Ukrainization

Kobrin → Outstanding persons → Alexey Mikhaylovich Martynov

It is unlikely when in the foreseeable past our public showed so unfeigned interest in questions of language and the international relations as it is observed presently. Especially considerably it on a joint of the state delimitation of Belarus with Ukraine which many are inclined to identify with centuries the developed ethnographic border between two people. Whereas concepts the polonization, russification, even a belorusization concerning Kobrin district quite unambiguously do not raise doubts and speak about something introduced from the outside, even imposed, – it not to tell that about an Ukrainization in any way (certainly if consciously not to palter), to such an extent this phenomenon is inherent in us from time immemorial. In this case only the fact that it is necessary to prove axiomatic is paradoxical. Against what was become with a local spoken language since the beginning of this century when it for certain came to be on boondocks of life, in general if to call things by their proper names, it is necessary to say even about a dezukrainization or a razukrainization that will be much more precisely.

Considering a language question of indigenous people of Kobrin district, it would be desirable to show the maximum impartiality, and it for me is significantly facilitated at least by the fact that on a nationality I am Russian and at the same time local native.

In our history the fact of the first written mention of Kobrin in the Ipatyevsky chronicle when our lands were a part of the Galitsko-Volynsky principality is rather symbolical. The subsequent isolation of the Kobrin principality happened owing to disintegration of the neighboring Ratnensky principality. After abolition of the Kobrin principality of its possession turned into sovereignty of the Principality Lithuanian, soon united with Poland.

The next two centuries are characteristic the fact that the mighty of this world made all efforts for the fastest opolyachivaniye of the local orthodox population, and it is equivalent a further polonization. An end to this process was put by three partitions of Poland. Again and again it is necessary to remember that in their result to the Russian Empire exclusively Belarusian and Ukrainian lands whereas the primordial-Polish divided among themselves Austria with Prussia departed. Looking back at the huge successes of a polonization achieved in two centuries prior to sections concerning the Belarusian shlyakhta and part of urban population quite lawfully to assume that, there are no these ill-fated sections, for the next two centuries the further intensive polonization of Belarusians and Ukrainians would lead to the fact that by our time from these ethnoses there would be only memoirs. If to speak about still escaped local spoken language, for the last century our village completely and overwhelming part of citizens grain-growers, without philosophizing crafty, "rozmuvlyala simply", without reckoning with as what of the next more nomenclature languages linguists will deign to rank them "hlopsky mova".

On purpose at least a little to clear up rather confused question to what prestigious nationality it is necessary "to fasten" the majority of our radical people, it is useful to glance in several official sources, having begun at least with authoritative First All-Russian population census of 1897. The rusifikatorsky tendency of autocracy above all uplifting the Russian nation with its language is well-known. Whereas "poor relatives", malorossa and Belarusians, were considered in the form of stepsons, their languages were considered only as adverbs of majestic language. And still copyists quite objectively registered on the Kobrin County of only 500 Belarusians whereas over 80% of the population are called malorossa.

Adhering to chronological sequence, we will address to 1931 given to the Polish population census. On a national sign it was distributed as follows: 59% are called "tuteyshy" (local), under this term respectively the instructed copyists masked insufficiently aware in an ethnic question of poleshuk (20,9% called themselves Ukrainians, 7,5% - Poles, 4,7% - Jews, 4,6% - Belarusians, 2,6% - Russians). That is data besides differ from census of 1897 a little. Now in a polemic passion our many "researchers" prefer to operate with data of the last decades according to which on the Brest region the number of Ukrainians does not exceed 2-3%. However on a number of good reasons these indicators can hardly be considered rather objective. Is not a secret that the majority oprshivayemy are inclined to consider the fact of accommodation in borders of Belarus equivalent to recognition of by Belarusians. And it irrespective of the main indicator – language feature to which very few people attach appropriate significance. Especially if it is prompted by the copyists striving for "monolithic unity". Therefore it is permissible to treat present statistical percent with reasonable scepticism. It should be noted in passing that when in an interval between the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 30th years the period of relative liberalization, so to speak "thaw" concerning ethnic minorities and their languages was noted, the Polish administration resolved-was to open the Ukrainian cultural society "Prosvita" which activity enjoyed wide popularity among local population in the Kobrin povet. Also Ukrainian party of Selrob-Levits had considerable influence. And at the same time we completely had no such specific-Belarusian organizations as the Belarusky bulk and Tavarystva belaruskay schools.

