28 June marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Povilas Višinskis, a public and cultural figure, participant in the national movement, and publicist!
Povilas Višinskis was born on 28 June 1875 in Ušnėnai, Kelme district. From 1886 he attended the Šiauliai Boys’ Gymnasium, and later pursued higher education at the Faculty of Science of the University of Petrapil (now St Petersburg). During his studies, he became active in public life: he wrote articles, took part in political work, and contributed to the founding of various societies.
After returning to Lithuania, he started teaching in Kurtuvėnai, Šiauliai district. Later, together with Vladas Putvinskis-Pūtvis and Jonas Sabas, he organised the distribution of banned Lithuanian literature.
In 1899, he became the director of the first public Lithuanian play, “Amerika pirtyje” (America in the Bath), and an actor in the same play (he played the main role of Bekampis).
From 1900 he worked in the editorial office of the newspaper “Varpas”, and in 1905 he was appointed editor of the publication “Vilniaus žinios”. In 1906, he edited the first issue of “Lietuvos Ūkininkas”.
P. Višinskis was also active in the “Lietuvos žiburėlis” (Lithuanian Light) Society – he sponsored pupils and students and took care of their education.
In addition to various publications in the press, P. Višinskis was active in other publications. One of his most important works is “Mažas elementorius or the Science of Reading and Writing”, first published in 1905. Other important small publications written by the author include “What is the Constitution” and “Human Truths”.
In 1905, together with his companions, he founded the book publishing company Šviesa. In addition, such eminent personalities as Žemaitė, Šatrijos Ragana, Lazdynų Pelėda, Jovaras and others chose the path of a writer, encouraged by P. Višinskis.
Because of his merits and tireless work for the benefit of the nation, P. Višinskis was called the apostle of Lithuanian identity, an idealist and a highly cultured personality whose heart was constantly aflame with the fire of sacrifice and devotion to the nation.
Višinskis died on 23 April 1906 in Berlin. He was buried in the Rasai Cemetery, Vilnius.
Information prepared by Karolina Jociūtė, Curator of Museum Activities of the Lithuanian Museum of Education
