M. Hrushevsky is a remarkable figure in the Ukrainian history of the late 19 – early 20th century. In recent decades there have been a lot of papers devoted to his scientific and political activities, personal life, and analysis of his scientific heritage. However, M. Hrushevsky's relations with the Ukrainian youth are still one of the unsolved aspects. The main idea of the article is an attempt to analyze the scientist's interpretation of the role and key tasks of the students in the process of national self-identification of the Ukrainians. The aims are to explore the nature of M. Hrushevsky's relationship with young people in educational, scientific, private spheres of life, and to specify the professor's contribution in the case of material support of youth.
The scientist was clearly aware of the exceptional role and mission of youth in the processes of the Ukrainian nation formation and construction of the Ukrainian state, and therefore he tried to promote its establishment and development in every way. He was convinced that the youth is the bearer of the nation's potential and that the future of the Ukrainians depends on its character and well-being. M. Hrushevsky was assured that his own task and the task of the public are the creation of the conditions for the young generation formation, the development of such qualities as initiative, independence, creativity, and responsibility.
The main sphere of relations between M. Hrushevsky and youth was education. In 1894 professor headed the World history department at the philosophy faculty at Lviv University, with a special emphasis on Eastern Europe. He believed that the main condition of the formation of the Ukrainian youth is the creation of the ability to get an education in the native language, as well as the opportunity of being involved in the scientific activity. M. Hrushevsky read original lecture courses in Ukrainian, which were attended by students of different faculties. At the university, he also conducted the practical classes ("historical exercises"), during which he tried to stimulate students' scientific activity and develop their critical view of the world. Professor had the private lessons, too, during which he provided students with the consultations, listened to the research works, and estimated those. Moreover, he allowed students to use his library.
M. Hrushevsky encouraged young people to study science. In the summer of 1904, with the assistance of the Shevchenko Scientific Society, he founded in Lviv the Ukrainian academic vacation courses. The last ones gave to the Ukrainian youth the opportunity to meet and communicate with the Ukrainian scientists from Galicia and the Dnieper Ukraine. M. Hrushevsky himself taught courses on the history of Ukraine. The professor encouraged students to work in the archives and collect materials for the research. He helped them to obtain permission to work in the archives in different countries and searched the financial support for such assignments. And, as an editor of scientific publications, he promoted publication of the articles by his students.
Sometimes the relationship between professor and his students acquired a private character. The students often visited M. Hrushevsky's home with the aim to talk or report the news, accepted his invitations for lunch, dinner, and holidays. Some of them had a vacation in a professor's house in Kryvorivnia village.
M. Hrushevsky always was sincerely concerned about the financial problems of Ukrainian students. For the financial support of the young scientists on the professor's initiative, several scholarship funds were established in the Shevchenko Scientific Society. M. Hrushevsky also initiated the fundraising for the construction of a dormitory for the Ukrainian youth – "Academic building" in Lviv. He curated the construction of this institution during 1904–1905.
M. Hrushevsky, in every way, supported student organizations in various aspects of their activities, as well as the political initiatives of young people. For numerous times, he participated in various events organized by youth societies. The scientist entirely supported the students in the struggle for the opening of the Ukrainian University in Lviv.
Thus, in the paper, it is proved that M. Hrushevsky was aware of the exceptional role of students in the formation of the Ukrainian nation and believed that youth is the basis of the intellectual elite foundation process. The relations between the scientist and the Ukrainian youth were close and diverse. In M. Hrushevsky's activities, the priority was given to the versatile political, scientific, moral, and material support of students.
Keywords: M. Hrushevsky, youth, students, education, science, Lviv University, Academic building.
Synet på natur og historie hos Grundtvig og Løgstrup
