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“Alexander Pushkin's works that unite the world!” was discussed by the participants of the international round table, which took place online on October 24, 2023. Its organizers were: Association “Life and Growth” at the Pushkin Institute in Paris (France), St. Petersburg Association for International Cooperation, First St. Petersburg State Medical University named after Academician I.P. Pavlova. The round table was moderated by Margarita Mudrak, Chairman of the Board of the St. Petersburg Association for International Cooperation.
The round table brought together participants not only from Russia and France, but also from Tunisia and Spain: scientists, public figures and cultural figures, historians, doctors, teachers, actors.
Igor Shpynov, Head of the department for the preservation of historical memory of the Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly, member of the Public Council under the Government of the Leningrad Region under the Government of the Russian Federation, addressed a welcoming speech to lovers and connoisseurs of the brilliant Russian poet, prose writer, and playwright:
“I am sure that in the 21st century the theme is “Alexander Pushkin's works that unite the world!” will become, in essence, one of the main cultural codes of human multipolar, multicultural civilization,” noted Igor Aleksandrovich, “Our opponents are trying to destroy, “chop off with an ax” from European and even world culture its most important integral part - Russian, Russian multinational culture... The figure of Alexander Pushkin is intercontinental. From Eurasia, to Africa, to America, to Australia!”
Igor Shpynov, in particular, noted the interesting fact that on June 6, the birthday of the Russian poet-prophet, Russian Language Day is celebrated all over the world. The UN approved this holiday in 2010 as part of the program to support and develop multilingualism and cultural diversity in the world, and in the Russian Federation it has been approved as the national Russian Language Day since 2011.
The Head of the Department for the preservation of historical memory of the Eurasian Peoples' Assembly also spoke about a number of Eurasian projects dedicated to Pushkin themes, which the Assembly has been conducting virtually since its founding. And this work continues: “In 2024, it is planned to create an international Pushkin Council at the Assembly,” shared Igor Shpynov, “I would like to inform you that the Assembly considers the idea of organizing the award of special “Pushkin” prizes to be one of the means of internationally uniting intellectual potential, especially among young people - they are winners of poetry and recitation competitions, authors of the best works in Russian, and cultural start-ups..
I would like to note that the Secretary General of the Eurasian Peoples' Assembly, Andrei Yuryevich Belyaninov, manages to attract into the orbit of the Assembly not only outstanding public figures, but also world-famous writers, for example, Olzhas Suleimenov, who is the Co-Chairman of the Council of Elders of the Eurasian Peoples' Assembly, Director of the International Center for the Rapprochement of Cultures under the auspices of UNESCO in Almaty, People's Writer of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in whose literature the theme “Pushkin and Abai” runs like a red thread.
The Assembly is open to cooperation on projects that strengthen the historical memory of the geniuses who glorified the culture of states in Greater Eurasia for centuries, which includes not only the Eurasian continent, but also Africa.”
During the round table, representatives of scientific communities from different countries outlined multifaceted topics for studying Pushkin’s work - from staging the poet’s fairy tales in children’s theaters to the medical environment of the genius of Russian literature. One of the important theses that was voiced during the discussion was the statement with which everyone agreed - to study and understand Pushkin – is to study and understand Russia. They also talked about the influence of Eastern civilization on the poet’s work. Pushkin in his work subtly managed to convey the meaning and beauty of the East.
In addition to exploring deep meanings and verbal forms, the round table participants also shared encyclopedic facts. For example, an interesting figure was mentioned - according to some data, more than 670 monuments to Alexander Pushkin have been erected in the world - and only less than half of them are in Russia.
“To summarize, I would like to emphasize again,” said Igor Shpynov, “that the culture of Eurasia needs cultural “bonds” for centuries. And one of them is the work of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, praised by poets and writers all over the world.”