Why have Belarusan authorities forgotten Kastuś Kalinoŭski uprising?

Today is 150 years since the beginning of uprising of 1863-1864. Why do the attitudes of Belarusan and Polish states to this historic event differ so much?

In Poland it is the President of the country, Bronisław Komorowski, who is patronizing the celebration of the uprising’s sesquicentennial. The diplomatic mission of the neighboring country in Belarus will also not forget this event. But the Republic of Belarus is not arranging any official celebrations of the anniversary of the uprising led by Kastuś Kalinoŭski.

What is the reason for such attitude towards such significant Belarusan historical event? Is it that the uprising of 1863-64 is of bigger importance for the Polish history?

These questions EuroBelarus Information Service put before the representatives of the civil society.

Ulad Vialichka, chairperson of the International Consortium "EuroBelarus":

- This element of Belarusan history is rather dangerous for modern Belarusan authorities. Practically, this is the topic of “Mużyckaja praŭda” (Peasant's truth) newspaper, of Belarusans who tried to find truth and in a certain sense to influence the life they have. And it is this topic that current Belarusan authorities try to avoid as much as possible.

I think that there is certain ideological conflict as well. And if we look at a number of statements made by Lukashenka’s ideologists then we will see that they are trying to discredit the personality of Kalinoŭski, who is, undoubtedly, a hero of Belarusan history. Nevertheless, even such heroes are subject to doubt now.

Ales Kraucevich, the historian:

- The Uprising of 1863-64 is the date of no less importance for our historiography and mythology than it is for the Polish. But the paradox consists in the fact that present authorities do not need the legend about the uprising led by Kastuś Kalinoŭski formed as far back as the Soviet times. Those whom Kalinoŭski opposed, i.e. imperial symbols and the double-headed eagle, hold power in Russia now. And it turns out that in Soviet and modern textbooks Kalinoŭski is present as a hero and the Uprising is viewed upon as liberating. On the other hand, the uprising was against Russia, Lukashenka’s supporter. That is why now everything possible is done to eradicate this uprising from mass consciousness of the Belarusans.

Anton Astapovich, the chairperson of the Belarusan Voluntary Association for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments:

- I don’t want to comment upon this issue as it is rather complicated. Is there any information about someone appealing to the authorities to celebrate this date at the official level at all?

Last year Belarusan Voluntary Association for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments made official suggestions to grant three places connected with the uprising the status of the historical and cultural values, and these suggestions were satisfied. And whether someone has approached the authorities with a suggestion to celebrate the anniversary of the uprising is unknown to me.

Aleh Trusau, the chairperson of the Belarusan Language Society (BLS):

- If the uprising of 1863-64 is celebrated at the state level in Belarus, then we will have neither cheap oil, nor cheap gas. That is all I can say.

The most striking is that this uprising is of much bigger importance for us in the historical sense than it is for Poland. It is from Kastuś Kalinoŭski that the new period in the development of Belarusan language has begun. His “Mużyckaja praŭda” (Peasant's truth) was published much earlier than “Nasha Niva”. Moreover, he raised the question of the Belarusan Greek-Catholic Church revival as well as the autonomy within Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth – the idea picked up later when announcing the Belarusan National Republic (BNR). He is the first hero of our modern history. His role for us is the same as, for instance, the role of Václav Havel for the Czech Republic or Józef Piłsudski for the Poles.