on Khrushchev

Leechard,

I really like your article on Khrushchev, one of the important leader of Russia in 20th century, and one of the most controversial figure in that age. I think you have sound knowledge on this gentleman life and how it affected the world. You are right to point out what several important policies and decisions taken by him in both domestic and diplomatic fronts are , and how they changed the world scene at that time, and had laid down the foundation stone for liberalisation of Russia under another great leader, Gorbachev in later 1980s. It really expands my horizon in understanding Russian and world history at that period of time, and i shall be grateful for effort paid by you to study this gentleman biography and write an article on him. I shall be very delighted to introduce my friends to read that article.

I may also like to add a point on this article, which you and your readers shall find it useful. It is his support to Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn, the Russian writer and Nobel Laureate in Literature. In 1956, after the Khrushchev Secret Speech, he was freed from imprisonment in Kazakhstan, where he was close to death because the hard work in labor camp deterioated his health. He would then return to his hometown to produce his great literature works.


In 1962, Khrushchev explicitly supported the Noviy Mir magazine to publish One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich in Politburo presidium hearing. He said there is a Stalinist in each of you, there is even a Stalinist in me. We must root out this evil. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich caused sensation not only in Soviet Union but also the West, like Harry Potter series in 2000s, due to both its theme and background of author. Being a novel attacking the Soviet system of prison labour, it was a work produced with themes other than politics, and by a non-party member who had been sent to prison for libelous speech about the leader. It was so popular at that time that it was sold out instantly everywhere, and Alexander gained the worldwide recognition of being a spokesman of Russian liberials at that time.

During his office tenure, Khrushchev allowed the Russian schools to study One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich and three other short novels of Alexander, including the Matryona’s Home, the last work Alexander published in Soviet union before its demise. Only after the fall of Khrushchev did Alexander period of writing in Soviet Russia come to an end quietly. His other work, The Cancer Ward, did not get the Russian authorities permission to publish in public, even though he managed to do so. The Secret police in Russia seized his works, and later he was forced to be in exile.

From this story of Khrushchev and Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn you can see how he supported the healthy growth of Russian literature, just like Gorbachev later did. Alexander was free to publish his literature works critical of Russian authorities and Russian systems, and Russians were granted the right to access to his work when Khrushchev was in office. It was him who saw the value of Alexander in Russian literature and world literature, while his party colleagues, strictly following the principles and rules laid down by Stalin and Lenin, failed to do so. With this understanding on the power of Alexander writings and thought, he is more important than any Russian leaders in Soviet Era, including Gorbachev, who was widely seen as a successor of him following strictly every footstep taken by Khrushchev in office.( Except liberation of East European nations, it was purely Gorbachev initiative to push for the end of Russian military presence at that region since the End of Second World War and brought freedom to these region people)

Khrushchev is a very complicated figure, in every point of view. He was both a liberal and hawk, depending on angles adopted to study his career path spinning from Imperial Russia to Soviet Russia. But one thing is sure, he is a man placeing interests of Russian nation, not his personal interests at his heart. He determined to attempt every means he thought suitable to take Russia into a path to a strong and noble nation in the World stage, with status not inferior to the Strongest nation at that time, the United States of America. However, the system of Soviet Union and the thought of people at that time, and his ignorance of the downward trend of 20th century thinking, provided a great hindrance for him to push through his policies and programs, and made him a thousand miles away from success he fought for.

I think you may like this article on Khrushev and Alexander, and you may find Alexander information from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solzhenitsyn#cite_note-22. I wish you may write to me on this subject. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Best wishes,
William