it was being built, it was called the Dramatic theater, and later it was renamed the Philharmonic. The author of this structure was the workshop "Giprotheater" (Note: the State Institute for the design of theatrical and entertainment enterprises under the USSR Ministry of culture). The decision to build it was made, so to speak, in ancient times, under the communists. The construction of this object was managed by the Regional branch of the Communist party which managed to achieve it by passing by the existing regulations and laws that prohibited the construction of spectacular buildings and structures, including sport objects, in order, as they said, to keep public funds. The administration of the oblast managed, as we, builders, say, to "break through" this project and start its construction in the center of the city where it stands in our days. I have been engaged in its construction for all five years. This building was built directly under my control and certain management before it was put into operation. A lot of natural materials were used for it: there were facing stone, marble, Dargin stone, granite, etc. In other words, we used materials that would serve for many, many years. The author was Robert Paranukyan. Inside, when the finishing work was already made, and we were ending the construction of this object, a unique mosaic was created there. Everyone who has ever entered the building of the Philharmonic, climbing in the foyer and on the third floor, saw the work of Felix Petuvash, Adyghe artist who designed and personally created all panels with smalts. Naturally, he was not alone, workers helped him. But he did the mosaic panels with his own hands. In addition, all the furniture inside was made by the “Druzhba” Association. And in 1985 or rather at the end of that year, the building was put into operation with landscaping and all other things, and this building project was finished for us by one historical event: in 1986, if my memory does not mistake, whether in June or July, the actors of the Dramatic theater presented a special spectacle, dedicated to builders. So, we ended the construction of this significant object with such a great event.
The next building you mentioned is the 500 - seat Cathedral mosque which is located opposite the Philharmonic building. The location was not chosen by chance. But the history of this object is as follows. When Aslan Aliyevich Dzharimov and the Adyghe delegation went to the Emirates, the bilateral government meetings and negotiations were held, consequently. And when Sheikh asked him how he wanted they, Emirates, to help him, he said: "If you can finance and help us build a Cathedral mosque in Maykop, we will be grateful to you". And then, the Sheikh of the United Arab Emirates made a commitment to finance both the design and construction works of this object. (Note: Sheikh Khalid ben Saqr al Qasimi, ruler of Ras al-Khaimah). So, it was designed by the Pyatigorsk workshop. But when this mosque was designed, there was no such experience in the construction of religious buildings. Because for the last 70 years, no mosque was built in Adyghea. That was why we designed it similar to other mosques. So, we made the project at that time, and the author of the architectural part was our countryman, Adyghe artist Bersirov Abdulakh who was directly involved in the construction process and controlled it, helped us in everything. When we built this mosque, the main place of his work was this building, with us, in our office trailer. And the construction of the mosque began like this....
When the project was ready, it was presented to the largest construction firms. And as a result of selection, there were chosen three companies. These were our firm "Belorechenskstroy", the local company "Adygpromstroy" and the Krasnodar firm "Krasnodarstroy". It turned out all three firms were headed by the Adyghes: "Krasnodarstroy" was headed by Khot Guissa Askerovich, "Adygpromstroy" – Khutyz Aslan Izmailovich, and I headed the "Belorechenskstroy". All our proposals, made in order, our proper calculations, were translated into Arabic and sent to Sheikh to study and decide with what firm to sign a contract for construction of the mosque. And we were more suitable, and the Sheikh directly signed the contract with us to finance this object construction.
From the beginning to the end, the funding was timely made. Aslan Aliyevich Dzharimov carried out a constant control. He often visited the construction site, watched how we were building it, and, of course, helped us in everything. And we built this object. Certainly, it was difficult to construct it. Why? Because the opportunities which builders have today were not there this time. There were no concrete pump or concrete truck. Then, there were only tower cranes, big crawler cranes which we used. Nevertheless, we built this structure in 19 months, according to the contract, from beginning to end. This object was built exactly according to the project design. Today I hear some rumors in Maykop, in Adyghea, and I would like to stop here especially, that "the mosque is 4 meters lower than the project", "6 or 7 meters narrower in width", etc. All this is not true! I responsibly declare as the person who was from the first stake that we scored and started construction, and before putting it into operation, the mosque corresponds millimeter by millimeter to the designed project. The place was chosen, as I have already said, by the governance of the Republic and the administration of the city. After we built it, Sheikh of the Emirates came to the open ceremony of the project. He personally studied the whole mosque. And I will say as a builder with a lot of experience, I have not put into operation any of my objects like to Sheikh. He visited himself all spaces from basement to minarets, entering into each room, examining, studying everything.
When the object was built and put into operation, we were greatly helped by Emizh Nurbiy who would become later a mufti. We, builders, were very grateful to him for opening the mosque and leading its opening ceremony, if someone remembers it. At that time, all delegations from the Krasnodar territory and the North Caucasus republics came in Maykop, and there were a lot of foreign delegations. Everyone was pleased. And as we can see today, the mosque is alive now, it is becoming a center of religious education for the young people, and I personally, as a builder, consider it one of the main objects that I have built in my life, and I have built a lot of objects. Certainly, I think this is one of the most main and important projects for me.

To be continued...