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Dr. Aleksander Majkowski | |
|---|---|
Aleksander Majkòwsczi | |
 | |
| Born | Aleksander Jan Alojzy Majkowski (1876-07-17)July 17, 1876 |
| Died | February 10, 1938(1938-02-10) (aged 61) |
| Resting place | Kartuzë |
| Alma mater | Berlin University |
| Occupations | |
| Organization | Zet |
| Notable work | The Life and Adventures of Remus |
| Political party | Supreme People's Council |
| Spouse | Aleksandra Komorowskanée Starzyńska |
| Children |
|
Aleksander Majkowski (Kashubian:Aleksander Majkòwsczi; 17 July 1876 – 10 February 1938) was a Polish-Kashubian writer, poet, journalist, editor, activist, and physician.[1] He was the most important figure in theKashubian movement beforeWorld War II, editor ofGryf, author of the greatest Kashubian novelThe Life and Adventures of Remus, andHistoria Kaszubów (The History of the Kashubs).
Aleksander Jan Alojzy Majkowski was born into a farming family on July 17, 1876, in what was thenBerent,West Prussia,Prussian partition of Poland, the eldest child of two sisters and three brothers. In Berent, he completed primary school(Volksschule) and in 1885-90 attended aGerman progymnasium. He was given a scholarship ofTowarzystwo Pomocy Naukowej (Society of Educational Aid), based inChełmno (then Culm). In 1891, he began his education in a gymnasium inKonitz, living in aconvent there. Also there, he became acquainted withPolish literature and history. In 1895, he earned hismatriculation certificate. At first, he meant to studytheology to become a priest, but instead he enrolled at theBerlin University and in 1897, began studying medicine. InBerlin, he became involved in social activities; for example, he gave lectures for Poles who lived there.
In 1898, he took part in the ceremony of the erection ofAdam Mickiewicz's monument inWarsaw and was reminded of hisSlavic identity. In 1899, he published his poemPielgrzymka Wejherowska ("TheWejherowo Pilgrimage") and satireJak w Koscérznie koscelnygo obrele, abo Pięc kawalerów a jedna jedyno brutka ("How inKościerzyna they chose the sacristan or Five bridegrooms and only one bride").
In 1900, Majkowski moved toGreifswald to continue his studies. There he got involved in the agenda of an early Polish socialist organization called Zet, and a local student society called"Adelphia". Because he also tried to establish his own political organization, in 1901, he was relegated from the university. Later on, he moved toMunich to continue his studies there. Aside from regular curriculum, he carried on with his earlier established cultural interests and worked forTowarzystwo Studentów Polaków (Society of Polish Students) and founded the "Vistula" society. In 1903, he finally completed his studies and moved toZurich,Switzerland, where he wrote his doctoral dissertation on blood cells in plumbism. In September 1904, he defended his Medical Doctor (MD) degree and, at the end of the year, returned toKashubia. InGdańsk, he fulfilled his year-long medical practicum at a local hospital. With immense energy, he decided to get involved in the cultural and social activities in the area.
In 1905, he accepted a position of chief editor of"Gazeta Gdańska" ("TheGdańsk Gazette") and its supplement"Drużba. Pismo dlö polscich Kaszubów" ("Friendship. Magazine for Polish Kashubs"). Meanwhile, inPoznań, he published a selection of hisKashubian language poemsSpiewe i frantówci ("Songs and merry verses"). At that time, he also prepared the re-editions ofHieronim Derdowski's poemsJasiek z Knieji ("Johnny from Knieja", i.e., the forest) andKaszubi pod Widnem ("TheKashubs near Widno"). In 1906, he returned to his nativeKościerzyna, where he opened a private practice while continuing his involvement in the cultural and social spheres, e.g. in a venture"Dom Kaszubski" ("The Kashubian House") andTowarzystwo Czytelni Polskiej (Polish Reading Room Society) that he had set up. He is also actively involved inTowarzystwo Wyborcze (Electional Society),Towarzystwo Śpiewacze (Singing Society)"Halka", andZwiązek Młodych Kupców (Young Merchants' Union). During this time, he cooperated withIzydor Gulgowski, Friedrich Lorentz, and the GermanVerein für Kaschubische Volkskunde (Society for Kashubian Folk Studies). While studying the folklore of the region, he did not forsake publishing inGazeta Gdańska.
