Being proud of being Tatar
MAY /2012 – articles about The First European Tatar Youth Forum.
translated articles
1. Newspaper „Pastnieks” (Postman), 26-apr-2012
”ISENMESEZ DUSLAR!” (”Hello, friends!” – in Tatar)
The First European Tatar Youth Forum will be held in Riga from April 27 till April 29. The Forum will host a conference and discussion on various issues topical for the Tatar diaspora living in Europe; there will be also a concert of young Tatar performers living in European countries, as well as many other arrangements.
”Pastnieks” interviewed Mr. Ramil Kadyrov, a representative of the Forum Organizing Committee.
– How did you come up with the idea for organization of the First European Tatar Youth Forum in Riga?
– Some time ago the World Tatar Youth Forum was held in Kazan, which was attended also by Tatars from Latvia. Selecting this forum as a model, as well as wishing to get to know each other better, the European Tatar Youth Association was formed, which now includes representatives from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, as well as from Finland, Sweden, Germany and Czech Republic. So that there emerged an idea to get together and talk about current issues, and encourage further development, as well as transfer of traditions from generation to generation. Times are changing, as well as the interests and issues that need to be addressed, and what we want to know about each other and tell others. So that this idea emerged. Riga was chosen because it is relatively easily accessible to representatives from different countries, taking into account the traffic, transport and visa issues. The Latvian Tatar community is entrusted with the management of this Youth Association. Of course, on a rotational basis this will change every year. We want to talk not only about issues that are topical for Tatars, but also show the local audience the richness of the Tatar culture, the things we like and are interested in, and the fact that we all are living here. As the Tatars come from several countries, it is interesting not only to the Tatars, but also to our neighbours and friends.
– Ramil, please introduce yourself!
– My name is Ramil Kadyrov. My ancestors lived in various places, including Tatarstan and Bashkortostan, but I have also local – Latvian – roots. I belong to the new generation – we were born here, but we remember our roots.
– What do you do here in Latvia?
– I am a marketing man. This applies to both public relations and business affairs. I think that in my business I am a real professional. You have seen and felt the results of my work over many years, even without knowing that this work has been done by me. I am the author of the book “Growing Green in Latvia” about Latvia and the Latvian traditions, which once served as a diplomatic gift to foreign ambassadors here. I deliver lectures in private universities. My lectures concern business management and business risks.
– What are your responsibilities in organizing the Forum?
– It has turned out that organizing the Forum is a private initiative of each of us in which everyone has undertaken responsibility for an issue where he or she is an expert. In my case, those are marketing and public relations affairs where I can address a wider audience both in Latvia and abroad. It is an address that has reached many people. Someone else has undertaken responsibility for the artistic part – to coordinate all who will perform in an artistic way, including me. There will also be guests from Tatarstan.
– How is it – to be a Tatar and live among Latvians?
– It all depends on people. If you live among good people, then it’s easy. Efforts should be made to listen and understand each other. You must simply be able to respect each other, then everything is fine. In any case, it is necessary to be interested in different cultures, because it broadens your horizons.
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THERE WERE ALSO INFORMATION TATAR CUISINE WITH RECIPES AND PHOTOS of achposhmak, chak-chak, kystibiy, baursak.
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Newspaper „Latvijas Avīze” (Newspaper of Latvia), 02-may-2012
Being proud of being Tatar
“Being a Tatar is to know my people’s history, culture and language – it’s great pride,” says Tabriz Yarullin, the World Tatar Youth Forum leader from Russia. Proud of their culture are also his peers and leaders of Tatar organizations who gathered to the First European Tatar Youth Forum in Riga.
Riga was chosen as the place of the Forum because this year Latvia is the presiding country of the European Tatar Youth Association and on a rotational basis the presidency will change – the Forum will be held in Estonia next year.
“Our values are like a mosaic – they are also Islamic values, people’s experience, respect for older people, we have always had great respect for education – until the revolution of 1917, Tatar children knew not only their mother tongue, but also Russian, Arabic and Persian,” Tabriz says.
