Ryhor Baradulin (also: Rygor Borodulin) (Рыгор Іванавіч Барадулін) (contemporary poet and translator; born: February 24, 1935)

Photo Credit: Belaruskaya Mova: Entziklapediya, edited by Mikhevich, A. Ya., et. al. (1994); page 73.

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• The following biographical sketch is from Belarusian Literature in English Translation,   compiled and produced by The National Commission of the Republic of Belarus for UNESCO and the Yanka Kupala Central Public Library (Minsk, Belarus), 2005:

"Ryhor Baradulin, a poet and a translator, was born February 24, 1935, in the Vitebsk province, Belarus. During World War II his father, who was taking part in the guerrilla movement, died (1944) and their hut was burned. Later, after graduating from high school, he entered Belarusian State University. Among his fellow students there were many future Belarusian poets (M. Straltsou, H. Buraukin, V. Zuyonak, Y. Svirka, etc.), which provided them with great opportunities to discuss their works and learn more techniques in poetry writing from one another. After graduation (1959), Baradulin started working for many journals and newspapers as well as at a publishing company, Mastatskaya Litaratura. Baradulin has taken an active role in social life - taking part in a UN Session (1984) and in various political events.

His first verses were published in 1953. Baradulin has authored many books of poetry that discuss the main events of the time: war through perception of a child, life after the war, and the worries of today's global issues. His verses are both humorous and witty and he has even written some poetry for children. He is a noted translator who has translated into Belarusian some verses of the British writers W. Shakespeare; G. Byron; Polish, Lithuanian, Latvian, Ukrainian, Moldavian, Georgian, Uzbek, Hungarian, Bulgarian, and Russian writers; as well as some Biblical texts. Many of his poems have been set to music.

Baradulin has been awarded several awards and honors: 'Friendship of Nations Order'; 'Honorary Sign Order'; the Kupala Literary Prize (for the collection of poems Room, and a book of translations from F. Garcia Lorca, Blue Dong of Granada [1976]); and the Prize of Comsomol of Belarus (for the book Ballad of Brest Fortress [1976])."

Note: In addition to being available on the Internet, the preceding summary is included on the CD-ROM, Belarusian Literature in English Translation,, 2005. Most examples of literature included on the Web site and the CD-ROM are both in Belarusian and in English. Much of the material had been previously published.

Also see Ms. Vera Rich's open letter concerning this compilation (June 30, 2005). In addition to completing many of the translations into English, Ms. Rich also wrote the introduction to it, and helped in its production in many ways.)

• From his entry in the Historical Dictionary of Belarus (Zaprudnik, 1998; p. 43):

  "Prolific and versatile poet and translator and recipient of several literary awards, including the honorific title of People's Poet (1992). He is a graduate of the Belarusan State University and has been publishing since 1953. In the post-Soviet period Baradulin has been a strong advocate of state independence and democratization."

  (Note: In the preceding excerpt, terms in bold refer to other entries in the Historical Dictionary of Belarus. The Historical Dictionary of Belarus is an important summary of the history of Belarus.)

News Article: Launch Party for Poet Ryhor Baradulin’s Five New Books Held in Minsk Church

"A launch party for five new books by prominent Belarusian poet Ryhor Baradulin was held at the Sts. Simon and Helena Church (also known as the Red Church), in Minsk on October 7 [2007].

The event began with a special prayer service in honor of the poet and other Belarusian authors.

Speaking at the launch party, Uladzislaw Zavalnyuk, dean at the Sts. Simon and Helena Roman Catholic Church, wished all Belarusian authors to keep their language "clean."

Earlier this year, Mr. Baradulin was once again nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature for Ksty (Ксты), which was first published in 2005 and has been translated into many foreign languages.

Mr. Baradulin's five new books include new Belarusian- and English-language editions of Ksty; Byts (To Be), a poetry book commemorating the Chernobyl nuclear accident; a translation of Chinese, Japan, Korean, and Vietnamese poetry titled Hukanne Paezii Uskhodu (Sounds of Eastern Poetry); and the Malitva Vetru (The Prayer of the Wind) poetry book.

