How did Belarus live a century ago, on the turning point of history, at the time of wars, revolutions, spiritual and cultural cataclysms? We are restoring the picture of the day with the help of old newspapers from the unique collection of the National Library. So, this is a conclusion. For a start, people had to make great efforts not to be drowned to death in a stormy global socio-political maelstrom. But then, as they started feeling the way, they needed to find an answer to the sacramental question: what to do next? What to do? Of course, sow bread! And, of course, learn!
Knowledge is light
Soon after the proclamation of the SSRB (Belarusian Soviet State) on January 1, 1919, workers', peasants' and soldiers' deputies adopted a decree of February 25, 1919, on the establishment of the Belarusian University. The university began working in the same year in Minsk, but full-fledged classes were opened only on October 31, 1921, and this day is now considered to be the birthday of the BSU. However, unfortunately, the earlier period of the university's activity is forgotten, in particular the relationship between the Belarusian State University and the Belarusian People's University.
A hundred years ago, on July 11, 1918, the Belarusian People’s University opened in Moscow. This event predetermined in many ways the further development of higher education in Belarus. By the way, most of the first BSU teachers had moved to Minsk from Moscow. The grand meeting on the occasion of the opening of the Belarusian People's University was held in the premises of the Moscow Pedagogical Institute named after Shelaputin. Fyodor Turuk, the head of the cultural and educational department of the Belarusian People’s Commissariat, spoke from the rostrum. On the territory of the Pedagogical Institute, Professor Vladimir Picheta delivered the first lectures about the early history of Belarus. These events were covered by the newspaper Dziannica, the official organ of the Belarusian People’s Commissariat. Later, Professors Picheta was appointed the first rector of the BSU, and Turuk was appointed a member of the first Board of the BSU.
In general, the question of the establishment of a national university was raised at the end of 1917, after the First All-Belarusian Congress. The need for such an educational institution was expressed by the famous Belarusian scientist, Evfimiy Karsky.
Arkady Smolich, the People's Secretary of Education, initiated the organization of a working group. The commission acted all spring and summer 1918 in Minsk, however it was unable to complete the work.
In spring 1918, the call for the creation of the Belarusian University appeared on the pages of Dzyannitsa, the official organ of the Belarusian People’s Commissariat.
By the way, most European universities started from the similar classes, locally read but systematically organized.
And a year later, on July 11, 1921, a solemn meeting dedicated to the opening of the Belarusian State University was held at the Karl Marx Club (today Kupala Theater).
Thus the Belarusian People's University became a forerunner of the Belarusian State University.
By Galina Ulitenok, SB – Belarus segodnya
