It was The Day’s third visit to Kharkiv with its project (the previous one took place in March 2007). Over the years the city has changed noticeably, and become more European, as evidenced by tidy streets, repaired dorms, and students whose moods are different from those they had three years ago (more on this further on).
PHOTOS FROM A WORLD OF DEVALUED WORDS
The Day’s project that has made this newspaper known to even more people from all over Ukraine — even those who aren’t regular newspaper readers — is its photo exhibit. This year it has traveled a long road from Zhytomyr to Vinnytsia, then back to Kyiv (at the Drahomanov National Pedagogical University), and finally to Kharkiv. “Each photo of this amazing exhibit is a small masterpiece. These photos show the world around us and ourselves in it. I know that thousands of students explore this exhibit in various Ukrainian cities, that hundreds and thousands of people enjoy viewing them. These photos make them pause and ponder the quick passage of life. Emotions are known to unite people,” said Vil Bakyrov, rector of the Karazin National University of Kharkiv, while opening the exhibit that proved to compliment the interior of the university’s library.
One of the secrets of success of The Day’s photo project for so many years is the presence of “live” photos, music, and free communication. The music, provided by a student string quartet from Kharkiv’s Kotliarevsky State University of Art, also added to the warm interior atmosphere. The students had asked their teachers to postpone exams so they could play during the opening ceremony, and said they didn’t regret it; while playing, they watched the visitors examine the photos, then pause to listen to the music. “Music always compliments any other art, just as photography is a means of vividly conveying the modern dynamic world, so people laugh and cry sincerely to the accompaniment of music. Today we saw this while watching the first visitors of The Day’s photo exhibit in Kharkiv,” says violinist Tetiana Yotka. The Kotliarevsky University’s Associate Professor Yulia Nikolaievska (she helped arrange for the student quartet to play during the ceremony) adds, “The musicians were especially impressed by photos with faces reflecting character. I think the photo ‘My Grandpa’ by Yevhen Kazykin is a true masterpiece. What makes it even more so is the fact that it is in the children’s nomination, while the theme and technique are anything but childish.”
“In today’s world, where so many words have been devalued and lost their energy, it is necessary to address not only one’s mind, but also one’s feelings. I think that photography can lend another dimension to our life. Each of us vis-a-vis a photo can feel something special, something his/her own,” Larysa Ivshyna, the chief editor of Den/The Day, explains why this newspaper has both intellectual and creative projects.
The Day’s photo exhibit was held in Kharkiv until May 28. In June it is scheduled to be displayed in the Crimea.
THIS GLOBALIZED WORLD
“What is there to prevent Ukrainians from determining their place in time and space? Where is our place in history and in the future?” According to Larysa Ivshyna, answers to these questions are found in The Day’s Library Series, a large-scale and laborious project that already counts nine publications. Since the last meeting in Kharkiv two substantial books have been added to the collection: James Mace: Your Dead Chose Me (2008) and Extrakt 150 (2009). Naturally, the editors wouldn’t have coped with such a project single-handedly. “We created a consolidating ground for historians, intellectuals, cultural experts, and philosophers,” said Ivshyna addressing an audience in the Karazin National University’s large conference hall. Among the audience were students from various Kharkiv universities, lecturers, NGO representatives, and journalists. However, only several persons present at that roundtable had attended the previous meetings with Ivshyna. The rest were a new generation of Kharkivites — in terms of worldviews rather than demography. This became obvious in the course of discussion, which focused on different topics and had a different tone. Three years ago, one of the students had asked Ivshyna, “Why do they impose The Day of Reunion of Ukraine on us? It isn’t a holiday, is it? Even the Zluky Act is postdated.” The audience had applauded. This time people of different ages, education levels, and occupation gathered to listen and to discuss their country in a calm and respectable atmosphere. “I would like to thank all those who came here prepared to discuss history, not just archival records, but that which is the foundation and construction material of our future,” said Ivshyna in her opening address.
“History: Discussing the Future” was the topic of the roundtable in Kharkiv. Ivshyna explained, “All these years Ukrainian journalists have paid considerable attention to current politics and very little attention to the fundamental issues of our history. Actually, these issues had to be figured out, considering that we had started building our state in difficult conditions. These unsolved problems add new challenges while the people’s attitude doesn’t allow for sorting out old and new data in the information deluge of our globalized world, and laying the foundation of a modern political nation.” During the roundtable, one of the key topics of discussion was modernization of Ukrainian society and international experience. The reforms of Alexander I and the role of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in Turkish history were also discussed. Karazin University student Pavlo Yeriemieiev guided the discussion into an interesting vein by his question-cum-presentation “What place will history have in the new globalized world?” was how he began. He continued, “Mikhail Boitsov, a lecturer with Moscow State University, came up with an interesting and unconventional opinion that in the globalized world there will be no place left for history. He believes that history is a mechanism creating one’s own identity, yet the irreversibility of the globalization process is not an axiom. Indeed, the world experienced an integration cycle from the mid-19th century until the First World War, but then globalization retreated. Of course, I’m not saying that this is precisely what awaits the world this time. However, taking world economic integration seriously does not suffice to assume that the friend-foe boundary line will disappear. Ivan Dziuba wrote in The Day that mankind cannot but seek new ways of development. History continues to be in demand. The community of man must understand their past to explain why we are different from others. In the future, close contacts between peoples may result in enhancing their differences. The competition between historiographies will thus deepen on a national or civilizational basis.”