Alla Sakalowskaya, a professor at Minsk State Linguistic University (MSLU), expressed gratitude to the church for helping publish the books. She described Mr. Baradulin as an "honor of the nation." "A people that has such a poet is lucky. Centuries and generations will pass, many false prophets will pass into non-existence and they will refer to our time as the era of Ryhor Baradulin," she said.

Yury Stulaw, another professor at MSLU, called the poet "a teacher who teaches human soul to work."

The event was attended by Belarusian intellectuals and Swedish and Japanese diplomats. "       // BelaPAN

Source: Белорусские новости, October 7, 2007; 10:21

News Article: Ryhor Baradulin Recovering in Hospital

"The condition of renowned Belarusian poet Ryhor Baradulin who is currently in the intensive care unit of the Presidential Administration's hospital diagnosed with pneumonia has markedly improved, his wife, Valyantsina Baradulin, told BelaPAN on Tuesday (Feb. 27, 2007).

The poet is expected to be transferred to a ward soon. He was hospitalized on February 22 [2007] with a fever.

'His condition has markedly improved and he has become much more cheerful. He even asked me to bring him his glasses, a pencil and paper,' Mrs. Baradulin said.

The poet is given drugs by intravenous infusion six times a day. He still has a slight fever, but the second chest screening test has showed improvements, according to his wife.

Mr. Baradulin turned 72 on February 24 while in the hospital.

The poet was born in the village of Haradok in the Vitsyebsk Province of Belarus on February 24, 1935. Earlier this year, the poet once again was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature for Ksty (Ксты), which saw the light in 2005 and was translated into many other languages."

Source: Charter 97, February 28, 2007; 10:21

News Article: Breakaway Members of Belarusian Helsinki Committee Set Up Own Organization

"Businessman Aleksandr Potupa, film directors Yury Khashchevatsky and Vladimir Khalip and other breakaway members of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC) gathered in Minsk on November 12 to set up a new human rights organization called Helsinki XXI."

"About two dozen members withdrew from the committee in mid-September, accusing BHC head Tatyana Protko of collaborating with the authorities and suppressing dissent within the BHC."

"More than 100 delegates from Brest, Hrodna (Grodno), Mensk (Minsk), Mohilau (Mogilyov), and Vitebsk attended the founding conference of Helsinki XXI. The founders included poet Ryhor Baradulin and writers Svetlana Aleksiyevich and Valentin Taras. They adopted regulations for Helsinki XXI and elected Mr. Potupa and Dr. Valery Filippov, one of the founders of the BHC, to lead the new organization."

Source: BelaPAN, No. 175; Sunday, November 12, 2000; 9:50 p.m.

Web Links

• Belarusian Literature in English Translation: Short biographical sketch and examples of his writing in PDF format (in both English and Belarusian) at the following links:
• Short biographical sketch of Ryhor Baradulin    -- scroll down the page to access his entry.
• Poems by Ryhor Baradulin   -- scroll down the page to access his entries (the titles included are listed here).
• "The goods-waggon chugging and shaking…" ("Вагон таварны дрогка тузае")
• Bobbins (Калаўроты)
• The Ward of the Sappers (Палата мінёраў)
• The Cradle (Калыска)
• The Stork (Бусел)
• The Stones of Brest Fortress ("Камяні Брэсцкай крэпасці...")
• Eternity (Вечнасць)
• The   Ryhor Baradulin   Web site -- including his complete work, Ksty (Ксты), 2005.
• Viewpoint: 'Vilnia in Our Souls'   by Ryhor Baradulin on the site: Belarusian PEN Centre Web   (written 1 March 2001; no longer on the Belarusian PEN Centre Web site).

  • Copies of 'Vilnia in Our Souls' on this Web site:   "Вільня ў нашых душах" (Belarusian),   "Vilnia in Our Souls" (English),   and   "Вильня в наших душах" (Russian).

• Works by Ryhor Baradulin   on the Беларуская Палічка Web site
• Download complete book (PDF): Дуліна ад Барадуліна   (published by RFE/RL, Radio Svaboda, August 31, 2004)   on the Бібліятэка Камунікат Web site

• Also available as a PDF download from the   RFE/RL, Radio Svaboda   Web site.