«If a bright boy grew up and studied well, what did adults say about him? He would grow up to be a teacher. And that was the highest praise.» V. Bykov “The Obelisk.”

Dear friends,

On January 23, we held the first event dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory. We discussed how the Great Patriotic War began through the example of Vasil Bykov’s novella “The Obelisk.”

Vasily Bykov was a writer and a front-line soldier, and he knew war firsthand. He always aimed to depict war without romanticizing it—through the lens of tragedy, moral choices, and human dignity.

The novella “The Obelisk” was written in 1971 and is dedicated to the heroism of ordinary people during World War II. The events take place in the western part of Belarus, which became part of the USSR shortly before the war began.

In 1974, for the novellas “The Obelisk” and “To Live Until Dawn,” the author was awarded the State Prize of the USSR. At the same time, a radio play was produced, with such remarkable and popular actors as Evgeny Kindinov, Mikhail Ulyanov, Alexey Batalov, Leonid Knyazev, and others.

In 1976, the novella was adapted into a film.

The story is built on the principle of “a story within a story.” The narrator is a journalist who hears the story of schoolteacher Ales Moroz from his former inspector Tkachuk.

The journalist had long planned to visit schoolteacher Miklashevich in the village of Seltsy, whom he met once, and who had asked for help with a complicated case. But he had never found the time. He only came to the funeral, where, during the wake, he heard about Moroz.

One of those at the wake, Tkachuk, leaves after an argument with the others. The journalist follows him, and while waiting for a bus to the city, they approach a monument to schoolchildren who were hanged by the Nazis. The monument bears a new, sixth name: Ales Ivanovich Moroz.

Tkachuk, suggesting that they walk because the bus probably won’t come, tells the journalist about Moroz, whose case Miklashevich had been dealing with.

This work evoked a strong response from the audience. Some shared family stories about how the war impacted their ancestors. Others recalled books and films dedicated to the war. They discussed what heroism is and whether Moroz made the right decision by surrendering to the Nazis. Did he not understand that his students wouldn’t be released anyway? The partisans couldn’t rescue the kids either, they lacked the strength. Of course, he understood, but he couldn’t abandon his students. He couldn’t remain indifferent. He couldn’t betray them. And he understood that his support was necessary not only for these boys but also for the parents who still believed in the humanity of the Nazis.

Tkachuk says: “Moroz wouldn’t have done more, even if he had killed a hundred Germans…”

With this work, Bykov shows that heroism is not just about fighting with weapons. It is, first and foremost, the ability to remain human under inhuman conditions.

From the first lines of the book, Ales Moroz is depicted as a “teacher by calling.” He is not afraid to be on equal terms with his students, and there is no superiority over their illiterate parents.

In conclusion, everyone present agreed that “The Obelisk” is a work about people who cannot act differently than their conscience dictates. Vasil Bykov shows the war not through the lens of front-line battles but through the internal struggle of a person forced to choose between life and honor.

Dear friends, very soon, on February 6, another event will take place. It will be dedicated to the book and film “The Dawns Here Are Quiet.”