The National Library of Belarus hosted a round table “Books and People”, timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the birth of Sciapan Alieksandrovich, writer, literary critic, ethnographer, teacher on December 22.
Domestic literary scholars, historians, teachers, librarians, representatives of the Tatar community, and many people interested in the book and literary traditions of Belarus took part in the event.
Mr Alies Susha, Candidate of Cultural Sciences, Deputy Director General of the National Library of Belarus, made an opening speech.
Mr Ismail Alieksandrovich, former Mufti of Muslims of Belarus and the guest of honour, opened a panel of speeches dedicated to the memories of Alieksandrovich's relatives. His heartfelt performance included the words of the first surah of the Koran, with which the Belarusian Tatars have been commemorating their dead. It was these words that saved Sciapan Alieksandrovich during his time in captivity during the Great Patriotic War.
Professor Alies Bielski, Head of the History of Belarusian Literature Subdepartment of the Philological Department of the Belarusian State University, Doctor of Philological Sciences, shared his personal memories about Alieksandrovich as a teacher and opinions about his most impressive works.
The subject of the kinship between the Alieksandrovichi family and other Tatar clans was continued by Mr Ali Varanovich, Mufti of the national religious association "Religious Board of Muslims in the Republic of Belarus".
Mr Ihar Zaprudski, Associate Professor at the History of Belarusian Literature Subdepartment of the Philological Department of the Belarusian State University, Candidate of Philological Sciences, drew attention to the study of Bahushevich's heritage by Alieksandrovich and emphasized the scientist's contribution to the field of Bahushevich studies. Mr Aliaksandr Baranouski, Senior Scholar at the Janka Kupala Institute of Literary Studies of the State Institution "Centre for Research of Belarusian Culture, Language and Literature of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus", Candidate of Philological Sciences, recalled the work of Alieksandrovich at the Academy of Sciences of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic.
A number of presentations were devoted to perpetuating the writer's memory: preserving and exploring his legacy, publishing books, and creating digital resources. To mark the 100th anniversary of his birth, the edition of his works in the series "Belaruskі Knihazbor" was prepared. Mr Kastus Cvirka, author of the project, editor-in-chief of the publishing house "Belaruskі Knihazbor" and Mr Jazep Janushkievich author of the foreword to the book shared their impressions about the publication of his works.
A presentation by Ms Rasalija Alieksandrovich-Tufkrea, Master of Philology and Methodologist at the National Institute of Education, who presented excerpts from Sciapan Alieksandrovich's long correspondence with Matviej Kanapacki, helped us get closer to the writer's thoughts and plans and to learn more about his personality.
Ms Iryna Astrejka, Head of the Service and Information Department of the Kopyl district library named after Anatol Astrejka spoke warmly about the native of the Kopyl region and about the preservation of his heritage. Ms Iryna Hradoukina, Head of the Bibliology Research Department of the National Library of Belarus, on her part, spoke about how the personality and heritage of the writer is being promoted today with the help of the library's information resources.
One of the guests of honour of the event was Mr Maksat Aviezau, Head of the Apparatus of the Muftiate of the Muslim Religious Association in the Republic of Belarus. He shared the plans and activities to be organised in honour of Sciapan Alieksandrovich by the Minsk Mosque, as well as plans to collect and preserve the heritage of the Belarusian Tatars. Ms Aliona Liubaja, Associate Professor, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Professor at the Historical and Cultural Heritage of Belarus Subdepartment of the National Institute of Higher Education, also spoke about the history of the Tatar community in Belarus.
At the end of the meeting, Ms Volha Shuhajeva, Librarian of the National Library of Belarus, presented the exhibition "The Word is Wealth", which is on display in the Belarusian Literature Reading Room (room 205) until 2 January 2022.
The event helped to identify the main problem, namely the lack of research and incomplete understanding of Sciapan Alieksandrovich's legacy, and the need to reissue his writings. This remains a matter for the future, a task for contemporary researchers, for Alieksandrovich's cultural presence can still be felt today.
Book Research Department and Information and Analytic Activity Department
