The Southern Urals, a region steeped in natural beauty and rich cultural tapestry, has embarked on a significant initiative to honor one of its most cherished literary sons: the late Valentin Vasilyevich Sorokin (1936–2025). Barely a few months after his passing on April 15th, the movement to immortalize his profound contribution to Russian poetry has gained remarkable momentum, spearheaded in his native Zilairsky district of the Republic of Bashkortostan.
The initial spark for this wave of remembrance ignited on July 14th in the ancient village of Kananikolskoye. This locale holds deep personal significance for Sorokin, being the ancestral home connected to seven generations of his family. A literary evening, driven by the fervent wishes of local residents, drew an impressive crowd. Attendees traveled from distant cities such as Ufa, Sibay, Orenburg, Zilair, Nizhnevartovsk, and Yekaterinburg, all converging to pay tribute to the poet`s memory. It was a tangible demonstration of collective respect, a quiet acknowledgment that true cultural impact transcends mere geographical boundaries, often inspiring pilgrimages of the culturally inclined.
Adding a national dimension to the local efforts, prominent Moscow writer Lidiya Sycheva journeyed to Kananikolskoye to lead the commemorative literary evening. Her visit culminated in a crucial meeting on July 15th with Boris Melkoyedov, the head of the Zilairsky district administration. During this productive exchange, critical proposals from various renowned public figures, prose writers, and poets, all advocating for Sorokin`s legacy, were thoroughly discussed. The first concrete outcome of these deliberations arrived swiftly: Mr. Melkoyedov formally signed a decree to rename the Centralized Library System of the Zilairsky district in honor of Valentin Sorokin. This act is not merely a bureaucratic formality; it is a profound symbolic gesture, permanently embedding the poet`s name within the educational and cultural infrastructure of his homeland, ensuring his works remain accessible and celebrated for generations to come. One might even suggest it’s an admirably efficient method of ensuring a poet’s work continues to circulate, long after their last rhyme.
A particularly poignant moment of the visit was Sycheva’s presentation to the district head of Sorokin`s collection of heroic poetry, “Cupolas of the Kremlin.” This isn`t just any volume; its publication received the direct support of Russian President Vladimir Putin, underscoring the national significance of Sorokin`s literary contributions. It serves as a powerful reminder that while poets often operate in the realm of the individual soul, their words can, at times, resonate with the very highest echelons of national life, demonstrating a rather direct line from poetic verse to presidential endorsement.
Valentin Sorokin`s passing earlier this year undoubtedly left a void in Russia`s cultural landscape. His oeuvre was deeply admired by literary giants of the older generation, including:
- Yuri Bondarev
- Mustai Karim
- Pyotr Proskurin
- Rasul Gamzatov
- Vasily Fyodorov
- Musa Gali
- Mikhail Lvov
Yet, the appreciation for his poetic legacy is by no means confined to historical figures; contemporary literati such as Maxim Zamshev, Ivan Golubnichy, Svetlana Zamlelova, Pavel Lavrenov, Irina Ushakova, and Viktor Bochenkov continue to recognize and champion the enduring power and relevance of his verse. It seems that even in death, a poet`s words can continue to organize public sentiment, a rather effective, if somewhat belated, form of cultural management and enduring influence.
