- February 1, 2014
- 307
“People came and could express their opinions” – a presentation of the book on the origin of the Sociocultural Association of Poles in Lithuania
Last year the Sociocultural Association of Poles in Lithuania celebrated its 25th anniversary. There was a presentation of the book devoted to the origin of the Sociocultural Associations of Poles in Lithuania given at the House of Polish Culture in Lithuania. The presentation included the Władysław Syrokomla Association in Vilnius.
The book edited by Jan Andrzejewski and Danuta Lipska consists of only facts, there is nothing like authorial comments in it. “My feelings about the meeting are very positive because there came many people who had taken part in the rebirth of Polishness” – said Jan Andrzejewski, one of the originators and editors of the book. As Andrzejewski stressed, he has founded the publication from his own pocket. The second edition depends on buyers. All money that will come from the selling would be assigned for a new book.
As a matter of fact, there were some voices heard during the presentation that a book omitted a few names. Andrzejewski agreed with the criticism and promised to make the second edition complete. “I have understood that people want another publication that would supplement all gaps. There are obviously a lot of people whose accomplishments deserve to be described. The second book depends on the activists who will decide to pass their own memories to me.” – stated Andrzejewski.
Danuta Lipska, who in the late ’80s. also actively participated in the rebirth of Polishness, enjoyed the meeting too. “I positively asses the meeting. I am glad that people came and had an opportunity to express their opinions. Because it is very important. Perhaps we unintentionally passed somebody over due to our financial resources. They are essential to publish a book.” – assured Lipska.
Presumably there were not many guests who came to the presentation, yet there came for instance a well-known Lithuanian poet Aleksander Śnieżko. Henryk Sosnowski, the leader of the Polish Culture in Lithuania Fund said that „the book has appeared in the right time. In the time when Polish people have to unite just like during the January Uprising, which anniversary was celebrated last year.”
“A very sad issue had been raised, if we survive here, whether we still be speaking in Polish. I believe that the answer is in the book. If in 1863 (there is a leaflet on the cover of the book that refers to the time of uprising when Polish language was dismissed from the public – editorial note) it had been forbidden to speak in Polish and today, in 2014 we remain to use it, it is not so bad.” – said Aleksander Śnieżko.
The jubilee of the origin of the Sociocultural Associations of Poles in Lithuania and Vilnius was held at the end of September 2013 at the House of Polish Culture in Lithuania.
Tłumaczenie by Ewa Żakowska w ramach praktyk w Europejskiej Fundacji Praw Człowieka, www.efhr.eu. Translated by Ewa Żakowska within the framework of a traineeship programme of the European Foundation of Human Rights, www.efhr.eu.