Between 1908-12, Majkowski continued to publish inKościerzyna and, starting in 1911 inGdańsk, a monthly entitled"Gryf. Pismo dla spraw kaszubskich" ("Griffin. Magazine for the Kashubian issues"). Concurrently, he initiated other Kashubian cultural and political programs and began gathering Kashubian intelligentsia around himself. In parallel, he took part in many cultural activities that promote Kashubia. He immortalized the Black Griffin as the emblem of theKashubians. The Kashubian Griffin became the symbol of the strength and steadfastness of the Kashubian people also inCanada.
He organized a Kashubian-Pomeranian exhibition, singlehandedly writing all of the supporting printed material for it. However, not only did he write a lot, but also he travelled extensively, taking many pictures. As a pedagogist, he remained in consistent touch with students; encouraging them to explore Kashubia; he offered himself as atour guide. In early 1912, he finally settled inSopot, continuing to work as a physician until 1921.
A capstone to years of efforts, in June 1912, Aleksander Majkowski managed to set up hisGdańsk-basedTowarzystwo Młodokaszubów (TheSociety of Young Kashubians), established for"the cultural, economical and political development of Kashubia". Another member of this society was the newly ordained Roman Catholic priestLeon Heyke. In September of the following year, he instituted theKashubian-Pomeranian Museum inSopot, including the adjacent society, and wrote a guide to Kashubia calledZdroje Raduni ("The Radunia River's Wells"). Recognized for his accomplishments, he sadly encountered opposition from some local social activists and theCatholic Church. Fortunately, he managed to win a defamation court case posed by a catholic magazine"Pielgrzym" (The Pilgrim).
In August 1914, Majkowski was drafted into the Prussian Army, where he served as a physician inPoland,Romania andFrance. During the war, he wrote a diary, sketched forKashubia's history, and two novels:Pomorzanie ("ThePomeranians", unfinished) andŻëcé i przigodë Remusa ("The Life and Adventures of Remus").
In July 1918, he returned toSopot, became politically active, and participated in some military activities taking place in what is now called theTrojmiasto area (Gdansk, Gdynia, Sopot). During the same year, he also became a member ofRada Ludowa (The People's Council). A year later, inGdańsk, he set upKoło Demokratyczne (Democratic Circle), became chief editor of"Dziennik Gdański" ("TheGdańsk Daily"), and continued teaching at a local folk university. For his military efforts, he earned the rank of captain of the Polish Army, and was later promoted to colonel. In 1920, he sat on the board of the commission responsible for establishing the Polish-German borders and inRada Pomorska – Towarzystwo Ochrony Polskości na Pomorzu (Pomeranian Council – Society for the Protection of Polish Interests inPomerania) as its head. For the next two years, he resided inGrudziądz, though he traveled extensively throughoutPoland. InGrudziądz, he met his future wife, Aleksandra Starzyńska. Also there, he organized theExhibition of Fine Arts, having Pomeranian artists in mind, which was officially opened on June 7, 1921, by the head ofPoland, MarshallJózef Piłsudski.
In the coming years, Majkowski continued his political and cultural activities aimed at promoting Kashubia andKashubian culture. He established a drama theater inToruń, become a leader ofStowarzyszenie Artystów Pomorskich (Society of Pomeranian Artists) based inGrudziądz, and a chief editor of a magazine called"Pomorzanin" ("The Pomeranian") – all this between 1921 and 1923. In addition, during this time he resumed publishing"Gryf", and continued to write, collaborating with various periodicals and radio inToruń. In"Gryf", he also published the first chapters of his bookŻëcé i przigodë Remusa.
On October 6, 1921, inWarsaw, Aleksander Majkowski marries Aleksandra Komorowska (former name: Starzyńska, 1891–1982). The newlywed couple settled inKartuzy, in a villa called "Erem" (The Hermitage). They paranted four children: Damroka (1922–1979), Mestwin (1924–1944), Barbara (1928–1983) and Witosława (1929–1955). Somehow, in his free time, Majkowski managed to collect stamps and postcards, read detective stories, and go mushroom picking.