It was thus that a third-year student explained to those present why Den‘ has for the past decade been focusing on articles and research dealing with history. He was awarded with an ovation. The answer to the question whether Ukrainians will have to have their own identity in the future was: “Ukraine is lagging behind with a number of processes. Nation-states came to be after the Second World War. We failed to join this process. The pseudo-statehood of the Ukrainian SSR outlined the [future] Ukrainian state and inspired the hope that this would actually happen. The national forces made the mistake of failing to make use of the positive material accumulated in the Soviet Union. We were offered a national model that would take Ukraine back to 1918, or even further. As it was, a great many people no longer remembered that early 19th-century history, so they started recalling how well they had lived under the Soviets. All this slowed down the process of development of a new Ukrainian identity,” explained Larysa Ivshyna, “so the question is, ‘Should we not return to our identity? Should we bypass it?’ This is a matter of competitiveness of Ukrainians across the world. Ukrainians must tell themselves whether they want to be stage hands or leading actors in this historical drama. Are we not capable of taking part in global debates? Are we unable to match Fukuyama or Huntington? Who says they are the only ones who know the best way?”
ETHICAL REVOLUTION
In Kharkiv, The Day and Larysa Ivshyna were greeted by old friends, founders of the Ostroh Club for Young People’s Free Intellectual Exchange Denys Podiachev and Daria Vorobiova — formerly Kharkiv students, currently graduates, who were among the first to join the club. Now they represented the older generation of a large-scale student movement. Their presence was proof of how one could choose the right option, out of many offered by the modern world, and change one’s life. Projects, such as Ostroh Club, are perhaps the only way to resist the deep-reaching moral erosion threatening Ukrainian society. “Injuries previously inflicted are almost incurable, coupled with today’s moral erosion. Previously we often heard, ‘Wait till the new generation comes, they will be different people.’ Wrong. The new generation can’t become different automatically. On the contrary, it can turn out worse than we can imagine,” predicts Ivshyna, adding, “There can be no rejuvenation without the mold of reason. The older generation must build a ladder using which these [young] people can reach higher levels. How can they be different if they find themselves hurled in the sulfuric acid of horrible realities literally in the salad years, watching all this on television or out on the street? How should they behave? I feel especially concerned about small children. We adults have developed an immunity of sorts, just as the young people born in the 1990s have figured out what is actually happening. We all must blaze the trail for the younger ones to protect them and give them the power of conviction. Otherwise Ukraine’s suffering will have gone to waste.”
This is only a small excerpt from the discussion of the future in Kharkiv that lasted for more than two hours in a conference format and another hour in that of postscript. This discussion showed that the thinking part of our society needs such discussions concerning other topics, on a similar intellectual level.
IMPRESSIONS
Daria VOROBIOVA, member of the Ostroh Club’s Founding Council, Kharkiv:
“The audience showed a keen interest in Larysa Ivshyna’s presentation, asked questions, and listened to the answers carefully. Among those present were members of NGOs in Kharkiv oblast who came up with interesting ideas and specific suggestions. As a representative of the Ostroh Club in Kharkiv, I was very glad to see so many young faces, all those who came to take part in the roundtable and the opening of the photo exhibit, which proved especially popular this year. The photos were filled with such emotions and taken with such inspiration, they left no one indifferent. My favorite one is entitled ‘A Wedding Party for the Whole Village.’ I think this photo best conveys the Ukrainian spirit, all that generosity, openness, and kindness. We’re still looking for our identity and The Day, as usual, is showing what we may have missed.
“You can’t move toward the future without knowing your past, just as you can’t complain about dirty streets while dropping litter; you can’t point an accusing finger at lack of culture without showing your own cultural development. I think that such roundtables with readers will be very useful for the Kharkivites, for they make us ponder who we are, who we were, and who we would like to be. Very soon, two years from now, we’ll have to show the world who we really are. I hope we’ll know an answer to this question even before the Euro 2012.”
