FEATURES OF SIMBIRSK BOLSHEVIKS’ WORK AMONG THE CHUVASH POPULATION (1918–1920)

Abstract

The article deals with the problems of creation and activity of the Chuvash national section in 1918–1920 in Simbirsk. The analysis of document kept at the State Archives of Modern History of Ulyanovsk region is indicative of the national rise of the Chuvash people after the February Revolution of 1917; it shows a high level of education among the Chuvash communists. The work experience of Chuvash Bolsheviks among the population is analyzed. Errors and achievements of propaganda work among the Chuvash population of the province are shown. In Simbirsk province 250 thousand Chuvash lived, and Simbirsk was a recognized Chuvash cultural and educational center. From 1868 the Chuvash Teacher Seminary worked in the town, which launched the beginning of national intelligentsia formation. Graduates and students of the seminary (27 persons) became members of the Chuvash section of the RCP(b), setting the task of conducting propaganda and campaigning among the Chuvash population in their native language.
 
 The members of the section were young, energetic and fairly well educated. They were able to deploy the work on the scale of the whole province but they made mistakes: they put emphasis on the printed word. Most of the peasants were illiterate. Neither the calls of the Chuvash communists to create collective farms caused their sympathy. The members of the section found the right path to the masses. They noticed a passionate interest of the Chuvash population in art. Since the autumn 1919 all the public speakings of activists were accompanied by performances and singing of national choirs. Success was not long in coming.