Nakh teamwork traditions

Work is one of most respected notions of the Chechen mentality. It is stressed by the existing rite of belkhi - joint labor. For example, people work together during harvesting or while helping a family that has lost its breadwinner. In the old times stone houses also used to be built by the whole community, children participating equally with grownups.

Now Chechen leaders indicate that old traditions of teamwork and helping each other should be renewed. Taking the lack of financing into account, only voluntary joint efforts of Chechen citizens could help the restoration of agriculture destroyed by the war. Volunteers helped reconstruct irrigation systems vital for all agricultural activities in the Republic.

In urban centers new social service for veterans and pensioners has been established: so-called 'brigade help' that does repairs and other sorts of work for disabled or elderly people.

The 'belkhi' traditions are treated in several scholarly works, for example, 'Nakh ethic' by Edi Isaev. According to him, 'balkhi', unlike Soviet 'Subbotniks', has always been more of a joy than an obligation for Chechen people and that they have always participated in it voluntarily. For example, in event of mountain landslips Chechen are always the first to help the victims as selfless deeds are highly valued in Chechen ethic system.

Researches presume that these traditions come from ancient times when people had to work together to survive in harsh mountain environment.

Throughout Chechen history this people has always shown extraordinary examples of teamwork and care for neighbors in most hard circumstances.

Timur Utsaev. Exclusively to VK.