Piotra Murzionak: “Returning to Chernobyl”

(webzine “Kultura.Natsyja”, issue 31, April 2023, 5–10, www.sakavik.net )

I started writing the preface to the almost finished 31st issue of the magazine “Culture. Nation” precisely on April 26, the day when a great environmental disaster occurred in 1986, which became another message for humanity about the next “fukushima” and the cold of the post-nuclear war. Indeed, 37 years have passed since the disaster that happened on Saturday. Already on the second day after it, when many employees of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (but not the whole population) knew about it, after leaving work at the Institute of Physiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, I felt on my skin sticky drops of poisonous radiation rain and the state’s criminal silence about an accident. Then there were visits to Chernobyl and studies of the effects of small doses of radiation on living organisms, which were also carried out in my department of applied physiology.

However, today the second generation of Belarusians and Ukrainians is growing up – the nations that suffered the most from its consequences, and the further it goes, the more this problem recedes into the background. Many things have changed around Belarus and further in the world, however, significant changes have not been noticed in the country itself, where a dragon has ruled for 29 years already – a dragon in the form of a “neighbor’s pig”, who accidentally ran into our garden and spoils and tramples all living Belarusian things there.

Elections for the president of Belarus have been held in regular waves during many  campaigns – hopeless and yet each time with hope. Might be!?  Suddenly!?! However, the dragon feasted more and more on its victim – the Belarusian people, who are still walking with a soviet rope around their necks, thrown by Lukashenka – the satrap of colonial Russia, the Belarusian people, who until now, in their majority, cannot imagine their existence without “fraternal and imperial Russia”.

However, this is not the only reason for our misfortunes. The indecisiveness of the “moderate people” can continue for a long time, although – here are the Ukrainians – they were patient, however, they made up their minds. Why could this happen in Ukraine and not in Belarus? Because freedom of thought (1), democracy (2), and finally a reasonable elite (3) were established in Ukraine in recent decades. In Belarus, thanks to the dragon, there is neither the first nor the second. As for the national elite (3), it doesn’t understand yet that it is necessary to unite and work together. Former leaders who are free today, but who lost for various reasons earlier, do not want to join the unconditional, in my opinion, National leader Svjatlana Tsikhanouskaja. Even with the well-deserved authority from the past, they are unable to take such a step because of political myopia, ambition, or envy. Therefore, not having a solid elite, we still must wait and wait for victory. And only the light coming from the south, from Ukraine, gives a hope that changes can come to Belarus – as before – under the influence of external forces and circumstances.

This is confirmed by the events of 1918, when the independence of the Belarusian Democratic Republic (BNR) was declared. BNR existed for only one year and were not only objective for that reason, but also subjective, resulting from different approaches and ideas of national building, and not resulting from a single national idea that could possibly be implemented even in those complex conditions. Those lessons were not learned in 2006, 2010, or 2020. Unfortunately!

Nevertheless, the torch lit in 1918 burns, and under it we celebrate the 105th anniversary of the BNR, and we do not give up hope that the ideals of the BNR will ever be realized. That’s why we celebrate! In this issue, dear readers, you will also find materials dedicated to March 25, 1918 (P. Murzionak, A. Logvina).

As before, the magazine publishes materials directly related to the culture and traditions of the Belarusian nation. M. Kenka dedicated the article to Belarusian poet U. Dubovka – as a translator and sent us translations of K. Chapek’s stories. T. Kenko sent rich material dedicated to the National Art Museum of Belarus, both its collections, Sarmatian painting, and the work of individual artists (Bryullov, Kuindzhi, Pukirev). A series of articles devoted to the museum is presented in the original format – in the form of a journey through the halls. Also, a series of articles was sent to us by A. Simakou, a researcher of Belarusian-Indian relations (in Canada, the term “Indians” refers to representatives of the “First Nations”, ed.). This time, these articles are devoted to the activities of Archpriest M. Grinkevich and Belarusian-Indian comparative studies.

