Olga Ipatova: We Got to Recognize Responsibility :: Charter'97 :: News

“The writer must have a solid civil position. Our society catastrophically lacks citizenship. Intelligentsia’s one task is to make our people feel responsible for the society’s civil condition. Not until every nurse, farmer and engineer feel responsible for the destiny of the country, will our society cease being so reserved and inert,” – said in an interview to Charter’s press-center the Belarusian writer Olga Ipatova.

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- You chaired the Belarusian Union of Writers. How is the organization doing these days?

- The Union of writers will pursue the democratic line, which it has been following in the recent past. Despite the difficulties, the writers devotedly keep to the principles of democracy and independence of Belarus. We are upheld by the writers’ unions of CIS and remote countries. Not so long ago, for instance, we hosted a reception for the Ukrainian writers, who published Yanka Kupala, Yakub Kolas and Maksim Bogdanovich in the Belarusian language, which was a great joy for us.

- What do you think of a range of the Belarusian writers, who are openly serving the current regime?

-- In all times the Union of writers experienced fierce struggle between the prevailing communist ideas and the free spirit of creativity, without which one cannot really produce a true piece of art. I’m glad that the current Union of writers demonstrates complete rejection of the so-called state lackeys. None of them were elected into the Union of writers. That’s their general attitude to all those, longing to reanimate USSR.

The majority of contemporary writers realize that literature is not at all about profits, but it is rather a ministry to the nation, as testified by the example of the independent journal “Dzeyaslov”, which is getting published despite great difficulties. Our officials know better whether or not they should print independent editions. Sad as it sounds, but intelligentsia has to lose time and effort in fighting this injustice, which could be better used for creative purposes.

- Do you think writers should care less for politics or stick to a solid civil position instead?

- No doubt, a writer must have solid civil position. Our society catastrophically lacks citizenship. Intelligentsia’s one task is to make our people feel responsible for the society’s civil condition. Not until every nurse, farmer and engineer feel responsible for the destiny of the country, will our society cease being so reserved and inert. That process is by no means easy but it goes on. Our youths are so different from us and hopefully our country will change, when those in power get replaced by young guys, who breathed pure air of freedom and hate the spirit of slavery.

- As is known, now they are readying for the People’s March “For Better Life!”, due to take place on March 12. Country’s respected people are included into its organizing committee. What’s your view of that?

- I figure that any action, aimed at reaching people’s heart and soul, will do us good. The more we get rid of slavery, the better. I only wish our politicians coordinated their activities better.