Yakub Kolas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yakub Kolas Якуб Колас
Born	Kanstantsin Mihaylavich Mitskievich November 3 [O.S. October 22] 1882 Akinchytsy, Minsk Governorate, Russian Empire
Died	August 13, 1956 (aged 73) Minsk, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union
Occupation	Writer, dramatist, poet, translator
Nationality	Belarusian
Period	1906–1956

Yakub Kolas (also Jakub Kołas, Belarusian: Яку́б Ко́лас, November 3 [O.S. October 22] 1882 – August 13, 1956) was a famous Belarusian writer. His real name was Kanstantsin Mikhailovich Mitskievich (Канстанці́н Міха́йлавіч Міцке́віч). He wrote poems, stories, and plays.

Yakub Kolas was known for caring about the everyday lives of Belarusian farmers. His pen name 'Kolas' means 'ear of grain' in Belarusian, which shows his connection to the land and its people. He wrote many important works, including collections of poems like Songs of Captivity (Russian: Песни неволи, 1908) and Songs of Grief (Belarusian: Песьні-жальбы, 1910). He also wrote long poems such as A New Land (Belarusian: Новая зямля, 1923) and Simon the Musician (Belarusian: Сымон-музыка, 1925).

One of his famous poems, The Fisherman's Hut (Belarusian: Рыбакова хата, 1947), talks about the changes in Belarus after it joined the Soviet state. His three-part story At a Crossroads (Russian: На перепутье, 1925) describes the lives of Belarusian farmers and educated people before a big revolution. Yakub Kolas was recognized for his work and received important awards in 1946 and 1949. He was also named the "People's Poet of the Byelorussian SSR" in 1926. He became a member of the Belarusian Academy of Sciences in 1928 and later its vice-president in 1929.

Early Life and Education

Kanstantsin Mitskievich was born on November 3 [O.S. October 22] 1882 in a village called Akinchytsy. This village was in the Minsk region of the Russian Empire. His father worked as a forester.

Kanstantsin went to the Nesvizh Teachers' Seminary and finished his studies in 1902. After that, he started working as a teacher in a village in the Palesse region.

Becoming a Writer

In 1906, Yakub Kolas took part in a secret meeting for teachers. Because of this, he lost his job and was put in jail in Minsk for three years. After he was released from jail, he started working as a journalist for a newspaper called Nasha dolya. This is where he first began using the pen name "Yakub Kolas."

War and Return to Minsk

In 1915, Yakub Kolas was called to join the army. In 1916, he finished military school in Moscow and became an officer. He served in the army for a while. In the summer of 1917, he was sent to the Romanian front, but he was released from duty because of his health.

In 1921, Kolas returned to Minsk. He started working at the new Institute of Belarusian Culture. This institute later became the Academy of Sciences in 1928. Kolas became an important member there, and then a vice-president.

Yakub Kolas in 1921

During World War II, Kolas had to leave Belarus and stay in Russia for safety. He passed away in Minsk on August 13, 1956.

Legacy

Yakub Kolas is still remembered and honored in Belarus. A square and a street in the center of Minsk are named after him. This shows how important he was to Belarusian culture and literature.

The Yakub Kolas Monument in Minsk

See also

In Spanish: Yakub Kolas para niños