Summary

The Russian revolutionary Bashilov was exiled by the tsarist authorities to Turkestan, to the waterless Hungry steppe. Here he saw the lack of rights, poverty and humiliation of the people. The intimidated dehkans are afraid even to stand up for the little Batyr, the son of Hakim, who raised his hand against the bai. And only Bashilov stands up for the boy and adopts him.