Lessons in “Bulgarian” and not only that

The first presentation of the book My Sister Sofia after the Lviv Publishers’ Forum to feature Larysa Ivshyna, Den/The Day’s editor-in-chief, honorary professor, and member of the supervisory board of the Lesia Ukrainka Eastern European National University was held in Lutsk, at the university’s library (previously, two presentations of the book were held in September by Den’s authors and the editor of History section – in Izmail and Bolhrad). The room was crowded, as such meetings have already become a tradition, with their own dedicated audience that needs discussions and the intellectual dialog. They understand the value of enlightenment, which Den has been promoting for 20 years, with publishing being one of the means.

 The room was full to its capacity also because of the topic at hand. Having Bulgaria as a neighbor with whom Ukraine and Ukrainians have never had a single conflict in history, we know very little about them: the most common saying being the Soviet-era phrase about “Bulgaria is not a real abroad.” In its historical path, as Ivshyna said during the meeting, Ukraine has lost more than one chance to change its path. But Bulgaria has managed to change it. Why and how did this happen? Which lessons in “Bulgarian” do we need to take? What government type does Ukraine really need? To what extent and why is Ukraine guilty before Donbas? Why it is important to re-read Viacheslav Lypynsky? Ivshyna’s answers to these questions were of a great interest to the audience, but it is remarkable that the conversation then steered its way into discussion, in which the way out of the situation was sought for together.

THOUGHTS AFTER A BOOK LAUNCH

“PREVENTION OF SOCIAL ILLS IS MUCH CHEAPER THAN THEIR TREATMENT”

Taras LITKOVETS, political analyst:

“As usual, editor-in-chief of a reputable national publication, Larysa Ivshyna, offered a thorough analysis of the current state and development prospects of Ukraine, even going beyond the proposed topic, while people in the crowded room thirstily swallowed this information. However, I was surprised by something else: when posing a question to the editor-in-chief, famous author Volodymyr Lys (Ivshyna called him a major living authority in his field) quoted Makar Nagulnov, the protagonist of Mikhail Sholokhov’s Virgin Soil Upturned. But when I asked young people who were sitting nearby whether they understood who Lys had been talking about, it turned out that not one of them had ever heard of the work in question or of other works by the Nobel laureate...

“I immediately recalled the ‘confession’ of a prominent Volyn journalist who, having retired, admitted that he had stolen only one thing in his entire life: having read Sholokhov’s And Quiet Flows the Don in a village library as a child, he was so struck by the powerful message of the novel that he could not resist the temptation to have that work for himself... In that distant, poverty-stricken age, no rural child could afford to buy a decent book.

Photo by Kostiantyn SEMYTSKYI

“The situation has completely changed, for in the virtual era, everyone can read almost any book for free. However, paradoxically, the population of Ukraine has ceased to read literature overall. According to statistics, more than 50 percent of our fellow citizens read nothing except advertising and glossy magazines after graduating high school. Nonetheless, the same statistics data list reading as the fourth most popular way of spending one’s leisure time after personal interaction, TV and computer, and the Ukrainians’ attitudes to reading remain positive as it is still considered necessary for self-improvement. Reading is still seen as a symbol of education and intellectual capital in this country. Therefore, non-reading should be seen as a social diagnostic measure of the nation, a sort of X-ray highlighting root causes of our social and economic problems. However, prevention of social ills is known to be much cheaper than their treatment. Therefore, the work done by Den, both as a newspaper and a publishing house, deserves the greatest praise and support. Quite often, it is similar to the Sisyphean task, but it is still being done and bringing fruit.”

“THE SOVIET EMPIRE HAS LONG BEEN CRUMBLING”

Lesia BONDARUK, the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance’s representative in Volyn oblast:

“‘How should we in Ukraine respond to the monument to Prince Volodymyr having been erected in Moscow?’ Ivshyna asked at the launch of the book My Sister Sofia... in Lutsk.

“Russia’s latest political game plan calls for erecting a giant monument to Volodymyr in Moscow and then claiming the legacy of Kyivan Rus’. It is another way to compete with Kyiv, where the monument to the baptizer of Rus’ was recently splattered by paint thrown by unknown attackers. According to Russian media, Volodymyr won the popular vote there as the most outstanding historical figure. Thus, the new competitive confrontation is in line with the historical tradition. But let us recall history. After Volodymyr’s death, Kyivan Rus’ (which the Russians have lately stopped to call its true name, shortening it to Rus’ alone) was engulfed in the struggle between appanage principalities, which led to the loss of statehood. The situation was saved by the Galician-Volhynian Principality, which assumed the heavy burden of struggle against invaders from the Golden Horde. Its Prince Danylo, meanwhile, became the King, taking the crown from the Pope. The Ancient Rus’ state was thus saved by the Western Ukrainians, who went on, together with some Lithuanian knights, to defeat the Mongols in the Battle of Syni Vody.

“The Russians are not able to repeat the historic scenario, but the monument to Volodymyr is primarily a symbol of Ukrainianness in Moscow. Too bad they do not understand it. Here, one just cannot help but recall Vasyl Kozhelianko’s most famous novel The Great Parade in Moscow, which was reissued past year and became a bestseller once again. Kozhelianko’s humorous historical science fiction fits the present situation as well. The Soviet empire has long been crumbling. We know for sure that we will win the ongoing war with Russia. We are living through a liberation era again. However, who will rescue Russia itself from slavery? Why have they been so afraid of color revolutions since 2004? They are wary of the spirit of freedom coming from Ukraine, and the new victors from the West coming to march in the Red Square parade celebrating the end of the empire built by Vladimir the Puny (Putin). Then, we will like that new monument to Volodymyr the Great, as a means to restore the historic leadership of Kyiv over all the lands of Rus’.”

(To be continued in the next issue)