44 years together: the legendary graduating class of the Kazan Agricultural Institute met in Zainsk

      On May 30, our city became a center of attraction for the graduates of the Faculty of Mechanization of the Kazan Agricultural Institute named after A. M. Gorky from the year 1982. Those very famous "eighties," who were guided into life by the luminaries of Soviet agrarian science. For 44 years, they have remained loyal to the student brotherhood. On the last Saturday of spring, the usually quiet Zainsk was bubbling with joy and nostalgia. Here, on the banks of the Zaya River, gathered those who many years ago received their ticket to life within the walls of the legendary university. The graduates of the Faculty of Mechanization proved that true friendship knows neither distance nor time.

      More than two hundred fates – one for all

      1982. For eight groups of the Faculty of Mechanization, it became the starting point of a big adult life. More than two hundred young engineers, mechanics, and future leaders scattered across the country: Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Chuvashia, Mordovia – the geography is vast. But the promise made long ago to meet is held sacred by the activists. “We gather every year in some district center of Tatarstan,” the graduates recount. “There have been meetings in Rybnoe Sloboda, Yelabuga, Chistopol, Nizhnekamsk, Leninogorsk, Zelenodolsk, Kazan, and other cities. And on May 30, 2026, our friendly brotherhood gathered in hospitable Zainsk.” The organizers of this large-scale and heartfelt celebration were Niyaz Yamalov, Shamil Sagidullin, Nail Islamov, Rifkat Mullakhmetov, and Ilgizar Shagaliev. It was on their shoulders that the enormous work of preparing for the meeting fell.

      “Thank you to the teachers for everything”

      Memories of studying are the most touching part of the meeting. The graduates spoke with warmth and reverence of their dean – Gennady Galeevich Galeev. He headed the Faculty of Mechanization of Kazan State Agrarian University from 1977 to 1985 – just during those years when the current veterans were mastering the basics of the profession. “We were eight groups, more than 200 people. The soul of our course was Gennady Galeevich. We still remember him and our teachers. There were no such teachers, sincere and selfless, in any university in Kazan,” say the former students. “They gave us our ticket to life, confidence, and that very ‘leaven’ that allowed us to become directors, chief engineers, and leaders.”

      Zainsk residents – graduates of KSAI

      The Faculty of Mechanization was special. The pride in the unique specialty of a rural mechanical engineer has been carried by the graduates through the decades. The walls of the alma mater remember the most famous graduates – the first President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev and the President of the Republic Rustam Minnikhanov. Ministers, heads of districts, leaders of the largest agricultural holdings – all of them emerged from these classrooms. A special line in the history of the meeting was the names of Zainsk residents who graduated from the legendary faculty in different years. The attendees remembered Razif Karimov, Rifkat Fardeev, Rim Mingalin, Shamil Salakhov, Fargat Kamaliev, Rinat Fardeev, and many others. These names are part of the history not only of the university but of the entire Zainsk district.

      A chat instead of a dormitory and a dream of Sochi

      “We are not just classmates; we are family,” say the veterans. “We have a common chat in a messenger. We wake up and first congratulate each other on holidays or birthdays, learn about each other's lives and families.” This is their little student life, which continues even today. “Once we dreamed of meeting in Sochi,” share the classmates. “It didn’t happen: the coronavirus pandemic got in the way. But we do not despair and meet where we are welcomed. This year, we were greeted by hospitable Zainsk.”

      A rich program: from the museum to poetic lines

      About fifty people – graduates aged 65 to 74 – participated in a busy program. For the guests, a real excursion into the past of Zainsk was organized: they were shown the historical part of the city. The delegation visited the local history museum, strolled along the picturesque embankment of Old Zainsk, and peeked into the Bilal Mosque and the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. But the main event unfolded at the festive table. They sang, danced, and recited poetry. A special response was evoked by the performance of Khamit Khamidullin – a native of the village of Verkhnie Pinyachi, author of a poetry book. His wonderful poems touched the hearts of the veterans.

      A look through the years

      Shamil Sagidullin, the chief engineer of the Zainsk HPP and one of the organizers of the meeting, shared: “I remember studying with warmth and gratitude to the teachers who gave us their souls. The student scientific society instilled research skills, sports forged character, and public work taught management skills. The institute gave me the main thing – it taught me to learn, think, and make balanced decisions. I am grateful to my alma mater for the focus on continuous life search. I have always been proud and am proud to be a graduate of the Kazan Agricultural Institute. We studied at the new Faculty of Mechanization and were proud of the unique specialty of an engineer keeping pace with technical thought.”

      Instead of an epilogue

      The meeting in Zainsk concluded with traditional hugs and a promise to meet again: next year, on the 45th anniversary of the graduation, the classmates plan to gather in Kazan – within the walls of their alma mater, where it all began. The value of such meetings lies in preserving friendships and student memories. And as long as these people are alive, true, stainless student friendship lives on.

      Photo by the author

      Roza Ilaltdinova

      More news about the event:

      44 years together: the legendary graduation of the Kazan Agricultural Institute met in Zainsk

      On May 30, our city became a center of attraction for the graduates of the Faculty of Mechanization of the Kazan Agricultural Institute named after A. M. Gorky from the year 1982. Those very famous "eighties," 16:54 10.06.2026 Zainsk-Inform - Zainsk

      44 years together: the legendary graduation of the Kazan Agricultural Institute met in Zainsk

      On May 30, our city became a center of attraction for the graduates of the Faculty of Mechanization of the Kazan Agricultural Institute named after A. M. Gorky from the year 1982. Those very famous "eighties," 16:51 10.06.2026 News of Zainsk - Zainsk

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