(28 Dec 2018) LEAD IN
A calendar dedicated to former Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin is gaining popularity ahead of the new year.
The 2019 edition is already sold out.
But the Communist leader remains a divisive figure in Russian society.
STORY-LINE
Joseph Stalin was the leader of the USSR between 1924 and 1953.
65 years after his death, the Communist dictator remains a divisive figure in Russian society.
Stalin enthusiasts and scholars can now treat themselves to a 2019 calendar filled with his images and quotes.
The yearly calendar is produced in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg.
Already in its third edition, the calendar dedicated to the Soviet leader was first appeared on walls in 2017 and its circulation has been constantly increasing since.
The calendar creators call themselves Bolsheviks and claim they support the ideas of Bolshevism, namely the ideas of improving the quality of life for the working majority as opposed to the capitalist idea of increasing profit.
"The images that we used in the calendar, they are not here by chance, they are unique symbols of that era and the modern (era)," says Anton Chekasin, Calendar co-Creator.
Each page of the calendar has a portrait of Stalin, one of his quotes as well as images of achievements of the Soviet period.
Chekasin says demand for the calendar is growing.
The calendar for 2019, first produced in 2,500 copies, sold out so quickly that already a month before the New Year the second batch had to be printed, and it is possible that a third one will be needed, thus bringing the number of copies to 6 or 7 thousand.
"The demand for our calendar is growing, we are getting encouraging comments, moreover, wishes to expand the line, to produce pocket calendars, desk calendars, posters and so on. And increasing number of copies that we print speaks for itself," says Chekasin.
The calendar is a side project for a group of activists, working on it as a hobby in their free time.
Their aim is to restore Stalin's image.
"We noticed a negative trend, the promotion of the personality cult of Stalin in our society," says Chekasin.
"We want the attitude towards Stalin to be meaningful and conscious among the overwhelming majority of the population. That is why we included not only the portraits of the leader but also those quotes and those ideas that he expressed."
It includes quotes about decreasing prices and increasing salaries for workers, free education for all and shorter working days.
"Those ideals that are expressed in the quotes of Stalin, at least those that we are trying to choose, they, in our opinion, reflect the aspirations of the working majority. So, the more people read them, (the more) they realise, that yes, this is exactly what I want, and that is why the popularity (of the calendar) is growing," says Kirill Koritskiy, another member of the team producing the calendar.
Oksana Lyskova has a copy of the 2019 calendar on her office wall.
"Looking at the mess, which is happening and getting stronger, people start to believe that under Stalin there was more order.. And therefore people long for that time," she says.
She believes the calendar's popularity reflects a shift in Russian society.
The calendars are mainly distributed through social media, but some are sold in bookstores, where they take their place next to calendars dedicated to other prominent figures, such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and the former Russian emperors.
Each copy costs 500 rubles, or 7.5 US dollars.
Find out more about AP Archive:
Twitter:
Facebook:
Google+:
Tumblr:
Instagram:
You can license this story through AP Archive:
0 Comments