On the eve of the birthday of the renowned poet, national hero, and Hero of the Soviet Union Musa Jalil, members of the Tatar society “Miras” paid tribute to his memory by organizing a commemorative evening. The event brought together devoted admirers of his poetry and literary legacy.

The evening opened with a speech by Zulfiya Shagitova, a member of the society, who spoke about Musa Jalil’s time in Orsk:

“In late August 1925, Musa Jalil arrived in Orsk under the direction of the Orenburg Komsomol Committee. At the time, he was only 20 years old. He played a key role in revitalizing the Tatar club, where leisure evenings, lectures, and performances were regularly held. His work was not easy—he was frequently on official trips, visiting villages and engaging in outreach activities.”

Shagitova also highlighted an important historical landmark:
“In Orsk, House No. 19 on Karl Marx Street still stands. Though an ordinary residential building, it is distinguished by a memorial plaque that reads: ‘In this house, from 1925 to 1926, Musa Jalil worked as an instructor at the district committee…’ He lived here for an entire year. The young instructor—a tall, slender young man—quickly won the admiration of the local community. Theaters staged performances one after another, and Musa actively contributed by writing scripts, composing music, and poetry. He soon became a recognized leader among the rural youth.”

Following this engaging presentation, the event continued with musical performances by Zukhra and Farida, whose beautiful vocals captivated the audience. They performed a song with lyrics by Musa Jalil, and several of his poems were recited in Tatar. The evening was filled with warm reminiscences, with one guest sharing a touching story—her mother’s uncle had been a close friend of Musa Jalil.

Later, members of the “Miras” society and guests took turns reading Musa Jalil’s poetry in Russian. The event was a great success and concluded with a festive tea gathering, featuring traditional Tatar pastries lovingly prepared by the organizers.

Azat Khayretdinov

Orsk, Orenburg Region