Oleh Herman Spoke About the Greatness of “Kobzar” at the TNMU Library

Just as spring renews nature, so does the poetry of the great Taras renew our souls, calling us to be honest and compassionate and love our people and our Ukraine sincerely. Taras Shevchenko will live forever for Ukraine and within Ukraine. Especially today, he remains an example of faith, strength, and resilience for us.

On March 5, 2025, the reading hall of the TNMU library hosted a creative meeting with Oleh Herman, a Candidate of Historical Sciences and Professor of the Department of Ukrainian Studies and Philosophy at I. Pulyuy Ternopil National Technical University, a member of the National Union of Writers, and an Honored Art Worker of Ukraine.

Oleh Herman shared his thoughts on Shevchenko’s life and work. He firmly believes that Shevchenko is a model of how high a person can rise above circumstances, no matter how difficult they may be. After all, Taras Shevchenko was born in incredibly unfavorable conditions for success. He was an orphan and a serf with no support whatsoever. It sounded like a sentence. Yet, endowed with immense talent, he became known and loved worldwide—a prophet of the Ukrainian nation.

Each of us has our perception of Shevchenko and our own path to him. Oleh Herman spoke about how Shevchenko entered his life, showing a small, time-worn “Kobzar” printed in 1943, which his father carried through both Nazi and Stalinist camps—now a cherished family relic. He also read excerpts from Shevchenko’s letters, which was particularly intriguing because they allowed the audience to hear the sincere voice of a man—not just a prophet, but a human being with everyday struggles. The letters varied—joyful and sorrowful—but all distinctly Shevchenko’s.

One cannot read Shevchenko as mere letters, Oleh Herman noted. One must read him with the heart, live through, understand, and be moved by him. “Kobzar” is a sacred book of our people. To be recognized as Ukrainians, we must first know ourselves. And how can we truly know ourselves? Through the Ukrainian word, the Ukrainian language, and Shevchenko’s poetry.

We sincerely thank Oleh Herman for this invaluable gift and for his captivating story, and we hope that such meetings will become a cherished tradition at our library.