Russification

Kobrin → Outstanding persons → Alexey Mikhaylovich Martynov

It is unlikely it is possible to consider as the deliberate planned russification that many-sided process which was developed in Kobrin within two centuries after reunion with Russia in the remote 1794. It ended with the fact that Russian became the main means of communication here, having almost completely forced out a local original dialect of Ukrainian. It is thought a considerable role played A. Suvorov's campaigns in 1794 which left reminiscence of fights at Divin, Kobrin, Kruchits in the form of "Suvorov oaks" and mass graves of the dead "москалив" in primary acquaintance of poleshuk with the Russian people. Also Kobrin fight at the very beginning of Patriotic war of 1812 was remembered. In centenary anniversary in the downtown the monument with the expressive text was open: To the Russian soldiers who won the first victory over Napoleon's troops within Russia on July 15, 1812. Later half a century on a mass grave of the fallen Russian soldiers the cathedral of Alexander Nevsky was built. Except the killed in these fights, still there were many wounded who recovered in local hospital. For certain, a lot of become helpless disabled people could not make the way to homes and settled in Kobrin district. Here soldiers who after 25, and then 15 summer services left "in pure resignation" started roots, receiving in the form of remuneration of half of tithe of the city earth under the estate and construction of housing.

A bigger value had communication with the Russian soldiers in intimate house conditions. In the remote past there were not everywhere special barracks therefore was in custom to lodge to soldiers at local inhabitants. And in view of proximity of border military units were constantly deployed in Kobrin. So, already at the end of 18 Art. the city became a haven of a kirasirsky regiment, in 1913 – Irkutsk Hussars in which a cornet A. Griboyedov served. In World War I from Kobrin infantry shelves went to the front 149 Black Sea and 150 Tamansky.

Promoting russification there was also the return process what was a constant recruitment. Local children "were taken in Russians", on local expression, and send often to serve imperial in the remote garrisons of Russia great. There was already a full expanse for russification! On service they, naturally, could not but acquire Russian especially as the shortest term of a soldatchina lasted not less than four years. Upon return home many consciously did not wish to leave more prestigious in every respect nation-wide language, accustomed to it members of household. Quite often it happened that the young tell-tale fell in love with the local beauty and remained where he was found by a transfer to the reserve, without breaking off at the same time communication with a native home. Thus the strong two-way communication was established once again.

Naturally, the Russian-language school and orthodox church became powerful factors in deepening and expansion of russification. Distribution of literacy and acquaintance with great Russian literature had important value for feeling of the consanguinity with the Russian people, incomparably more sincere and clear, than arrogant Catholic sirs, quite often inclined to emphasize often imaginary advantages of the highest Polish culture. In consciousness of the people far memories of fierce religious fight which for centuries was conducted for souls of believers between Catholic uniats and Orthodox Christians were not effaced yet. Noved it was not limited to dogmatic debates at all, and more often directly infringed on especially everyday interests. Memory of former persecutions on Orthodoxy carriers completely did not depart to the area of mythical legends.

After the termination of initial national school as the following step of education served the four-cool district school renamed then in city the same zakonchenno-average rank. His entrants had the right of receiving an average rank, and it was a tempting step for further office advance on tables of ranks. Bright meshchanchuk soon realized these advantages and began to arrive on public service in next as then spoke, the Kingdom Polish, then already degraded to "the Privislinsky region". The benefit of Poles on their homeland to the state positions was not allowed therefore the competition had not to be afraid. Our Russifiers quite often reached subsequently high positions, despite of the doubtful level of the got education. And here with full-fledged secondary education Kobrin was obviously not lucky. Repeated petitions of City Council to the minister of national education to open a classical gymnasium the success was not made. Though the local management represented the land plot under a building construction, undertook to refund expenses on construction partially. Therefore the children of more wealthy parents who are eager to receive the certificate about secondary education were forced to go to gymnasiums of Brest, Pinsk, and even Bialystok. Here it is pertinent to note also such indicative fact. In many intelligent Jewish families influence of Russian zakorenitsya so deeply that even in "the Polish time", besides not only in Kobrin, but even in Warsaw in the house use there was Russian.

However the most fatal russification for scales there was a World War I which pressed up and down open spaces of distressful Belarus. Front failures in 1915. Compelled the Russian army to retreat. Its command adhered to the harmful doctrine of "scorched earth" in the territory left to the enemy. The population of a front strip is forcibly universal was evacuated far inland whereas the left real and personal estate was immediately ruthlessly burned. Refugee families painfully slowly crept away on immense open spaces of Russia, hastily acquiring Russian and getting acquainted with life of different provinces. The hospitable attitude of the Russian people towards disasters of poor creatures-poleshukov scarred consciousness of refugees. Much of them happened to participate against the will in whirl of revolutionary events, and even to lay down life far from native places. Lucky, are closer than others to Belarus, since 1918. began to make the way by hook or by crook "home" where found the waste grounds which overgrew weeds. In general the return outcome of many thousands refugee masses came to the end only at the end of 1923. And a great number of our fellow countrymen preferred to start roots in the rendered habitable places, essentially without wishing to come back to "pansky Poland".

And in conclusion natural question: how process of a spontaneous russization of Kobrin district during the post-war Soviet period is? For this purpose it is enough to inquisitive observer to wander on city streets, listening attentively to conversation of passersby. It is possible to warrant that it did not happen to hear the Belarusian dialect. The similar picture will repeat at acquaintance with reader's forms in city library, is equal as with statistical data in department of a subscription in local office of Soyuzpechati. Everywhere the phenomenon, sad for a state language, is observed. Extremely scanty circulations of the books and the periodical press published in the same state language convincingly speak about that unpopularity what it uses at a people at large. And it despite heroic efforts of a small layer of the belorusskoyazychny intellectuals trying not only to stand by all means, but even to deprive language of "moskalyushchik" of its prevailing situation.

October, 1995.

 



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