In this issue of the magazine, we continue the theme of the First World War – this time with an article by T. Kenko, which lists many books of world literature about the war of a hundred years ago. Partly, this is done to acquaint the Belarusian reader with literature (prose, poems) dedicated to a little-known and distant war, and secondly, to draw an analogy with the modern war that is happening before our eyes. T. Kenko’s second article is devoted to the same topic, about war poems written by Russian and Belarusian poets (Z. Byadulya, A. Kulyashov), who were direct participants in the First World War.

The editors included in the issue a small but sincere poem by L. Karpovich, a philatelist and Belarusian patriot, written by him directly after the end of the international conference “Belarusian nation through the eyes of the diaspora and compatriots” (Ottawa, November 12, 2022).

And as always, we have a lot of materials from our very active and respected author, poet and public figure – S. Paniznyk. The materials are placed in different sections, which only emphasizes the author’s broad outlook and interest in Belarusian traditions, folklore, his warm and sincere respect for people whomever he meets. Here, his memories of his godfather, L. I. Kurash, sincere spring congratulations on the Christian holidays, Verbnitsa and Easter, with poems of folk wisdom corresponding to these holidays (“Neighbors are at the Meeting”), notes on the spiritual greatness of the countrymen and treasures of speech on to the Miorska-Diesna mainland (“Sounds of the Native Calling”). Recalling the Magiljou period of his life, when Mr. Paniznik was studying to be a paramedic, he presents not only his “student” poems, but also some of his drawings!!! And finally, S.Paniznik added the column “Calendar of Memorable Dates”, which he started in previous issues, where he notes in his calendar, in poems or in prose, creators who have important dates in this year.

The editors are very grateful to all the authors of the articles, as well as Ms. Volha Yermalaeva-Franko, an artist and public figure, who sent her engraving “The Sound of Spring\Gukanne vjasny”, placed on the first page of the magazine.

The editors hope that the readers will like the materials of the 31st issue, as well as the previous THIRTY issues of the magazine “Kultura. Nation”, released during TEN years of its activity (2013-2022). The building of a nation begins with itself, with small drops and bricks that will form streams and rivers, foundations, and buildings.

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Piotra Murzionak: “Historical role of the BNR and important facts from its life”.      

To the 105th anniversary of the Belarusian People’s Republic

(webzine “Kultura.Natsyja”, issue 31, April 2023, 11-20, www.sakavik.net )

Abstract. According to the results of the work of the 1st All-Belarusian Congress, three historical documents, called Constitutional Charters, were approved, in which the Executive Committee of the Congress: declared itself a temporary authority in Belarus to manage the country (I), declared Belarus as People’s Republic, BNR (II), and declared the BNR an independent and free state. The historical role of the declaration of independence of the BNR is that it opened a window for Belarusian statehood in the modern period for the first time. Some lessons from the activities of the BNR are analyzed. Wishes were expressed for the victory of the people of Ukraine in the war with aggressive Russia and the hope that the Belarusian people will achieve changes for a better life in Belarus – for the establishment of democracy in the country, for respect for human rights, for the creation of a real national state.

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Mihas Kenka: Dubouka – translator (based on materials from the archive)

(webzine “Kultura.Natsyja”, issue 31, April 2023, 21-25, www.sakavik.net )

Abstract. Belarusian poet, novelist and critic Uladzimir Mikаlaevich Dubouka (1901 – 1976) was also fruitfully engaged in literary translation. He knew English, Polish, Ukrainian, and Russian languages, translated mainly from the originals. The author of the article got acquainted with the manuscripts of his translations in the archive of U. Dubouka, which is kept in the department of rare books and manuscripts of the Central Scientific Library of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Belarus. These observations formed the basis of the article.

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Tatyana Kenko: Journey to the National Art Museum of Belarus

(webzine “Culture. Nation”, issue 31, April 2023, 26-117, http://www.sakavik.net )

Abstract. The series of articles covers the history of the National Art Museum in Minsk, the role of E.V.Aladova in its creation, then you will also become a member of the journey through the halls of the museum, including the first and second collection of paintings, portraits from Grodno and Njasvizh (Sarmatian painting), and get acquainted with the most famous paintings by such artists as K. Bryullov, V. Pukirev, A. Kuindzhi.

