On November 18, the National Library hosted a round table "In the Footsteps of... Mikhas Zaretsky", dedicated to the 120th anniversary of the birth of the famous Belarusian writer, a member of the "Maladnyak" literary association.
Another online event of the project "On the Wave of Time, Throughout the Life", gathered researchers of the literary heritage of Mikhas Zaretski, librarians, archivists, museum workers, publishers, as well as people whose fate was closely connected with the fate of the writer. Mr Alies Susha, Deputy Director General of the National Library of Belarus, made an opening speech.
Ms Julija Amasava, Chief Bibliographer of the Information and Analytic Activity Department of the Library presented the virtual section of the project (in Belarusian), created for the 120th anniversary of Mikhas Zaretski. A valuable component of the event were the thorough presentations by academics, researchers of the writer's work. Ms Aliena Bielaja, Doctor of Philology, Professor of the Philology Department of Baranavichy State University, made some interesting conclusions about Zaretski's literary heritage: she talked about the author's appeal to the means of Indian poetics and the things that unite the literature of Zaretski and Salinger. Mr Ihar Shaladonau, PhD in Philology, Senior Researcher at the Ja. Kupala Institute of Literary Studies, drew parallels in the aesthetic concepts of the two authors, comparing the statements of Kuzma Chorny (in Belarusian) "A Person is an Entire World" and Mikhas Zaretski's "A Person is a Whirlpool".
Aliena Maisiejienka. Photo by Ms Ella Dzvinskaja
Ms Aliena Maisiejienka, daughter of Anatol Maisiejienka, a scholar and researcher of Mikhas Zaretski, contributed to the extraordinary nature of the round-table discussion. She shared her father's memories of the fate of the writer's wife, Maryja, with whom the scholar kept in touch.
A regular participant in all events of the project is Mr Victar Zhybul, literary critic, poet, PhD in Philology, leading researcher at the Belarusian State Archives and Museum of Literature and Art. Despite the small number of existing documents about Zaretski, he presented a number of findings related to the writer's personality from the archive-museum's holdings.
The Excursion and Methodological Work Department of the National Library of Belarus has collaborated in the work on the virtual exhibition devoted to the writer. Ms Liudmila Kamarauskaja, Head of the Department, shared materials and photos of the educational tour dedicated to Mihas Zaretski as part of the project "Outstanding People of the Motherland."
A video presentation prepared by Ms Maryna Cimashenka, Head of the Marketing Department of Shklou Central District Library, in which she reported on the experience of popularizing the writings of Mikhas Zaretski and a number of activities implemented by the library in honour of the writer, drew the attention of the participants.
The participants of the event received good wishes from Mr Alies Badak, Director of the "Mastackaja Litaratura" publishing house, and Mr Zmicier Vishniou, publisher, spoke about the literary contest organized by the "Halijafy" publishing house to mark the 120th anniversary of Mikhas Zaretski.
A video of the event is available on YouTube:
The materials of the meeting can also be found on the library's Internet portal and in the community on the Facebook group “Maladnyak” – First Literature Association of Belarus”.
Information and Analytic Activity Department.
