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Dmitry Sergeevich Likhachev is an outstanding scholar and philologist who devoted his entire life to serving and protecting Russian culture. He lived a long life, where there were many hardships and persecutions. But he owns great achievements in science, and as a natural result – world recognition.
His biography is rich, the events of his life would be enough for a series of entertaining novels about Russia of the last century with disasters, wars and contradictions. Likhachev was rightfully called the conscience of the nation. All his life he served Russia selflessly.
Short biography of Dmitry Likhachev
He was born on November 28, 1906 in St. Petersburg, in an intelligent family of engineer Sergei Mikhailovich Likhachev and his wife Vera Semyonovna. The family lived modestly, but Dmitry’s parents were passionate about ballet and, even refusing something, regularly attended performances of the Mariinsky Theater.
In the summer, the family went to Kuokkala, where they rented a small dacha. A whole group of artistic youth gathered in this picturesque place.
In 1914 Dmitry entered the gymnasium, but events in the country changed so often that the teenager had to change schools. In 1923 he successfully passed the exams for the ethnological and linguistic department of the university.
Solovetsky special purpose camp (ELEPHANT)
The youth, brought up during the continuous troubles in the state, were active and created various hobby groups. Likhachev also entered one of them, which was called the “Space Academy of Sciences”. The members of the circle gathered at someone’s home, read and heatedly argued about the reports of their comrades.
Prisoner Likhachev with his parents who visited him on Solovki, 1929
In the spring of 1928, Dmitry was arrested for participating in a circle, the court sentenced a 22-year-old boy to five years “for counter-revolutionary activities.” The investigation into the case of the circle lasted more than six months, and then many students were sent to the Solovetsky camps.
Likhachev later called his four years in the camp his “second and main university.” Here he organized a colony for hundreds of teenagers, where they were engaged in labor, under the strict guidance of Likhachev. He was ready day and night to help with advice and find the right path in life.
He was released in 1932 and presented with a drummer’s certificate for the construction of the White Sea-Baltic Canal.
Personal life
Returning to Leningrad, Likhachev entered the publishing house of the USSR Academy of Sciences as a proofreader. Here he met Zinaida Alexandrovna. They lived together a long life, where love, boundless respect and mutual understanding have always reigned. In 1937 the twins Vera and Lyudmila were born to the Likhachevs.
Scientific activity
In 1938 Likhachev moved to the Institute of Russian Literature and three years later defended his dissertation “Novgorod Chronicle Vaults of the XII century.” The defense of his doctoral dissertation took place in 1947.
Dmitry Sergeevich with his wife and two daughters lived in besieged Leningrad until the summer of 1942, and then were evacuated to Kazan.
After the war, Likhachev prepares for publication many literary masterpieces of Old Russian literature and his books. It was with his help that a wide circle of readers learned many works of distant antiquity. Since 1975, Dmitry Sergeevich has been actively and at all levels advocating for the protection of monuments.
Illness and death
In autumn 1999, Dmitry Sergeevich underwent an oncological operation at the Botkin hospital. But the scientist’s age made itself felt. He was unconscious for two days and passed away on September 30.
The outstanding scientist all his life was intolerant of the manifestation of nationalism. He actively opposed the conspiracy doctrine in the awareness of historical events. He refuted the recognition of Russia’s messianic role in human civilization.
Video
Don’t miss the video! Here are documentaries and memoirs of Dmitry Sergeevich.
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