21 May is the anniversary [1] of the transfer of Taras Shevchenko’s ashes, from St. Petersburg to Ukraine.
For many years now the Ukrainian public has commemorated this day by laying wreaths at the Shevchenko Memorial in Kiev, and by singing and dancing round the statue (for an account of the 1969 celebrations, see CCE 8.12 [20]).
Taras H. Shevchenko (1814-1861)
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RECENT YEARS
In recent years, the authorities have attempted to give the entire day’s proceedings in Shevchenko Park an official character. A platform was erected around the Memorial, teams of performers were hired and concerts, organized.
Alongside such official activities, nonetheless, there were usually still some “amateur” folk festivities.
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1972
In 1972, the authorities resolved to stop to any attempts to honour the poet’s memory.
Shevchenko Park was surrounded by cordons of police, volunteers (druzhinniki) and “plainclothes men” (i.e., KGB officers). The police chased away people who stopped on the streets bordering the Park.
Without any explanation, the policemen, druzhinniki and “plainclothes men” seized people attempting to approach the Shevchenko Memorial or trying to sing Ukrainian songs: even those dressed in Ukrainian embroidered shirts or wearing Shevchenko badges on their chests were arrested.
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In all, over fifty people were detained [correction CCE 27.14]. The following day some were sentenced to 15 days’ in jail for “resistance to the authorities”.
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Shevchenko’s grave in Kyiv (postcard)
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NOTES
- Strictly speaking, 21 May (OS 8 May 1861) marks the reburial of Taras Hryhorovych SHEVCHENKO’s remains in Kyiv.
The transfer, by train to Moscow and then by cart to Kyiv, took rather longer. Shevchenko died on 10 March 1861 (Old Style) and was first buried in St Petersburg.
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