Chuvash society in Narva completed its history

In mid-May, the Chuvash National-Cultural Society of NARSPI, which had been operating for more than 20 years, ceased to exist in Narva.
Active and light on the rise of the Narva Chuvash were participants in a large number of festivals and holidays both in their hometown and beyond and even abroad. Why is the society “leaves the stage”?

How it all began

“I arrived in Narva on August 2, 1972, I was only 20 years old,” recalls the permanent chairman of the company Lidia Grigoryeva. – The husband got here on the organizational set for the construction of the Estonian power plant, and after six months he brought me. I got a job in kindergarten N9 on the street. Pushkin, and worked there for many years. We then thought: we will build the station, earn on the apartment … and return to our homeland. But everything turned out differently – they gave us housing, a son was born. So they remained in Narva forever.

Over time, longing for their native lands and people made itself felt, and Lydia and her husband became close to local Chuvash, then it was about a hundred people. Gradually, everyone met, began to communicate. Inspired by the example of other city communities: the Belarusian « Syabra », the Russian « Rusichi », the Uzbek « Sogdiana », in 2003 decided to create their association.

The official status, the Narva Chuvash NPO « NARSPI », this Commonwealth of like -minded people received on November 6, 2003. As the name, the name of the heroine of the famous poem of the Chuvash poet Konstantin Ivanov, Narspi, was chosen. At the time of the creation of the society, it consisted of 20 people.
For two decades of its activity, society not only acquired a good reputation, but was also marked by awards. In 2020, on the 100th anniversary of the education of the Chuvash Autonomous Region, the head of the Chuvash Republic awarded Lidia Grigoryev a commemorative medal for his contribution to the preservation of cultural heritage and the development of ties between Narva and Chuvashia. On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Narvityka for devotion to the traditions of its people, the Ministry of Culture of Estonia handed it a letter and monetary reward.

Years take their own

The reason for the closure of the NARSPI NPO is simple – the age of its participants. “When we opened, we, 50-year-old, were on the shoulder,” says Grigoryeva. “And now health makes itself felt, there is no longer the forces of social activity.”
As the head of the Narva House of Peoples Rafael Sharafetdinov told the Narva Newspaper, the company reported to the intention to stop its activity at the end of 2023.

“Of course, we all have children, but it so happened that none of them settled in Narva – everyone lives in Europe, and for a long time, and do not plan to return.

-Natalya Umarova and I, a deputy of the City Board, persuaded them to hold out for another year, because the 2024th was declared a year of cultural diversity, and without our Chuvash it would not be so bright. They promised the help and reduction of the number of performances. Thank you for holding out, but it’s a pity that they were closed, ”he explains.

“I am almost the youngest in the team,” says Lydia. – I am now 74, and the oldest, and at the same time our most active participant, Zoe Ivanova, is already 86 years old. I never found a successor in my place in two years. Of course, everyone was sorry to part with social activities, to which we were already used to. ” Now, after the liquidation of society, Grigoryeva admits, participants in the team complain that they lack active life. But Lydia herself found herself in volunteer activities and actively helps one Narva cat shelter.

– And why could not you attract young people to participate in society?

– Of course, we all have children, but it so happened that none of them settled in Narva – everyone lives in Europe, and for a long time, and do not plan to return.

Donated to the Museum of the Chuvash Society
– What happened to the property of society: costumes, utensils, books?

-The participants took something to their memory. My personal things returned to me: clothes, books, photos, videos. We transferred part to other societies to the house of peoples – for example, bast shoes and kirsa boots remained with the team of Marina Kuvaytseva.

Despite the closure of NARSPI, the Chuvash culture in our country continues to live. In Tallinn, the Chuvash Society of Estonia under the leadership of Iiraids Zakharova acts, part of the collection from Narva was transferred to their museum. The Tallinn Chuvash ensemble « Palan » continues to work.

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