W&R "Favorite Book" - The First Teacher(Der erste Lehrer, ගුරු ගීතය) by Chinghiz Aitmatov

“Yes, there will be winter, there will be cold, there will be snowstorms, but then there will be spring again...”

“ඔව්,ශීත කාලය පැමිනේවි.තද ශීත කුනාටු හමාවි.හිම කැට සහිත මහ නපුරු සුළි සුළං හමාවි.එහෙත් වසන්තය එනවා සත්තයි” - දැදිගම වී. රුද්රිගු(in the sinhala translation)

These are not just words. It's a total life lesson!

I can't remember how many books I have read in my life. From fairies to international top-rated books I have referred. But there are a few that touches my heart deeply like "Der erste Lehrer, by Chinghiz Aitmatov. It was first written in the Russian language. I read the Sinhala translation 'ගුරු ගීතය' by Dedigama V Rodrigo, when I was 18 years old, way back in 2014.

source

Why do I like it?

Well, actually I don't know the reason. Even I can't categorized it to a certain genre. There is love, compassion, selflessness, commitment and sacrifice, hardwork in life, child marriage, poverty and descrimanation etc. But, I like to define the theme as 'unexpressed love'. Even though it's a short story, it is a complete package of life lesson. I think that's why it touches me so deeply. The ability to have the imagination throughout the story is awesome.

So, let's dig into the story. The lessons and main points will be pointed in the story.

About the Author

I tried to read Russian literature whenever I get a chance. Authors like Alexander Pushkin, Leo Tolstoy, Anton Chekhov, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Maxim Gorkey take us to different dimension. Chinghiz Aitmatov was also a Soviet and Kyrgyz author who wrote in both Kyrgyz and Russian. He is one of the best known figures in Kyrgyzstan's literature.
The Day Lasts More Than a Hundred Years, Jamila, Mother Earth and Other Stories, Farewell, Gulsary, The White Ship are some of his renown works.

The Story

The story revolves around teacher(Duishen) and his student (Altynai). The two poplar trees mentioned from the start to end acts just like a link between the past and the present.

“Ah my poplars, my beautiful poplars! So much water has flowed under the bridges since you were young slender saplings! All that the man who planted and tended you dreamed of, all he predicted has come true!

Duishen the hero of the story, is a devotee of the Russian leader Lenin. He wanted to open a school in a rural area, Kurkureu, to brighten the future of students. But that was not an easy task for him. He had to face various difficulties in convincing the elders to send their kids to the school. We can't blame for their mindset in one aspect. They were hungry. They need money to live. But Duishen was not the one to step back.

Altyani, the heroine, is a young orphan girl. Her aunt and uncle, who she lived with, were the enemies of her life. But Duishen saw her potential for studying and stood up for her. So, she respect and felt the kindness and love of her first teacher.

source

On one side auther shows how the poverty and descrimination have changed their lives. And Althinayi's willingness to study despite all the hardships, shows her courage.

Duishen wanted to send her to the town to acquire education. But, suddenly she was forced to be married to a middle-aged amn, and that gang forced her and take her away. Dusihen was attacked at the moment. He fights for her and sacrifices whatever he has. She was raped, but later she could escape from him.

The moment she went to the town in train, is the climax. Duishen loved her. But he committed everything and let her go away for success. The unexpressed, unconditional love is the best. Isn't it?

source

In the end, no one remembers or cares about the man who was the pioneer of education in the village. Duishen, he smiled in the corner looking at the success of students and the results of his commitments. He was not the type of one tried to take the credits. He is totally a selfless revolutionary.

So, that's it my friends. Hope you will enjoy this! If you have please give it a try.

May the world is filled with Duishens!

I'll conclude from where I started.

“Yes, there will be winter, there will be cold, there will be snowstorms, but then there will be spring again...”

JOIN WITH THE STEEM SRI LANKA - CONTEST SERIES | WEEK 05 | THE BEST PLACE I'VE EVER VISITED

Thank you!
Best Regards!