The Latvian Tatar Youth Association has about 15 active members, who each year celebrate their national holiday Sabantuy. “I understand a little of Tatar, but I really want to learn more,” says Oleg Sharipov. The young man stresses that the Tatar youth is loyal to the Latvian state and many of them are Latvian citizens; also Latvian language courses are being arranged. “Sometimes Latvians associate Tatars with Islam, which may be an alienating factor, but Islam brings kindness. News, unfortunately, create other forms of value,” says Oleg.
Ramil Kadyrov, another activist of the Latvian Tatar community, points out that the teacher of Kārlis Zāle, the author of the Freedom Monument, at the Kazan Art School was a Tatar who helped the sculptor choose his professional path. It is also a version that the Midsummer night celebration was brought to Latvia by Tatars many years ago.
But Kadria Garaeva, the leader of the Estonian Tatar youth, says that in Estonia there are about 3000 Tatars, most of who live in Maardu, a town near the city of Tallinn. “I feel good in Estonia – Tatars are respected here. If you say that you’re a Tatar, you can feel the respect,” said Kadria. When she was younger, she had no deep interest in her nation’s history, but when she engaged in activities of youth organizations, she began to like the way how young people consolidated around the Tatar culture. “There will be more and more such arrangements, and, consequently, there will be more people looking for their language, culture and religion,” said Kadria. It is planned that a global Tatar youth forum will take place in Tatarstan in Russia this August.
“We feel comfortable in Russia – we have schools with complete tuition in the Tatar language; street markings and also official documents are both in Russian and Tatar. When the Tatars from elsewhere come to us, we tell about the history and show our nation’s monuments,” says Tabris.
At the Youth Forum, leaders of the Tatar communities in Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia told about the life of Tatars in different countries.
Ramil Belyayev, Imam of the Finnish Society of Tatars, held the whole speech in the Tatar language. “In Tatar families, children before kindergarten or school learn only the Tatar language. In this way we do not lose our native language,” said R. Belyayev. Being a Tatar in Finland is a matter of honour, as the Tatars had played a major role in Finland’s state-building. In 1939, when the war broke out between Finland and Russia, 157 Tatars went to defend their new homeland Finland. “Ten of them died in the war and became martyrs. There were also Tatar officers in the Finnish army at that time. Tartars participated in all the liberation struggles in Finland,” said R. Belyayev. Although Finland has special programs for support of minorities, the Tatar community forms its resources from the funds of its members to be financially independent. He said that currently there are around 700 Tatars in Finland, but their number is decreasing, so he hoped that youth would meet each other at various Tatar youth forums and establish new families. In his opinion, Kazan is the global centre of Tatars. “Kazan unites us, and we must have close relationship with Kazan. Are you able to imagine that two Latvians communicate with each other in another language? Tatars must learn to converse with their countrymen in the Tatar language,” said the Finnish Tatar representative.
But Zufar Zainullin, head of the Latvian Tatar and Bashkir Society “Chishma”, points out that Latvian Tatars love their country, because it has accepted them. “I am a Latvian citizen, heating specialist, I have a company, and I can also engage in social activities. There is full freedom,” says Z. Zainullin, who adds that he would like to receive more governmental financial support for the Tatar activities. “Once a month, the Latvian radio broadcasts a program in the Tatar language; there is also adopted a new law that lets bury the dead according to Muslim tradition; also the ritual slaughter of animals is permitted in Latvia,” happily declares Z. Zainullin.
In Soviet times, his father was expelled from the Soviet army, because at a congress he had expressed support for the Latvian language as the only official language. Now he hopes that teachers from Tatarstan might come to Latvia to teach their native language to local Tatars.
“I know well the history of my country and culture, and respect them. Having respect for my nation, I respect other nations. If a Tatar autocross team comes to a race, then I am a fan of them, but being in Kazan and seeing there Latvian drivers, I am a fan of the Latvian team,” said Z. Zainullin.