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Siarhei Paniznik: Advice (pavuchanni) (notes about the godfather)

(webzine “Kultura.Natsyja”, issue 31, April 2023, 118-119, www.sakavik.net )

Abstract. S. Paniznіk remembers his godfather L. I. Kurash, a doctor at the Ljavonpal district hospital, who inspired him later to study as a paramedic in Mogilev medical school.

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Siarhei Paniznik: And the city grew as if from the ground, it was called Mаhiljou…        

(webzine “Kultura.Natsyja”, issue 31, April 2023, 120-134, www.sakavik.net )

Abstract. S. Paniznіk – a famous Belarusian poet and public figure shares his poems and his drawings, created during his studies (26.IX.1959 – 19.1962) at the paramedic department of the oldest medical school in Belarus, Mogilev Medical School.

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Aliaksandr Simakou: Archpriest Nikolai Grinkevich: the «compatriot» environment in San Francisco, unpublished documents, new information about the late period of life 

(webzine “Kultura.Natsyja”, issue 31, April 2023, 135-150, www.sakavik.net )

Abstract: A native of Gomel Voblasts, Nikolai Grinkevich, a priest with the unrevealed mystery of the end of his life, is considered here in the aspects of his compatriot ties (persons connected with the Mogilev and neighboring provinces), problems of anthroponymics, clarification of the events of the last year in San Francisco and his later years, the most recent information about which was received in 2021. The formulary list of 1907 and the memorandum listing the students and teachers at the beginning of classes at the church school in 1888 are published for the first time completely. The emphasis is on unsolved moments and new thematic connections.

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Aliaksandr Simakou: The note оn the School by Nikolai Grinkevich and the texts supplementing it                                       

(webzine “Kultura.Natsyja”, issue 31, April 2023, 151-169, www.sakavik.net )

Аbstract. The Grinkevich Research and Translation Project “On the School” (active phase from 2014 to 2019) presents its text body for the first time. It reveals cleric Nikolai Grinkevich’s ambiguous role. The obvious reason for the “change in public position” of this psalm reader, later a member of the Ecclesiastical Consistory of Alaska in relation to the problems of the church school was the inertial adherence to routine rules and procedures, official subordination and the desire to maintain position, but it was the promulgation of his critical note by the revolutionaries that probably led to the dismissal of the archpriest from the Diocese of the Aleutians and Alaska.

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Ales Simakou: “Belarusian-Indian comparative studies: the main categories of ethnocultural ‘archaics’”

(webzine “Kultura.Natsyja”, issue 31, April 2023, 170-190, www.sakavik.net)

Abstract. This material continues with a new set of data the series that began with the text “Belarusian-Indian comparative studies: the most important non-ethnographic rubrics” in No. 30 of the magazine “Kultura. Natsyia” (Culture. Nation”) (2022). This communication is an annotated collection of quotations of the main groups comparing the realities of Belarus and Indian America in the range of spiritual and, to a less extent, material culture. The groups are arranged in alphabetical order. Undoubted primacy in terms of the number and volume of comparisons belongs to the topics of paganism and Christianization, wedding ceremonies, and marriage. Also, popular topics are attitudes to death, collectivism, peace-loving, honesty, peasants’ low propensity to commit crimes, and other ethnopsychology topics.

Contents: general (historiography); knowledge about the world; wedding; colonization of Belarus (the fate of empires); material culture (bows, copper products, trumpet, tomahawk); paganism; tribes; races and the name Belarus (assimilation, ethnogenesis); death and burial as well as health and hygiene; dance and rituals with its elements; Christianization; economy (collective work, gathering); expansionism and conquista (conquest); ethnozoology and ethnobotany; ethnopsychology; ethnoecology.

