People's writer of Belarus Vasil Bykov was born 100 years ago in the village of Bychki, Ushach district, Vitebsk region.
Vasil Bykov entered the history of world literature as the author of works about the Second World War, affirming loyalty to universal values and the high dignity of man. Among his famous works are "Sotnikov", "Alpine Ballad", "Until Dawn" and "The Sign of Trouble". His works have been translated into more than 50 languages, most of them into Russian by himself.
He was one of the founders of the Belarusian Popular Front. In the 1990s Bykov was forced to leave the country due to attacks by the authorities and lived his last years in Finland and the Czechia. As the "conscience of the nation", as the writer was called during his lifetime, he sharply criticized the strengthening of authoritarianism in Belarus.
The Belarusian diaspora in Warsaw created a mural in honor of the centenary of the outstanding Belarusian writer. The mural is based on the famous photo of Vasili Bykov on Victory Square in Minsk with the signature "Conscience of the Nation," as the popular writer was called during his lifetime.
Around the image are actual quotes of Vasil Bykov about Belarus, Belarusian nationalism, will and independence, language and consciousness.
Here are some of the quotes written there: "I believe that Belarus lives and will live. Let's do everything for it!"; "Only with freedom and independence the continuation of Belarusian history is possible"; "Language is the basis not only of national culture, but also of the existence of the nation, the existence of ethnos".
