Tuesday, April 13, 3:30 pm, Thomson Hall, room #134, UW

From mid-19^th century, when the Russian Empire conquered Central Asia, this Islamic territory turned into multi-cultural and multi-religious. Poles were one of many ethnic groups to arrive, thrive and suffer there. The history of Polish communities and individual Poles includes the whole spectrum of roles and circumstances: political exiles, officers and soldiers of the imperial army, officials of the imperial administration for the territories, businessmen, prisoners of war and refugees of WW!, deportees and refugees of WWII. The lecture examines relations between the Poles and the Tsarist authorities in Turkestan and, after the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, with the Soviet authorities in the Socialist republics of Central Asia (especially Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan) as well as the period of WWII with Stalin’s deportations, creation of gen. Anders’ army and later repatriation of Polish citizens. The lecture is supported by the History Dept. and the Slavic Dept.

The exhibition about Poles in Central Asia in 19c & 20c, The Enduring Spirit: Retracing Polish Footsteps in Central Asia, has been prepared by Ewa & Krzysztof Poraj-Kuczewski based on Dr. Medvedeva’s rich archives of photographs and documents and is supported by Polish Home Foundation in Seattle. The exhibition will be on display at the lecture room on April 13 and later it will be available at the Polish Home in Seattle, April 16-30.