Natalya Gellert’s Legacy Celebrated in Astana’s New Book and Exhibition
A recent event in Astana honoured Natalya Gellert, a key figure in Kazakhstan’s agricultural history. The gathering showcased rare photographs of her life, taken by Nurmuhamat Imaev, alongside the launch of a new book about her legacy.
The book, Natalia Gellert: Duty Above All, was written by Igor Niederer as part of the series Famous Germans of Kazakhstan.
Gellert first gained recognition during the Virgin Lands campaign, a major 20th-century effort to expand Soviet agriculture. Her work as a tractor operator earned her the Medal for Labor Valor in 1971.
By 1975, she received the Badge of Honor for Excellence in Socialist Agriculture. The following year, she was awarded the Lenin Komsomol Prize of Kazakhstan. Her political career soon took off, leading to her election as a deputy to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR in 1979, where she represented the German community.
Gellert later served in Kazakhstan’s Mazhilis from 2007 to 2011. Before that, she had risen through the Communist Party ranks, becoming a candidate member of the Central Committee in 1986 and a full member shortly after.
Her story remains a symbol of resilience and dedication, shaping both agricultural and political life in Kazakhstan.
The exhibition and book presentation highlighted Gellert’s journey from a tractor operator to a national leader. Her contributions to agriculture and governance continue to be remembered as part of Kazakhstan’s modern history.
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