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Tatyana Kenko: THE GREAT FORGOTTEN WAR TO KNOW AND REMEMBER. WORLD LITERATURE ABOUT THE FIRST WORLD WAR (continuation of the topic, beginning in “KN”, No. 30)                                     

(webzine “Culture. Nation”, issue 31, April 2023, 191-221, http://www.sakavik.net)

Abstract. The Second Patriotic War… That is how the outbreak of war was called in 1914. There was another name – the Great European War. Then, in 1918, it will be called the World War, and after 1941 – the First World War. The First World War lasted 1,568 days and nights, covering 3 continents. 38 states with a total population of 1.5 billion people took part in it (in one way or another). Losses were huge – 10 million killed and died from wounds, 20 million wounded. Until now, traces of a continuous 400-kilometer front line that cut Belarus in 1915-1917 to the living are visible in the forests of our country. However, the events of these days were almost unknown to us. Stories, poems, novels were written, but almost never published. True, some things could be learned in fragments from novels devoted to the civil war. So, that nothing interesting was written at all? On the contrary the attitude towards this period was different in world literature. We will try to restore this gap for our readers using the data from the Internet and the catalog of the Central City Children’s Hospital in Minsk. We recommend that you pay special attention to the selection of materials “Front-line writers”

http://borlib.by/1-mir-voyna/pisateli-frontoviki

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Siarhei Paniznik: “Neighbors are in conversation”                             

(webzine “Kultura.Natsyja”, issue 31, April 2023, 222-233, www.sakavik.net )

Abstract. “Christ is risen, son of God!” The poet sends his sincere spring congratulations on Christian holidays, Verbnitsa and Easter! And he adds verses of folk wisdom corresponding to these holidays.

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Ljavon Karpovich: Poem       

(webzine “Kultura.Natsyja”, issue 31, April 2023, 234, www.sakavik.net )

Abstract. Pre-Christmas poem-wish by Ljavon Karpovich, Belarusian philatelist and active participant of the recent international conference “Belarusian nation through the eyes of the diaspora and compatriots” (November 12, 2022).

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Poems about the First World War – a selection by Tatyana Kenko       

(webzine “Kultura.Natsyja”, issue 31, April 2023, 235-332, www.sakavik.net )

Abstract. A selection of poems by well-known Russian and Belarusian (Z. Bjadulja, A. Kuljashou) poets about the First World War is presented.

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Mihas Kenka: Three short stories by Karel Capek (translation)

(webzine “Culture. Nation”, issue 31, April 2023, 333-349, http://www.sakavik.net)

Abstract. I offer readers three stories by Karel Capek (1890-1938), one of the most famous Czech writers. The work of Karel Capek covers almost all literary genres. He wrote feuilletons and essays, short stories and fairy tales, novels, translated poems by European authors into Czech. But he is best known as a satirist, playwright, and author of social fiction. He created a unique genre of micro-detective, in which satire on various phenomena of reality is organically intertwined.

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Siarhei Paniznik: The sounds of beatiful Dvina                     

(webzine “Kultura.Natsyja”, issue 31, April 2023, 350-356, www.sakavik.net )

Abstract. About the spiritual greatness of the countrymen, the treasures of speech on the Miory- Dysna mainland, recorded from the inhabitants of the Ljavonpal village council, Belarus.

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Alexandra Logvin: Celebration of the 105th anniversary of the BNR in Ottawa  

(webzine “Kultura.Natsyja”, issue 31, April 2023, 357-367, www.sakavik.net )

Abstract. Information is provided on the celebration of the 105th anniversary of the declaration of independence of Democratic Republic of Belarus (BNR), which took place in Ottawa on March 12, 2023. Images by Alexander Karalkevich and the program are attached.

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Siarhei Paniznik: We will remember – They will not forget us        

(webzine “Kultura.Natsyja”, issue 31, April 2023, 368-377, www.sakavik.net )

Abstract. By tradition, famous Belarusian poet and active author of the magazine “Culture. Nation” Mr. S. Paniznik submits a calendar of commemorative dates to the magazine, as a reminder of anniversaries and dates of the creators. The Calendar includes dates about creative people for 2023 that data end with the numbers 3 and 8.

32-nd issue of “Kultura. Nation” will be published in November 2023.