Yakub Kolas: biography, creativity

Yakub Kolas, whose biography is filled with various events, has lived a really difficult, but at the same time, undoubtedly fascinating life. This writer is recognized as a truly outstanding person not only at home, in Belarus, but also became widely known abroad.
Kolas Yakub Mikhailovich is rightfully considered the founder of a new and modern Belarusian culture. But for open nationalist ideas, in his time, he had to pay a fairly high price. For almost three years, this man was serving a prison sentence as a political prisoner.

Yakub Kolas is a biography of an amazing person

Few people know that the real name of this Belarusian writer is Konstantin Mickiewicz. He signed his books and works as a pseudonym, which is why he became known in the world literature under the fictitious name of Yakub Kolas. Biography of the future poet began in a small Belarusian village called Akinchitsy. He was born on 03.11.1882 in the usual family of a forester.

Hardly then the parents could assume that from the usual little boy who tried to learn how to read and read from childhood, a well-known Yakub Kolas will grow up. His biography was largely determined by the fact that his father, being a simple forester, did everything possible to ensure that his son received the proper education. Also, his uncle, Anton, had a great influence on Yakub. It was he who managed to instill in the boy a huge love for literature.

Biography: Yakub Kolas - education received and first manifestations of talent

In 1883, the future poet moved with his family to Lastok, where he began attending the lessons of the "wandering" teacher named Ales Fursiewicz. Further, Yakub continued his studies at the Mykolaivschinsky Primary School. It was during this period that he became fascinated by the works of Gogol, Krylov, Pushkin, Nekrasov, Tolstoy and Lermontov. Among the domestic poets, the greatest impression on the boy was made by his poems Yanka Luchina. In 1892, Yakub Kolas, whose photo is presented in our article, entered the folk school in Mykolaiv region, and 2 years later he graduated quite successfully.

Kolas wrote his very first work at the age of 12. It was called "Spring", and the poet's father, Mikhail Kazimirovich, became the first listener of this verse. He so liked the verse of his son, that he gave the boy a whole ruble for this work, which at that time was a considerable sum.

The Beginning of Kolas's Work

In 1898, the young man entered the Nesvizh teacher's seminary, where his literary biography actively began to develop. Yakub Kolas with sincere enthusiasm read the works of Mickiewicz, Shevchenko, Gogol, Koltsov, Franco. In addition, he seriously took a great interest in Belarusian folklore, studied ethnography and recorded the oral work of the Belarusians.

In parallel, he himself tries to write in his native language. Basically, his poems and prose were about the nature and simple life of rural peasants, which has never been easy.

It should be noted that one of his teachers, Kudrinsky, heavily influenced the young author. He approved his work, drawing attention to the fact that texts written in Belarusian are of particular importance. Such praise from an authoritative person only confirmed Yakub's desire to continue his writings.

The beginning of active social activity

After graduating from the gymnasium, a young graduate works as a teacher in Polissya. He continues to collect Belarusian folklore, writes his own patriotic works and at the same time gets acquainted with revolutionary literature for the first time.

Yakub Kolas begins to conduct active conversations with peasants, in which he tries to convey to them the need to fight for their rights. Being an educated person, he helps them to properly make petitions to local landlords. They pointed out the need to provide public use of pastures and lakes. Such activities could not go unnoticed by the authorities, and as a punishment for such work, Mickiewicza is soon transferred to teach in the Verkhmenna National School.

But even there the writer does not stop his propaganda work. In 1906 he was the organizer and participant of the Teachers' Congress (illegal), at which the need to overthrow the tsarist regime was actively discussed. Of course, this congress was dispersed by the police, and Mickiewicz was under investigation.

First publications and imprisonment

Once without the right to teach, the writer accepts the offer of the well-known publicist A. Vlasov and begins to work in the newspaper edition "Our share". September 1, 1906 in this publishing house for the first time, under the pseudonym Yakub Kolas, the verse of Mickiewicz is published.

At this time, the investigation is continuing on the organization of the Teachers' Congress, and upon its completion the writer was sentenced to three years in prison. While serving his sentence in rather difficult conditions, he continues to work. While in the prison tried to punish the public figure Konstantin Mickiewicz, the poet-patriot Kolas Jakub became more and more assertive in him. Poems, books that he wrote during his imprisonment, eventually became his calling card. It is in prison that the poet has ideas for writing such world-famous works as:

• "Song of complaint."
• "The New Earth."
• "Symon-musician".

These works could be passed on to the will, and they were published in the edition "Nasha Niva". Even then, they were attracted by Russian critics who noted in the works of Kolas the presence of patriotism, Belarusian nationalism and a clear inclination towards humanism. Gorky himself gave a good assessment of these strongest works.

The long-awaited release of Yakub

After his release, for two years, the writer taught in Pinsk. During this period, he met his future wife - Maria Kamenskaya, and in 1913 they were married. In this marriage, the couple lived together for nearly 30 years. This period was very fruitful in the life of Mickiewicz, he wrote a lot and was able to establish himself as the strongest Belarusian author.

Participation in the war

After the outbreak of World War I, the poet was drafted into the ranks of the tsarist army. He received the rank of ensign and served his time in Perm. Further, he was sent to the Romanian front and in 1917 demobilized for health reasons. Since he had profitable pedagogical education, he was allowed to stay in Oboyan instead of continuing his service and work as a teacher there. At this time he publishes his collections of poems, in which anti-war appeals are clearly heard.

Official recognition of the poet

After the end of the war, Yakub Kolas gained wide popularity and recognition. In 1921 he returned to Minsk, where he wrote and published actively. He is engaged in scientific work and acts as a teacher. In 1926 he was awarded the honorary title of "People's Poet of Belarus". Two years later he was elected vice-president of the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR. For his collections of poems Mickiewicz twice awarded the State Prize of the USSR. After the Second World War, as an active figure, he was elected as a deputy to the Supreme Soviets of the BSSR and the USSR. In addition, the writer became an honorary academician of the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR and was recognized as a deserved figure in science. Yakub during his lifetime was awarded numerous medals and orders.

Death of the writer

Under the Soviet regime, many writers with nationalistic ideas fell under the watchful eye of repressive bodies. Yakub Kolas was no exception. The awards and prizes he received from the Soviet authorities could not save the writer from constant suspicion, interrogations and searches. This greatly undermined his morale and physical health. The poet died in 1956 and was buried in his homeland, in the city of Minsk.