ALEXANDER SOLZHENITSYN

Alexandr Solzhenitsyn’s Funeral – A Lesson in Contrasts

Alexander Solzhenitsyn – famous Russian dissident writer who exposed the horrors of the Soviet labor camps was laid to rest in a Moscow Monastery – Donskoi Monastery, Wednesday August 6, 2008. He was 89.

Solzhenitsyn, a Nobel Literature prize winner was buried in a Russian orthodox ceremony with all the pomp and display accorded to him by the Russian State with accompanying Russian guards, who resembled goose-stepping guards of former Soviet Leader Stalin, combined with a very showy display of religious ceremony of the Russian Orthodox Church, right down to the solemn hymns of their religious choir.

In attendance and giving much support to his widow and family was Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev. Russian soldiers carried a large portrait of Solzhenitsyn through the crowded streets along with numerous floral wreaths and bouquets which would finally adorn his resting place. Honor guards carrying Solzhenitsyn’s casket were Russian Military guards.

It seems to me that a great grey mark has been placed in history with his demise. I remember reading about Solzhenitsyn in my childhood at my father’s feet, in political and non-political newspapers and magazines.

Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote books which exposed the many horrors of the Soviet slave labor camps and for his truthfulness was made an enemy of the Soviet State for many of his adult years.

Alexandr Solzhenitsyn was born at Kislovodsk on December 11, 1918, 36 years almost down to the month before my birth, yet I had come to know of the man through books, radio and television in my short lifespan and greatly admired him from afar.

Alexandr Solzhenitsyn was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1970 for his writings, many which had to be smuggled out to the west. In his Autobiography, he wrote about his father being a student in philological subjects at Moscow University but had not completed his studies as he enlisted as a volunteer when World War I broke out in 1914.

He was brought up by his mother who worked as a shorthand typist in the town of Rostov, where he spent his childhood and youth. He had always wanted to be a writer, even as a child, and had tried to get his writings published many times without success. He had a thirst to acquire a literary education which was not possible in Rostov and because of his mother’s poor health it was impossible for him to move to Moscow to attend university there. He therefore turned to a life of mathematics which he had an aptitude for and began to study in the Department of Mathematics at Rostov University.

Alexander Solzhenitsyn was arrested under Stalin’s censorship because of “disrespectful remarks about Stalin” and in July 1945 was sentenced to eight years in a detention camps and later 1 month after serving his full term, was “Exiled for Life” to Kok-Terek (southern Kazakhstan). He was allowed to teach mathematics and physics while in exile. Mathematics allowed him to survive and saved his life on two occasions as he related in his autobiography.

Pick up a copy of one of this outstanding man's writings. (One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich)

Try to find a copy of his Autobiography and read about this outstanding man, who changed the face of time and many lives.

UPDATE: August 17, 2008 - Information from: Rutland Herald: http://www.rutlandherald.com/

CAVENDISH, Vt. - The southern Vermont town of Cavendish is planning a memorial service for famed Russian writer and one-time resident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.

The Nobel Prize-winning author had settled in Cavendish when he sought refuge in the West and was looking for a place whose forests and harsh winters reminded him of his homeland.

He wound up spending 18 years in Cavendish before returning to Russia.

The former exile who had exposed the horrors of Soviet slave labor camps died Aug. 3 and was buried with honor in Moscow.

The town of some 1,500 people will honor him with a memorial service on Aug. 17.

May God keep him in His memory.