The winner of this year’s award – the statuette of Mr. Cogito was Dr. Bogdan Urbankowski. Philosopher, poet and prose writer, expert and theorist of Polish Romanticism, and founder of the new Romantic literary movement. It was awarded by the Academic Civic Clubs of Lech Kaczynski.
As emphasized, the prize is symbolic because it was presented in the Year of Polish Romanticism announced by the Sejm to a man who for many years was its researcher and successor and previously involved in the activities of the independence opposition. In recognition of the fact that “the heritage and words of Mickiewicz, Słowacki and Norwid are not only part of the national deposit and universal heritage of humanity, but also a source of authentic inspiration.”
My youthful manifestos from the New Romantic era were remembered. I kept my word as a scout, but I didn’t know it would take my whole life to keep my word and carry out these manifestos
– said Bogdan Urbankowski.
Such as Dr. Wiesław Ratajczak, literary historian, professor at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań and president of the chapter, the poet who for many years dealt with the most important problems for the national community.
You do not flatter, do not calm down, do not put you to sleep, but you wake up, provoke and realize the burden of inheritance and obligations
– emphasized the chairman of the chapter.
He pointed out that Bogdan Urbankowski’s work referred to the past so vividly that figures such as Adam Mickiewicz, Juliusz Słowacki, Józef Piłsudski, as well as Zbigniew Herbert and St. John Paul II were still participants in the contemporary pursuit of independence.
You are one of the most faithful and faithful guardians of “invisible arsenals” and a tireless interpreter of the national wills. In the Year of Polish Romanticism, we would like to honor you as an outstanding expert on this tradition and its authentic continuation
– emphasized Dr. Ratajczak
Bogdan Urbankowski is the author of, among others, the well-known book “Red Mass”, which is a panorama and description of attempts to build Soviet culture in Poland with the help of writers, i.e. creators who played the role of priests, agents and occupiers volunteers. He is also an admirer of the idea of Józef Piłsudski, author of the monograph “Józef Piłsudski. A dreamer and strategist. The laureate chairs the program board of the Pilsudski Association.
According to Dr. Urbankowski, Polish Romanticism flows directly from the heritage of Polish culture, grown on the soil of Christianity and the Latin West, from the culture of Sarmatism, and eventually becomes an instrument to fight for independence. He created the broadest concept of it as it encompassed literature, music and painting.
The Polish romantic culture is a culture of threat enforced by the political events of the time. This is Tyrite poetry, and therefore calls to fight, but also the possibility of sacrifice, death, wandering
– the philosopher explained, noting that the pinnacle of prison poetry is Mickiewicz’s Dziady, and its continuation also with Ludwik Waryński’s Mazur Kajdaniarski, created during his imprisonment in the Warsaw Citadel.
So far, the laureates of the Pan Cogito statuette have been Jarosław Marek Rymkiewicz, Jan Pietrzak, Prof. Andrzej Nowak, Ernest Bryll. It is awarded for special long-term services to the Polish nation and state, enhancing Poland’s cultural heritage, promoting Polish national culture, affirming and preserving being Polish, defending national dignity and preserving and consolidating the Polish national tradition.
Source: wPolityce