Photo: Shevchenko and tea
Shevchenko and tea / Unknown author, possible date 1914 / armyinform.
On 9 March 2025, Ukraine once again bows its head to the genius and prophet of its culture, Taras Shevchenko, whose birth 211 years ago marked the dawn of a new era for our nation. This day is not just a date on the calendar, but a symbol of the undying power of the spirit that pulsates in the heart of every Ukrainian. Shevchenko is more than a poet or an artist. He is the voice of the nation that resounds through the centuries, breaking the shackles of slavery, awakening dignity and inspiring the struggle for freedom. On the day of his birth, we return to his legacy to feel the warmth of the fire he lit, which still warms us in our darkest times.
Childhood among the weeds and the sky
Born on 9 March 1814 in the village of Moryntsi in the Cherkasy region, Taras was born a serf, the son of a poor peasant family that bent its back under the yoke of serfdom. His childhood was full not only of poverty, but also of the pristine beauty of nature that would later flourish in his poetry and paintings. Orphanhood, the loss of his mother at the age of nine and his father at eleven, did not break him, but hardened him. These early trials formed the inner core that later broke through in his words: “If you struggle, you will overcome, God helps you!”
Little Taras, a barefoot shepherd boy who drew with charcoal on the walls and listened to the whisper of the wind in the steppes, already carried the seeds of greatness in him. His first poems, written in captivity, were the cry of a soul longing for light. And he found this light – first in his talent, which was noticed by good people, and then in the freedom he bought from serfdom in 1838.
A word that became a sword
Shevchenko’s poetry is not just literature, it is a weapon forged from pain, love and faith. “Published in 1840, Kobzar spread across Ukraine like spring thunder, awakening the people from the sleep of enslavement. In the lines of his “Testament” – “Bury me and rise up, break my chains” – there is a call that still echoes in the hearts of those who fight for justice. He wrote not for fame, but for people – in a simple, lively language that smells of bread and wormwood, a language that has become the basis of modern Ukrainian literature.
His poetry is a mirror that reflects the suffering of serfs, the greatness of Cossack glory, and the dream of a free Ukraine. Shevchenko was not afraid to challenge the empire: he was arrested in 1847 for his anti-Czarist writings and sent into exile for ten long years. But even in the deserts of Kazakhstan, among the sand and soldiers’ drill, his spirit did not fade. There, under the scorching sun, he painted watercolours and wrote secretly, hiding his lines from the watchful eyes of the guards.
The artist who painted the soul of the people
Shevchenko was not only a poet, but also a talented artist whose paintings breathe the same love for Ukraine. His paintings – from delicate landscapes of his native land to portraits of ordinary people – impress with their depth and sincerity. Every brush stroke is filled with a longing for freedom and the beauty he saw even in the most humble corners of his homeland. As a student of the St Petersburg Academy of Arts, he gained recognition, but never broke away from his roots – his art has always remained the voice of the Ukrainian village.
Eternal Shevchenko: a legacy for us
Today, when Ukraine once again stands at a crossroads in history, Shevchenko remains our guide. His words, written more than a century and a half ago, sound as if they were written for our time: “In your own house is your own truth, and strength, and will”. In the struggle for independence and in the pursuit of a decent life, we draw strength from his works, which have become the spiritual code of the nation.
Taras Shevchenko died on 10 March 1861 in St Petersburg, but his soul returned home to Kaniv, where Chernecha Mountain rises above the Dnipro River. He bequeathed us not only to bury him in his native land, but also to fight for it, to love it as he loved it – until his last breath.
On this birthday, let us remember Kobzar not only as a historical figure, but as a living source of inspiration. May his fire burn in our hearts, reminding us that we are a people who will not give in, a people who will always find the strength to stand up and move forward. Happy birthday, Taras! Your Ukraine is alive, and it remembers you.