Oksana PROKHVATILOVA, student, Faculty of Philology, Karazin National University, Kharkiv:
“Despite the pessimistic forecasts of modern Ukrainian media concerning the prospects of the Ukrainian state, matters relating to history, science, and culture remain topical with the younger Ukrainians. I think this is especially true of classical university students because their training is based on the concept of special mission for the graduates. KNU is no exception. It can boast of a rather influential community of student activists, including several self-government organizations. Our students study in an atmosphere that helps develop one’s own social and political stand.
“I don’t regard as an axiom the allegation that today’s youth is passive, illiterate, that young people don’t read books and aren’t interested in anything. This formula doesn’t apply to everyone. In fact, this explains the active participation of young Kharkiv residents in this roundtable with Larysa Ivshyna and the topic of forming historical memory within a society.
“This topic is rather interesting, it gives enough food for thought because it isn’t abstract. We as future specialists in our respective fields have an opportunity to exert an influence on the society in which we’ll have to live. Several years from now, as graduates of one of Ukraine’s oldest and most prestigious universities, we’ll try to find our place and apply our skills in this controversial, trying, often absurd world where business, often personal interests help one win, rather than an objective and professional stand.
“I found this roundtable interesting and topical. I’m a student majoring in the humanities, so I often see and hear about matters of culture and education being treated in Ukraine as minor issues compared to those in the economic and social spheres. On the one hand this approach has its reasons; it would be hard to deny that those in power are manipulating matters relating to national consolidation, the raising of a nationally conscious generation, historical truth, and so on. Therefore, there is no denying their topicality.
“Such topics have to be discussed, even if this may not cause any radical changes in the government’s policy. At least there will be hope that the ruling circles will take the public opinion into consideration, even if partially.
“The roundtable format offers the participants an opportunity to share new original ideas, make interesting discoveries, especially if among those present are people of various age groups. The students were interested to hear what the editor in chief of a popular and prestigious newspaper had to say, and I believe that Larysa Ivshyna was interested to hear the students, young people who were born approximately when Ukraine became independent and who had grown up in their own state.
“Opinions may vary, but discussion is the way to work out the correct approach — of course, if this is a discussion based on objective arguments, not a hot-air session. What is the correct approach for Ukraine today? I think the national interest should be the main criterion in choosing it, considering that part of Ukraine, particularly Kharkiv, has become far too nationless.
“Consolidation of the elite, the intellectual nucleus of the nation, has more than once served as the motive force of Ukrainian national revival, revolutionary changes, and so on. After all, learned charismatic personalities have become the leaders who influenced the development of the Ukrainian state and its assertion. I believe that the current situation in Ukraine isn’t critical, anyway so long as there are people wishing to take part in projects like The Day’s roundtable at the KNU. Let’s hope that such meetings will continue to take place and will produce good results; that active students will thus take part in the process of creating a European democratic Ukraine.”
Viktoria SKLIAROVA, coordinator, Turystychny postup projects:
“The Day’s roundtable at the Karazin National University marked a significant cultural event in Kharkiv. It was a gulp of fresh air and markedly positive experience. We were pleasantly surprised by the Rector, Vil Bakyrov, who spoke faultless Ukrainian during the opening ceremony. He thus confirmed Ivshyna’s statement that culture is uniting Ukraine, whereas boorishness is disuniting it.
“And so the photo exhibit came first. A photo is the quintessence of a given subject, it can tell you a whole story without words. There is that babushka perched on a stool, busy doing something, for that’s her lifestyle. She can’t live doing nothing. One wants to pause in front of this picture to partake in the old woman’s aura of peace and quiet, wisdom, help her carry her heavy burden of lifelong worries, present her with at least a moment of happiness.
“After the photo exhibit there was a book conference that gathered a diverse audience: historians, political analysts, students, writers, business people, students of local history. They discussed their country’s past realities and prospects, ways to help the younger generation fulfill their potential, and how to help Ukraine as a young independent state.
“The launch of every new book gave rise to sophisticated questions followed by sage answers and fresh ideas.
“Below are some statements I remembered and I think they will come in hand in subsequent discussions:
“‘Peoples are destroyed not by external enemies but by losing the ability to tell good from evil.’
“‘If a country doesn’t have sufficient oil and gas deposits to secure its people a decent life, it is necessary to use intellect.’
“‘History means discussing the future.’
“I was surprised to hear about Klara Gudzyk and her Apocrypha. I’ll surely read it!
“The idea of making a present to your former school by donating a collection of books is very actual. I will take part in this project and will invite my colleagues from partner NGOs in various Ukrainian cities, people I know from joint projects and numerous trips.
“The book Ukraina Incognita, a gift for my questions, came as a great and joyous surprise.
“Route No.1 is a column so very close to my heart! Ethnic tours of remote localities in Kharkiv oblast, a project I’m working on with local enthusiasts, students of local history, and folklorists, fits so perfectly into the concept of intellectual tourism. It doesn’t require special conditions or advanced infrastructure. The main thing is to let people experience the spirit of the land.
