Invasion Day +39 Today, we at Hoggy feel the readership may have become sadly saturated with the terrible daily news emerging from Ukraine and so we develop the emphasis slightly from today to focus not only on current Ukrainian heroism but to embrace aspects of Ukrainian culture that we feel have a bearing on the conflict and should be given light.
Today’s insight is on one of Ukraine’s greatest writers, Taras Shevchenko.
Image courtesy of the Ukrainian National Directory
Shevchenko was born into a family in Ukrainian serfdom in Moryntsi, Zvenyhorodka county, Kyiv Governorate, then in the Russian Empire, on 9th March 1814, depending on which calendar is used, and died on the 10th March 1861. He was known as a ‘Kobzar’, a bard, and was renowned and revered as a writer, poet, folklorist, ethnographer, artist, and political figure. It is often claimed that he is the ‘father’ of modern Ukrainian literature and language and the prestigious Shevchenko Awards are named after him.
He was educated and learnt his craft in St Petersburg at the Academy of Arts and was very successful, mixing freely with both Ukrainian and Russian artists and writers. He became an accomplished painter and illustrator.
But, in 1847, when he was thirty-three, Shevchenko had become politicised for the independence of Ukraine and the removal of serfdom and was convicted in court for promoting Ukrainian independence and ridiculing the Russian Imperial House. He was to spend many years in Russian prisons or under effective arrest before returning to Ukraine but continued to write and to draw and paint in his many years of exile. He died in 1861 just months before the the emancipation of serfs that he had fought so long for.
Shevchenko was initially buried in Moscow but according to his wishes was re-buried on 8 May 1861 on the Chernecha hora (today Taras Hill) near the Dnipro River and Kaniv. A tall mound was erected over his grave which is now a memorial and part of the Kaniv Museum-Preserve. He is revered to this day as one of the most influential figures in Ukrainian art and culture. His many writings and artistic works had survived until the current war.
One of his translated poems, about his own demise, is shown here, it gives a very strong feel to Shevchenko's feel for his Ukrainian 'home',
Testament
by Taras Shevchenko
When I die, then make my grave
High on an ancient mound,
In my own beloved Ukraine,
In steppeland without bound:
Whence one may see wide-skirted wheatland,
Dnipro's steep-cliffed shore,
There whence one may hear the blustering
River wildly roars.
Till from Ukraine to the blue sea
It bears in a fierce endeavor
The blood of foemen — then I'll leave
Wheatland and hills forever:
Leave all behind, soar up until
Before the throne of God
I'll make my prayer. For till that hour
I shall know naught of God.
Make my grave there — and arise,
Sundering your chains,
Bless your freedom with the blood
Of foemen's evil veins!
Then in that great family,
A family new and free,
Do not forget, with good intent
Speak quietly of me.
Translated by Vera Rich 1961
Meanwhile, The war continues, people die, the world starts to return to its own concerns, this is life. But we shall keep the faith on your behalf with Ukraine and stand firm. We ask for your continued support and for even greater insights into peace, truth and justice however you may be able to express them. Together we can make a difference.
And yes, we agree, frustrations still abound with the UK's response to the refugee crisis with visa applications having been lost and slowness in government processing where still very few refugees have successfully made it to the UK. This is the subject of letters to local MPs from Hoggy asking for action as well as all our other letter writing efforts.
Just a reminder that Hoggy is a creative writing blog for peace in support of Ukraine and letter writing is writing we can all engage in. Please do write in to us or copy Hoggy in to letters you have written yourselves?
Today's Letters:
To The Editor Guardian Newspapers
Dear Editor,
Supporting the Blue and the White of the New Russians
We are today witnessing a blue and white global movement by the newly emerging voice of 'Real Russians' everywhere to protest against the war in Ukraine, an incredible thing to see take hold: spontaneous uprisings under a new flag in blue and white stripped of the blood red strain of the Putin regime.
The symbolism is so powerful that here we have brave people risking all to stand against the tyranny and the slaughter by de facto creating a new national cause for freedom and peace. And doing so under the most repressive of conditions probably ever experienced. Here we have the inspiring and powerful voice of the new soul of the 'Real Russia.'
I can only suggest that we seek to acknowledge every single 'Real Russian' citizen wherever they are and stand with them in their heroic efforts to stop this war, a war that is stealing Russia's future from the people. They need our support for it is only by the collective efforts of all who strive for peace, irrespective of nationality, that this war will be ended and justice and truth will, once again, prevail.
Yours most sincerely,
Hoggy the Yimp
To The Rt. Hon. Kevin Hollinrake, MP, The House of Commons, Westminster
Dear Mr Hollinrake,
Malton Refugee Delays
I am writing to you from an online blog advocating peace and an end to the terrible war in Ukraine which threatens us all.
In the course of publishing this blog (www.hoggytheyimp.co.) we are aware of one of your constituents (name and address supplied) who has applied for a visa as a refugee to stay in the UK. Her case is slightly unusual in that she was on holiday here when the war started and from here witnessed her home in Kharkiv being totally destroyed by Russian missile fire. She of course is now unable to return and worries greatly for her parents and family who are still trapped there.
She tells us through the site that her visa application has been now lost by the Home Office and she has had to reapply. In her own words this has caused her to 'have a meltdown with all the worry.'
Please can you look into this case and see what more can be done to expediate this and other delayed visa applications by the government. It would be good to be able to reassure our correspondent that everything that can be done is being done and that the woeful inadequacy of the UK response to the refugee crisis so far can, in some way, be mitigated?
We will of course wish to publish your response on the site and look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
Thank you for your work on behalf of all your constituents in Malton and Thirsk.
Yours sincerely,
Hoggy
Please keep your letters coming in to Hoggy: the war continues, the suffering is immense, and we must continue to stand for peace in Ukraine. Your creative writing talents are greatly in demand so please feel able to express them here. Thank you all very much indeed. Hoggy
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