The Day’s Library, founded back in 2002 every year presents something new. This time it is going to be a book Syla Miakoho Znaka abo Povernennia Ruskoi Pravdy (The Power of Soft Sign or Return of Rus’ Truth), which is, by the way, the 20th published by the Library. As Larysa Ivshyna, the chief editor of The Day noted: “The Power of Soft Sign is a continuation of The Day’s historical series that is much more interesting than anything of what Ukrainians had to watch on the box, just because it is about our life and because history is not a science about the past.”
This book is an attempt of The Day, its authors, experts, and journalists to examine how Ukrainian history was robbed, what was its cost for the Ukrainian people, and why those attempts failed after all.
“Under the circumstances of current informational situation in which Ukrainian society is now existing, publications of such books as The Power of Soft Sign are extremely needed,” says historian Serhii KOT. “Problems of Old Russian State heritage is very important. Not because of ambition and pride, as some people say that Kyiv was the epicenter of a vast empire that could compete with the influence of Byzantium. In other words, we belonged to a cohort of the states that determined Europe’s development line. Instead, we have to speak about the fact that there is a long lasting battle between Ukraine and Russia for Kyivan Rus’ heritage. This period of our history was stolen by Moscow a couple of centuries ago. Russia’s impudence now takes new forms, for example, the celebration of 1,150th anniversary of the Russian statehood. Kyivan Rus’, in fact, is one of the stones that build our self-awareness. There is a great interest in it as a highly spiritual heritage of civilization, as the bases of many cultural phenomena in European countries. However, many scientific studies about those times do not even mention us, because they are published on request and at expense of Russia. Obviously, we can not stand aside. This is our struggle!”
I must say that the paper’s authors: Petro Kraliuk, Dmytro Stepovyk, Volodymyr Panchenko, Serhii Kot, Oleksandr Paliy, Stanislav Kulchytsky, Kyrylo Halushko, Oxana Pachlovska, Valerii Stepankov, Serhii Hrabovsky, and, unfortunately, the late Klara Hudzyk and Serhii Krymsky have been long mastering this topic to prove that the presence of this hardly noticeable soft sign puts the right emphasis and takes the “imperial glasses” and great power glaze off many eyes. According to one of the compilers Ihor SIUNDIUKOV, “ь” (soft sign in Ukrainian alphabet) is a sort of an indicator, as in chemical experiment, which actually denies the so-called common history.
“The history of the Kyivan State for the present Ukraine is a passport in Civilization,” believes Larysa IVSHYNA, main editor of the published book. “Recognition of the completeness of our history is a difficult job, first of all, for the Ukrainian people. Perhaps, that is why is hasn’t been addressed for a long time.”
In the process of working on the book it became apparent that the history of 9th and 10th centuries became a subject of acute interest. The publication of The Power of Soft Sign coincided in time with significant events, in particular, with the exhibition Holy Russia that presented many Ukrainian exhibits under extraneous signs in Louvre, Paris (then it was presented in the Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow), and with signing the decree by Dmitry Medvedev on the celebration of 1,150th anniversary of the birth of Russian statehood.
“Does the contemporary Russia have a right for Old Russia legacy?” says historian Stanislav KULCHYTSKY. “Of course, they do. Russian regional centers Yaroslavl and Vladimir have the names of the Kyivan Princes that founded them. However, it all becomes very arguable when in one of those cities politicians and scholars are gathered to declare: ‘Old Russian heritage is all ours!’ (after Alexander Pushkin) In Soviet times there was a concept of common cradle of the three East Slavic nations born from the same root. The single Old Russian nation, just like Soviet people as a new historical community, is an ideologeme of imperial origin that has no scientific grounds. The statement about the common cradle didn’t hinder adding all the East European Middle Age to the history of Russia, while mentioning of the Ukrainian people begins only from the 14th century. However, nowadays the more radical pre-revolutionary concept, in which we, as an independent nation, are not presented in any times, is revived in Russia. That is why the Ukrainian society must pay attention to Old Russian heritage.”
By the way, Serhii Kot together with Kyrylo Halushko, Volodymyr Panchenko, and Petro Kraliuk will personally present the new book at the Lviv Book Forum on September 15 at 14 p.m. in the Blue Hall of the Potocki Palace. We will be glad to see you there! The Day’s experts believe that The Power of Soft Sign has every chance to become a bestseller and you, our dear readers, can get autographs of the authors of the book. Look for us at the Book Forum in the Palace of Arts (booth No. 335, 3rd floor) or you can order the book now by calling (044) 414 64 00 or by email amir@day.kiev.ua