Now we will pass to the period of Sovietization of Kobrin district. In autumn months 1939 long confusion and even uncertainty of the mighty of this world on the most responsible question reigned in Temporary management of the Kobrin County: what republic we will enter finally – BSSR or USSR. Various assumptions went to this subject. As confirmation told serves the fact that in the first weeks official documentation was kept in Ukrainian. In it it is possible to be convinced, having studied documents of the Brest regional archive. Then began to posupat in large quantities statements with the petition for opening in tens of villages of Ukranian-language schools. However, here and there okryty schools were soon transformed in Russian-speaking under the pretext of absence of the qualified teachers.

About disputes in the Politburo of CPSU in 1939 N. Khrushchev taking active part in hot debate as the first secretary of KPU opened the heart at one of meetings with an asset of the Brest regional committee. If overweight appeared on the Belarusian side, then as decisive argument party delimitation during the Polish period served. It was obliged to casual circumstance: incomparably it was more difficult to local underground workers to keep in contact with the KPZU center in Lvoye, than to communicate with the KPZB center in Vilno and Bialystok. To Povidimy since then according to the instruction from above we consciously suppressed a question of a sushchestovaniye in the south of BSSR, at least in rural areas, the compact Ukranian-speaking population.

If on the matter we address solid researches, then the opinion is extremely unambiguous. Let's begin with such indisputable authority as E. Karsky who specifies in the two-volume book "Belarusians" that the South of the Brest region does not fall within the scope of distribution of Belarusian. Same Dyyaktalagichnym to atlases belaruskay mova", published in Minsk in 1963 is confirmed monumental ". In passing not to the liyena to note in the form of a funny thing that from irrepressible Belarusian "patriots" the sharp criticism both Karsky's arguments, and the quoted atlas supported their inappropriate objectivity. And the freshest example. In 1989 the weighty volume of remarkably developed "Etnagrafii Belarusi" was published. On the 189th page the Grupouki Gavorak on terytoryi Belarusi card is placed. In the southwest of the republic the rectangle allocated with a bright coloring "Palessky group gavorak" which unambiguously speaks about an actual state of the matter is evident.

In general the problem of ethnographic minorities on a border zone the phenomenon widespread in the majority of the countries also does not cause the conflicts. To take at least the neighboring Poland in which Belostoksky voivodeship the compact groups of Belarusians estimated by hundreds of thousands live. The same can be told about the Grodno region in Belarus. And belorusskoyazychny collectives in Bryansk and Smolensk regions of Russia. Whether it is obligatory to build such phenomena in a certain delicate question? The given examples confirm banal truth about rare coincidence actually of the state boundaries with ethnographic once again. And not in which case it is not necessary to dramatize and furthermore to be afraid of a possibility of the mythical conflicts on this soil according to the Yugoslavian scenario. And further not to subtilize, by all means proving the prejudiced case, it is possible just to visit various corners of Kobrin district in practice to be convinced, it is how hardy in the people "Polesia a patter" as Neil Gilevich in dispute with our compatriot over radio defines a local dialect. "Patter" as it is known, adverb of a certain language. So, it is asked what language, if for our poleshuk such primordially Belarusian words are completely mysterious how "a vopratka, senazhats, a ryzza, nazapashvats" and many great number of others? If at us not to hear melodious Belarusian words anywhere "a hadzia, a rabia" instead of which sound far harmonious "hodyv, robyv" …

October, 1995.

 



Navigation

Materials






Our partners