“I feel that The Day can become the venue for exchanging ethnic tour programs for us participants in the project Toruiemo shliakhy (Blazing Trails) and our colleagues from other regions of Ukraine.”
Pavlo YERIEMIEIEV, chairman of the Student Scientific Society, Faculty of History, KNU:
“The roundtable with The Day’s editor in chief Larysa Ivshyna turned out very fruitful and raised a number of topical problems. It covered theprospects of the historical science, its popularization, academic research, and a combination of these fields of endeavor. It was especially interesting to trace the impact of various trends caused by the recent rebirth of the Ukrainian state and the formation of national identity on contemporary historical science, as well as on global processes in the historical science, like postmodernism and so on.
“The discussion was really constructive and gave everybody present food for thought. They may now revise certain concepts or at least raise these issues. I wouldn’t even try to list the topics broached during the roundtable, but I especially vividly remember the question about the destiny of history: Is the world moving toward the obliteration of all identities, and if so, will there be history? Most participants agreed that it would be premature and inexpedient to assume that the globalization process is leading to the loss of identity.
“The world retains its diversity, maybe increasingly so. Therefore, history, as a certain indicator of self-consciousness, identity, a means of distinguishing between ‘us’ and ‘them,’ remains on the agenda. As for academic history, there is no doubt that there will always be people interested to learn about their past.”
Oleh PUL, third-year student, Faculty of History, KNU:
“Surprisingly, the roundtable dwelt on past and present realities, as well as the future. Surprisingly because we managed to discuss these topics in two and a half hours.
“Honestly, I knew little about the lady we would meet at the roundtable, according to the poster. Of course, I’d heard about The Day, read some of its articles, even used ones on history in my university studies.
“Indeed, I knew the name of the editor in chief, but I’d never expect the lady to be so well read in history, with several books published under her editorship.
“I’m not overly fond of scientific conferences, simply because I’m not into science and I hate listening to long boring reports when you can’t wait for the presenter to finish, and no questions, thank you (although questions aren’t often invited).
“This readers’ conference proved to be entirely different. The audience was made up of people who wanted to be present, who wanted to discuss matters relating to history. The punch line about the whole thing was that these people were so different: students, young researchers from the local student scientific society, lecturers (among them noted scholarly figures on the university teaching staff), authors of popular history books, you name it.
“They all took part in the discussion that (as mentioned above) touched on past and present realities, and the future. In fact, there were questions about 19th-century history, comments on the current situation in the political and humanitarian spheres, prospects of the historical science in the context of globalization. The Day’s editor in chief Larysa Ivshyna had something to say on every issue. Starting with her opening address that smoothly evolved into discussion, I realized that I was in the right place at the right time.
“It is always interesting to know other people’s opinions, and even more so when such opinions are rooted in knowledge and professional experience — precisely what I found in the lady who was visiting our university.
“I will remember this meeting primarily because of its dynamism. Not a single question remained unanswered or without comment. None was followed by a silence in the audience. We heard excellent ideas, among them how to develop youth policy in terms of historical studies, doing so easily, without sizable financial support; about student (intellectual) tourism, considering that Ukraine is one of few countries with so many beautiful localities, most of which are little known to the general public, if at all. Outwardly simple topics made one ponder the future, the past and present realities of one’s country.
“The two and a half hours passed so very quickly, with the range of topics expanding so one wanted to keep discussing them. In fact, that’s why I expect to see Larysa Ivshyna at our alma mater again and again. I’m sure that after this meeting there will be considerably more people — at least at our university — who’ll want to attend the next one.”
Denys PODIACHEV, member of the Ostroh Club’s Founding Council, Kharkiv:
“The Day’s visit to Kharkiv was very much to the point as the city, especially the younger residents, appeared to have grown tired of cultural events being invariably staged for political reasons, especially this year’s trends like eulogizing the mythical brotherhood of the Slavic peoples and the ‘Great Victory.’ In contrast, The Day’s photo exhibit allowed one to shift one’s attention, dazed by the poisonous aftereffects of big-time politics, to something more routine yet somehow more comforting.
“The three-hour readers’ conference conducted by The Day’s editor in chief so smoothly, without a pause (perhaps because she enjoyed the very process of dialog with the younger generation) was proof that the young residents of Kharkiv have long developed a taste for truth, for thinking the way one chooses for oneself rather than as dictated by the political vogue. This realization gave me peace of mind, something I’d been needing increasingly badly following the events three weeks ago in Kharkiv.
“Finally, I would like to thank this newspaper once again for the opportunity to help develop young Ukrainians’ worldviews with the aid of The Day’s Library Series books, specifically for being able to present copies to School No. 41 in Mariupol where I received my secondary education. I am sure that the efforts of this newspaper and its editor in chief in promulgating a positive education discourse will yield good results.”
