A festival was held at Vyatka State University dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the birth of Albert Likhanov and the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

      The “Life as Service” festival took place at Inzhenerium, organized by Vyatka State University (VyatSU) together with the ANO “Assistance to Professional Communications.” The event was dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the birth of Albert Likhanov (13 September 1935–25 December 2021) and the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

      “These dates were deliberately combined. After all, his wartime childhood influenced Albert Anatolyevich’s entire life and creative work,” explained project leader Anna Maslova, professor in the Department of Russian and Foreign Literature and Teaching Methods at VyatSU.

      Participants in the festival included students from the Faculty of Philology and Media Communications, the Faculty of History, Political Science and Cultural Studies of the Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences at VyatSU, as well as schoolchildren.

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      Opening the event, VyatSU professor Ksenia Litsareva shared her thoughts:

      “There are real writers, and there are mere concoctors.

      A real writer in Russia is a special type of writer; not simply a belletrist who writes high-quality, elevated, good literature. That is not enough for him.

      A true Russian writer cares about how his country lives, how people live. And so he chooses a form of service. He serves with word and deed.

      And a true writer also takes on the functions of many social and ideological institutions. He educates, points the way, is a prophet.

      Among the true writers stands also Albert Anatolyevich Likhanov, a native of the Kirov region.”

      In the writer’s ninetieth year, VyatSU held a large series of thematic events, recalled Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Educational Work Yuri Kuvaldin. He also noted the close ties of the distinguished compatriot with the region’s largest university. It is no coincidence that in 1995 Albert Anatolyevich Likhanov was awarded the title of Honorary Professor of Vyatka State Pedagogical University (now VyatSU).

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      Albert Likhanov was not only a major writer but also a well-known public figure: co-chairman of the Union of Writers of Russia, Chairman of the All-Russian Public Charitable Fund “Russian Children’s Fund,” President of the Union of Public Funds “International Association of Children’s Funds,” and Chairman of the All-Russian Public-State Organization “Foundation for the Protection of Children.”

      Honorary guests at the festival spoke about the different facets of Likhanov’s activities and his contribution to the country’s socio-political and cultural life. Among them were Vladimir Plekhov, chairman of the Kirov regional branch of the All-Russian public organization “Union of Writers of Russia,” and Marina Isupova, chair of the scholarship awarding commission of the Children’s Fund of the Kirov branch of the Russian Children’s Fund. Concert numbers were performed by young talents from the city of Kirov.

      Audience members were also shown fragments of a documentary film made by Albert Anatolyevich’s grandson.

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      A key part of the festival was the operation of interactive stations, whose programs were prepared by students of the Faculty of Philology and Media Communications under the guidance of lecturers from the Department of Russian and Foreign Literature and Teaching Methods, as well as invited guests. “A.A. Likhanov’s Pedagogy,” “Service to Good,” “Dramaturgical,” “Biographical,” “The Great Patriotic War in A.A. Likhanov’s Work,” and “Continuity of Generations” were some of the station names where student groups stopped as they progressed along the “Likhanov” routes. By completing tasks and interacting with the hosts, participants significantly expanded their knowledge of the life and work of the celebrated native of the Vyatka land and broadened their understanding of past events.

      Contestants received tokens for correct answers, which they later exchanged for souvenirs and useful school supplies.

      The event concluded with a tea party.

      The project is being carried out using funds from the budget of the municipal formation “City of Kirov” under the “City of Good Neighbors” project competition for the implementation of public initiatives dedicated to celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945.