Chuvash enlightener Ivan Yakovlev: biography, creativity and interesting facts

Chuvash educator Ivan Yakovlev was born on April 25, 1848 in the inconspicuous village of Koshki-Novotimbayevo, in Simbirsk province. He was the son of a poor peasant and at a very early age he was left without parents. The Chuvash family Pakhomovs from the same village adopted the orphaned child.

early years

The boy was lucky to get an education, which in the future allowed him not only to start a career, but also to educate the Volga population. In 1856, the boy went to study in the school, in the neighboring village of Buinsky district.

Ivan Yakovlev got there thanks to a decree issued by the department responsible for the education of orphaned peasants. The village school was completed in 1860. In it, Ivan Yakovlev became the best student. Natural abilities and talents allowed him to go to the district school of the provincial city of Simbirsk, and then to the local gymnasium.

Introduction to the Chuvash culture

Yakovlev was in the class of surveyors. After graduating from high school, he worked for four years in his specialty in the Simbirsk office. Being a rural landowner, the young Ivan Yakovlev traveled not only his own, but also the neighboring Kazan and Samara provinces. Travel did not pass in vain. Visiting the village and getting acquainted with local residents, the surveyor was better acquainted with the life, culture and way of life of the Volga population, among whom were Russians, Tatars, Chuvashs and Mordvins.

At the same time, the young Yakovlev's world view was strongly influenced by the liberal ideas of the 1960s. XIX century. Following these covenants, he came to the conclusion that the native Chuvash people needed enlightenment, familiarization with Russian culture, and also literacy training. In the Volga region, the level of its distribution was extremely low in comparison with the capital. Ivan Yakovlev believed that in order to improve the life of the Chuvash people, it was not necessary to resort to bloody revolutions and social upheavals. Enough to enlighten the people and recreate its culture.

Teacher

To fulfill his plan, Yakovlev began to work as a tutor. However, this work was not his main occupation. Money from lessons the beginning teacher began to spend on the organization and maintenance of his own private school for Chuvash children.

At this first stage, the main comrade and associate of the enlightener was his fellow villager Aleksei Rekeev. He shared the ideas and hopes that Ivan Yakovlevich Yakovlev experienced. Biography of teachers showed that their desire to teach children from the remote places was not just a momentary hobby of youth - they really dedicated their lives to this goal.

Supporters

Serious support Yakovlev had Ilya Ulyanov - inspector of the national schools of Simbirsk province and the father of Vladimir Lenin. His help contributed to the expansion of the school of a young teacher. In 1870, Ivan Yakovlev graduated from the gymnasium, receiving a gold medal. After that, he went on to continue his education at Kazan University. During his absence, Ilya Ulyanov took care of the Chuvash school . The inspector of public schools sent the student books, necessary literature and even money, so that he could easily obtain a specialty.

At the university, Yakovlev met with a professor and connoisseur of folklore, Nikolai Ilminsky. His detailed consultations allowed to compose a new Chuvash alphabet, created on the basis of Slavic graphics. It has long been necessary to update it. The fact was that the former alphabet, using the Turkic Old Bulgarian language as the basis, was outdated, and it was used only by a small part of the population.

Edition of the primer

The appearance of a new Chuvash alphabet did not take long. The book was published in 1872. This primer and later written stories of Ivan Yakovlevich Yakovlev became an important milestone for the development of the national culture of the Volga people. Books enlightener quickly gained popularity and became truly popular. At the same time, the first two copies of the bibliography were published at the teacher's own expense. The selfless decision of the Enlightener was not surprising for those who knew him well.

Ivan Yakovlevich Yakovlev spent much energy, time and other resources on enlightening the masses of the people. The biography of this man is amazing and bright, because before him no one made much effort to help develop the Chuvash culture. In the 70s Yakovlev was helped by his youth and youthful enthusiasm, with which he undertook any task.

Inspector of Chuvash schools

In 1875, the student graduated from Kazan University, receiving a diploma of the History and Philology Faculty. Now completely new opportunities opened before him. The young man became an inspector who watched the state of the Chuvash schools in the Volga provinces. The place of his permanent residence was Simbirsk, where the center of the educational district was located.

It was then that the philologist and historian began to work full-scale in educational and pedagogical activity. She was full of worries, worries and dramatic confrontations with local officials. But at the same time, every public story of Ivan Yakovlev on the matter of his life attracted many supporters. They were not just sympathetic people. Most of them were provincial noblemen who had money and influence. In many ways, thanks to them, the Enlightener managed to become the head of the Simbirsk Chuvash school. This school quickly turned into a local phenomenon. The future teachers got specialty at the school, who then started working in local small schools, helping the Chuvash children get rid of illiteracy. For fifty years of work, the Simbirsk school has produced several thousand teachers. This educational institution has become an important center of Chuvash culture and writing.

Literary Activity

What exactly did Ivan Yakovlev do? The biography of the teacher is an example of a constantly writing person. The Illuminator regularly published new textbooks, textbooks, translated art, medical, agricultural and other literature into the Chuvash language. Especially popular were the stories of Ivan Yakovlevich Yakovlev for children. They were published in the form of collections and textbooks, instantly distributed among the masses. In every Chuvash home where children were brought up, these books became desktop.

A separate place is taken by Yakovlev's epistolary heritage. The Enlightener corresponded with academicians, scientists, musicians, artists, journalists and publishers. For fifty years he wrote about two thousand large letters. Now they all represent historical and cultural value. Thanks to them, it is possible to restore the picture of the Volga province at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. The letters and tales of Ivan Yakovlev were repeatedly reprinted both in the Soviet and in the modern era.

The Chuvash educator

The most important principle of the educator was his idea that the Chuvash culture should integrate with the Russian and not in any case not enter into conflict with it. Yakovlev believed that the interests of the peoples of a huge empire, and then of a socialist state can not be opposed. On the contrary, all nations, regardless of their ethnic and cultural differences, must take the path of unification and strengthening of ties between themselves.

This principle was best reflected in the activities of the teacher related to the education of the Chuvash people. Yakovlev believed that this people should join Christianity, since it was religion that could become an important link between different ethnic groups. For this he himself translated into the Chuvash language some biblical writings, including the Psalter and the New Testament. For this, Ivan Yakovlevich once created a new alphabet based on Cyrillic alphabet. In addition, he believed that it was necessary to acquaint the Russian population with the Chuvash realities - everyday life, traditions and customs. The Enlightener continued to teach and write books until old age.

He died on October 23, 1930. Today, the memory of Ivan Yakovlev is honored in the entire Volga region, and especially among the Chuvash population.