Valentin Columb

Valentin Columb

Mari poet, writer
Date of Birth: 03.05.1935

Content:
  1. Early Life and Education
  2. Literary Career
  3. Poet and Innovator
  4. Folklore and Translations
  5. Publicism and Education
  6. Personal Legacy

Early Life and Education

Valerian Kolumb was born into the family of a Mari collective farmer, Khristofor Kolumb. His father, whose original surname was Dekin, received his unusual surname from a rural teacher who was an avid fan of the history of geographical discoveries. Before the war, the elder Kolumb worked as an accountant in the forestry industry. He went missing in action during the war.

Valerian completed his primary education locally before enrolling at the Maxim Gorky Literary Institute. Upon graduating, he returned to his hometown and became the secretary of the district Komsomol committee. Later, in Yoshkar-Ola, he served as the editor of the Mari Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company.

Literary Career

Kolumb began publishing his works in 1950. While studying at the Literary Institute, he caught the attention of Leonid Oshanin, who directed the institute's poetry workshop. Kolumb's debut collection, "Palëme liyna" ("Let's Meet"), received positive reviews from Oshanin.

Poet and Innovator

Valerian Kolumb was a renowned poet and innovator. He composed various poetic forms, including fables, ballads, and odes. His works included the poem "Chodyra, chodyra" ("My Forest, My Forest") and the poem-triptych "Tönÿa memnan shinchä dene oncha" ("The World Looks at Us Through Our Eyes").

Folklore and Translations

Kolumb had a deep knowledge of Mari folklore, which he utilized in his ballads and legends, blending his own perspectives with traditional wisdom. He was also an accomplished translator, rendering works such as the poetry of Solomon Roytman, Sergei Yesenin, Alexander Tvardovsky, Alexander Blok, William Shakespeare, and Nikolai Nekrasov into Mari.

Publicism and Education

Kolumb was a prolific publicist, contributing articles and book reviews to various national publications. He co-authored a textbook on Mari literature for high school students. During his lifetime, he published 15 collections of his original and translated works.

Personal Legacy

Valerian Kolumb passed away unexpectedly on December 8, 1974, after facing political criticism. He left behind an enduring legacy as a prominent figure in Mari literature. His works have been widely published both in Mari and in Russian, appearing in journals such as "Druzhba Narodov," "Volga," and "Molodaya Gvardiya."

© BIOGRAPHS