Ilsur Metshin: “I believe the forum will become a prestigious creative project”

Ilsur Metshin, Mayor of Kazan, welcomed the participants of the first BRICS Literary Forum, “World Literature in a New Reality. Dialogue of Traditions, National Values and Cultures”, which opened in the capital of Tatarstan today. The forum is being held as part of the annual Aksyonov Fest event under the patronage of the Association of BRICS+ Cities.

Welcoming the participants, Ilsur Metshin emphasized the unifying role of cultural events: “We have representatives of different faiths and ethnicities living in peace and harmony. No doubt, one of the main factors that unites us is the variety of cultural projects implemented in our city. These projects not only have a cultural value, but also an educational one - they promote kindness and justice.”

Ilsur Metshin noted that the lives and works of Leo Tolstoy, Sergei Aksakov, Maxim Gorky, Gabdulla Tukai, and Vasily Aksyonov are inextricably linked with Kazan. Their works represent a treasure trove of cultural and historical heritage. “I am pleased to remind the audience that Kazan, one of the most literary cities in Russia, had been chosen as the Library Capital for 2024, and recently hosted the “Literary Flagship of Russia” forum under the leadership of Sergey Vadimovich Stepashin,”- he said.

The Mayor reminded the establishment of the Association of Cities and Municipalities of BRICS+ countries in June, which is aiming to promote cultural exchange in art. He also mentioned the creation of a library located in a historical pavilion at the Kazan Fair, whose fund has been replenished with books donated by participants in the International Mayors' Forum.

Ilsur Metshin came up with the idea for the BRICS Literary Forum to be held in the capital of Tatarstan. According to Irina Barmetova, the coordinator of Aksyonov-Fest and the editor-in-chief of October magazine, she received this proposal from the city's leader in 2017, when she was returning from the BRICS Literary Festival in China.

“Many events, especially the pandemic, the grief of the entire planet, have postponed the implementation of the project in Kazan. However, the capital of Tatarstan has always kept its word, and this year we are here. The main event will take place in a few days at the City Hall, where we will discuss the future of the BRICS literary community. I hope that it will become an interstate organization that will bring together writers and humanitarian activists from the BRICS countries,”- said Irina Barmetova.

The guests were also greeted by the famous Indian poet and President of the Sahitya Academy, Madhav Kaushik. He welcomed them to the event in the historic city, the capital of Tatarstan, which is known for its multilingual and multi-ethnic culture. He noted that Russian writers are widely read in India and that most Russian classics have been translated into Indian languages. He emphasized the importance of multilingualism and cultural diversity in strengthening the ties between Russia and India.

At the conclusion of the plenary session, participants presented Ilsur Metshin with symbolic gifts, including books and souvenirs that will later be displayed in the library of the Association of Cities and Municipalities in the BRICS+ countries.