Strengthening Ukrainian identity and preserving national memory: two books on Holodomor tragedy presented in Kyiv

To honor the memory of the victims of the Holodomor, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine facilitated the publication of the books “Desert. Holodomor. Ukrainian South” by Vira Marushchak and “Give me, Mother, Some Food… Holodomor Dictionary” by Oleksa Riznykiv.

The books were presented at Media Center Ukraine – Ukrinform.

During the event, Taras Shevchenko, Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine for European Integration, emphasized that such books, in particular, play an important role in preserving national memory.

“Preserving memory in all forms, including the printed word, is extremely important. This is a drop in the ocean when it comes to strengthening the Ukrainian identity and preserving the national memory. And yet, it is an important drop,” he noted.

In turn, Oleksa Riznykiv, the author of the book “Give me, Mother, Some Food… Holodomor Dictionary” pointed out that these books clearly show the genocidal policy that moscow has always pursued against Ukraine. And, in his opinion, such books are one of possible ways to tell the Western countries about these genocidal actions.

“This book will greatly help us to show the whole of Europe that a genocide is being waged against us, and with it putin wants to destroy Ukraine, Ukrainians, and the Ukrainian language, not only today, but it has been going on for 300 years. This book can explain this to the West very clearly,” the author is convinced.

At the same time, Vira Marushchak the author of “Desert. Holodomor. Ukrainian South” is sure that such books will help Ukrainians and future generations to attract attention to the terrible pages of history that Ukraine has experienced.

“I really want people to learn about this tragedy through the literary word. Perhaps it will appeal more to young men and women, to adult people, because there are fewer and fewer people who can say that they either remember the Holodomor or know something about it,” she said.

It is also worth noting that the cover of the book “Give me, Mother, Some Food… Holodomor Dictionary” features the important work by Viktor Tsymbal “Year 1933,” which is the first Holodomor-related painting.

The participants at the event mentioned that the books will be sent to the front, to military bases and libraries of military bases. In addition, the issue of printing additional copies will be resolved as well, as it is important that the books appear in bookstores.

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news