Oh well! Hi everyone here. I'm Olena and I'm from Ukraine. Namely from the beautiful city of Odesa. I came here to tell you about my city and country in general and believe me, I have a lot of stories. Today I want to share with you the monument, which is located almost near my house and is dedicated to the Odesa writer Issak Babel. In general, looking ahead, I want to say that in this city almost every pebble has its own story, so there will be quite a lot of content. And if you haven't been to Odesa yet, you're missing out on a lot!
So, Babel was born in Odesa in Moldavanka, and this is a district that deserves a separate post because it has its own unique flavour. Actually, as in other areas of the city. But it was Moldovanka that became the basis for many of Babel's stories, so it is safe to say that he is the main marketer of this place.
And also, he is the person who, in some of his works, quite strongly romanticized the life of Jewish criminal criminals at the beginning of the 20th century, finding exotic features and strong characters in their everyday life and life.
Here I have to explain that Odesa has quite a criminal past. And the centre of the life of such people was Moldavanka, where they even had their own so-called schools in which they taught the "high art of pinchers", that is, the ability to skilfully steal wallets from the pockets of local residents and tourists.
At the same time, many thieves have honed this skill so much and passed it on to others that even today they can easily steal your wallet or other valuables, even if you are wearing very tight jeans and keep all your valuables in your front pocket.
Therefore, when you go to Odesa, remember this and keep your cash in the safest place - on your bank card! Although many tourists like to brag about the fact that their wallet was taken out of them when they were riding in a tram. But let's return to the figure of Babel and his monument because it was because of him that I started my post.
So, Babel lived only 45 years, and in many of his works, one could trace the theme of the life of ordinary people, as well as a certain sceptical attitude towards the Soviet Union. Therefore, the authorities of the Soviet Union decided that he is an agent of Western special services and a spy who wants to destroy such a "beautiful" country. Although, in fact, he simply wrote about life and at certain moments showed its complexity, and was not someone who glorifies the government or other high officials and does not look at the world through rose-coloured glasses.
Therefore, in May 1939, the writer was arrested and accused of "anti-Soviet conspiratorial terrorist activity." Babel was not shot, as many believe. In fact, he was walking around the colony and, exhausted, collapsed. After that, the workers of the colony simply left him to die on the road. In many sources, he was buried in a mass grave on January 27, 1940. In 1954, the writer was posthumously rehabilitated and all charges were dropped.
The monument was opened on September 4, 2011, on Zhukovsky Street, opposite the house at 17 Richelievska Street, where the writer lived until 1924. A memorial plaque was installed on this building in Soviet times, in 1964.
The writer's daughter from his third wife, Lidia, was also present at the opening of the monument, she said the following:
"Odesa is Babel's hometown, a city he loved very much and dreamed of living in his old age. Unfortunately, this dream did not come true. And so, after many years, Babel appeared again in such a beloved Odesa..."
By the way, this monument can be considered a national monument, because almost the entire amount for its production was collected by caring people. The initiator of the project was Hait Valeriy, a Ukrainian playwright from the Vinnytsia region, who lived in Odesa almost all his life. And the collection of funds was undertaken by the World Club of Odesans, whose vice president was Valery Hait. The initiative of Odesa residents was supported by the Odesa City Hall, and funds were sent to the Odesa monument (and not only) from all over the world.
When the required amount was collected, an international competition was announced to create a sketch of the future monument. During this period, there were many different options from sculptors from almost all over the world, but the winner was Georgy Frangulyan from Moscow. The sculptor explained that, in his opinion, the time of monuments on high pedestals has passed, so he placed the figure of the hero at the level of the audience.