InKartuzy, he worked as a physician in a number of places, mainly at the railroad clinics, often volunteering to help people in need, but without neglecting his writing. Attending to his patients on the country side, he kept collecting samples of folklore artifacts and photographs the life of theKashubs. For his commitment to "social work inPomerania", Majkowski received the Officer's Cross of the Order of Poland's Restitution, from PresidentStanisław Wojciechowski in April 1923. A year later, he published hisPrzewodnik po Szwajcarji Kaszubskiej ("A Guide to the so-called Kashubian Switzerland") and, in 1925, a single issue of"Gryf". Shortly thereafter, he endured yet another round of criticism in being accused ofseparatism,bolshevism,immorality, crimes, and bad influence on society at large.
Due torecession, personal failures and health problems, Aleksander Majkowski retracted from public life and concentrated on literary work. He patronized the actions of Aleksander Labuda andJan Trepczyk – young Kashubian activists, who in 1929 establishZrzeszenie Regionalne Kaszubów (Kashubian Regional Union) inKartuzy, with Majkowski as its head. Later, he fruitfully and with dedication collaborated with the associated magazine"Zrzesz Kaszëbskô" ("Kashubian Union"). Soon Majkowski also joinsPolski Związek Zachodni (Polish Union of the West) and collaborates with Instytut Bałtycki (The Baltic Institute). For his tireless efforts, in 1930, he receivedThe Golden Cross of Merit, one of the most prestigious awards of theRepublic of Poland.
Although a member of the board of editors of the revived"Gryf" since October 1931, he did not return to a full-time journalism until 1934. In October 1935, he publishes the first part of his three-part novelŻëcé i przigodë Remusa. He was awardedThe Silver Literary Laurel (Srebrny Wawrzyn Literacki) byPolska Akademia Literatury (ThePolish Academy of Literature). Meanwhile, in his villa, he organized a folklore exhibition and tries to cure his fatigued health by taking repetitive trips to various spas.
1936 and 1937 were busy years for Majkowski. He worked onGramatyka kaszubska ("The Kashubian Grammar", incomplete) andHistoria Kaszubów ("The History of the Kashubs"). He put a lot of effort into his guide toKashubia and adapted his satireJak w Koscérznie koscelnygo obrele... for the theatre under a new title of"Strachë i zrękovjinë" ("Fears and Engagements"). All along, he wrote extensively for the press.
Aleksander Majkowski died on February 10, 1938, at the hospital inGdynia of a heart failure. His remains were buried with great ceremony four days later in the cemetery of the Carthusian monastery inKartuzy. His coffin were escorted by the railroad workers whom he had tended to and the young Kashubian activists who vowed to continue his work.
A few months after Majkowski's death, hisHistoria Kaszubów and the entire novelŻëcé i przigodë Remusa[1] were published. After the war,Żëcé i przigodë Remusa reappeared on a few occasions and in 1964, was translated into Polish by the Kashubian-Polish writer and activist,Lech Bądkowski.Historia Kaszubów was published with a foreword by the Kaszubian scholar Gerard Labuda. Many of Majkowski's other, less known, writings were also published or republished. For example, his recollections, letters and the war diary were jointly published under a title ofPamiętnik z wojny europejskiej roku 1914 ("The Diary from the European War of the Year 1914").
Aleksander Majkowski is regarded as the leading figure in the Kashubian movement and the founder of its historic andintellectual base. By design, he captured the Kashubian culturalideology in the literary figure of the humble Kashubian farm laborer Remus (who is not to be confused with the Roman mythological or the American literary figure of the same name). Majkowski also worked to define Kashubian grammar and spelling, promoted protection of historical monuments and regional folklore, set up social and economical Kashubian-Pomeranian institutions, represented theKashubes on the country's forum and the Slavonic scene. Majkowski was also a translator ofGerman texts intoKashubian language. His multifaceted activity covered all sides of the social life ofKashubia and its impact continues to this day. In Poland, 2008 was declared the year of Aleksander Majkowski.
An English translation ofŻëcé i przigodë Remusa, by Blanche Krbechek and Katarzyna Gawlik-Luiken, was published in 2008 by the Kashubian Institute in Gdansk as "Life and Adventures of Remus." The translation "Life and Adventures of Remus" was accomplished under the aegis of theKashubian Association of North America and can be purchased through the Kashubian Association's website.
There is a street named for his in e.g.Gdańsk.
