Londra’da Yaşayan Türk toplumunun yetiştirdiği genç ve yeni umut İlayda Nijhar, gazetemiz Londraposta için Rusya’dan yazmaya devam ediyor. Rus dili, kültürü ve politika eğitimi yapan İlayda, aynı zamanda bir keman sanatçısı. Yazar ve araştırmacı Semra Eren Nijhar’ın kızı olan İlayda’nın ‘Çarist ve Sosyalist geçmişinin’ izlerini birleştiren yeni Rusya’nın kültür ve toplumsal yaşamını değerlendiren yazılarını yayınlamaya devam ediyoruz.    LondraPosta-Londra   

 Do We Realy Know Russia

By ILAYDA NIJHAR*

For the last fortnight that I’ve been in St.Petersburg there has been one distinct concept that constantly prevails my mind. The opinions I have formed have been purely generated through my everyday life as a student here in St.Petersburg through attending a Russian University on a daily basis, visiting famous tourist attractions, but most of all attempting to adapt to the life of a common “Петербурженка” (Petersburger). I speak as a student who was fortunate to have received a traditional British education during my time at school and continue to do so at University. Nonetheless, I find it somewhat interesting that what we were taught in school with regards to Russia’s history and politics is not entirely in alignment with what I have witnessed here in reality in Russia. What strikes to me as so riveting is the simple fact that this beautiful city possess both Pre-Revolution traits while simultaneously proudly boasting a strong Communist character. The citizens of St.Petersburg live alongside some of the world’s most lavish and grandiose buildings such as the Winter Palace, Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood and St. Isaacs Cathedral to name but a few. I have witnessed the pride they behold whilst they demonstrate and explain to visitors the history and stories behind each historical construction, each having a special connection to the Tsarist past in some way or form. Yet the story that this magnificent city tells is one that does not only boast of its royal past. Despite all the grandeur and flamboyancy, one can simultaneously feel right in the heart of the Soviet Empire of the recent past.

Anywhere you travel within St.Petersburg you will inevitably come across the Soviet-built apartments, hospitals, schools and Universities. I’ve come to understand that, putting aside the politics of the Soviet time, the era genuinely did provide the people with stable and reliable housing, an excellent education system and disciple (which is most definitely still apparent today), a firm mentality and a strong sense of Russian identity which is the pride of most Petersburger’s.

One of the most important characteristics I believe the Soviet Union provided the Russians of today with is the mindset of ‘self-sufficiency’ and ‘willingness to compromise’ in times of difficulty and hardship. There is an apparent notion that exists of not having a ‘need’ or ‘want’ for material goods which seems to stem from typical Soviet ideology. Similarly, the aim of education for the masses from the Communist period can also be mirrored in current Russia through the way in which most people would much rather read and educate themselves in their free time or even while travelling on the metro or bus – something I personally found very impressive as people, regardless of their social class or background, people all opt to read whenever they are not pre-occupied.
Above all, from what I have observed here both as a student and as a tourist, is that the Russia that exists today is far different from what we have been taught in schools and what we are presented with in western media. St.Petersburg lives side-by-side with both its Tsarist and Communist past and the people here truly appreciate all that the Soviet period delivered to them and proudly continue to live out a similar lifestyle. Perhaps it is time to move on from an attitude of constantly focusing on the negatives of the Soviet past and to acknowledge just how much it has influenced people and society and accept that modern Russia’s foundations stem from an era which is shunned by many countries.　 The outdated and often misguided view of modern day Russia in the West bears no reality to what I have witnessed to date. I have consigned the pre conceived notion of the Russia as a relic of the past and perhaps a deliberate act of the West to discredit Russia’s rising power and paint her as the ‘monster’ of the past. I have an open mind and will continue to explore, to observe the rich culture and to understand the rich heritage of this magnificent and imperial city in my remaining two weeks amongst the warm Petersburger’s.

Greetings from St. Petersburg!

*Ilayda Nijhar is a Russian and Politics student studying at Queen Mary, University of London. She is currently in St.Petersburg advancing her language and gaining first-hand experience of Russian culture and life-style.