Grigore Vieru
Encyclopedia
Grigore Vieru was a Moldavian
poet
and writer. He is mostly known for his poems and books for children. His poetry is characterized by vivid natural scenery, patriotism, as well as a venerated image of the sacred mother. Vieru was one of the major writers in contemporary Romanian language
literature.
village, Hotin County
, at the time, part of Romania
(today part of Briceni district, Moldova). His parents, Pavel and Eudochia Vieru (née Didic) were engaged in farming.
in Chişinău
with a degree in history and philology. In 1959, he became editor at the Nistru magazine, published by the Writers' Union of Moldova. From 1960 to 1963, he served as editor in chief of the "Cartea Moldovenească" publishing house.
In 1967, Vieru's book "Poetry for readers of all ages" (published in 1965) was awarded the Moldavian Prize for Youth Literature. The following year, his book "Your name" became part of the contemporary literature curriculum in Moldavian universities.
He wrote another children's story/picture book "Bread and Dew" which features Doru, a 4 or 5 year old boy who lives in Kishinew with his parents.
In 1974 and 1977, invited by the president of the Romanian Writers' Union
, Vieru visited Bucharest
, Constanţa
, Iaşi
, and cities in Transylvania
.
In 1978, the "Junimea
" publishing house printed "The Friday Star", Vieru's first work published in Romania
.
In 1989 he was elected member of Moldova's Parliament and campaigned for the unification of Romania and Moldova
. The following year he was elected Honorary Member of the Romanian Academy
. In 1992, the Romanian Academy recommended Vieru for the Nobel Peace Prize
.
In 1995, he became a member of the Board of the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company
, and in 1996 he won several Romanian literary awards.
In 2000, Vieru was awarded the "Eminescu
" Medal by the Romanian government
.
on January 16, 2009. At the time, he was out with friends celebrating the birthday of Mihai Eminescu
, a 19th-century Romanian poet. He died of his injuries two days later and was buried on January 20. It was estimated that his funeral was attended by about 10,000 people. Entire streets and boulevards in the capital city were shut down for that reason. Vieru's funeral was also broadcast live by Teleradio Moldova.
The Romanian president Traian Băsescu
has posthumously awarded Grigore Vieru with the Order of the Star of Romania
, Grand Cross.
Moldovan
Moldovan and Moldavian refer to something of, from, or related to Moldova, a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, or the region of Moldavia, which currently spans 8 north-eastern counties of Romania, the Republic of Moldova, and small parts of Ukraine...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and writer. He is mostly known for his poems and books for children. His poetry is characterized by vivid natural scenery, patriotism, as well as a venerated image of the sacred mother. Vieru was one of the major writers in contemporary Romanian language
Romanian language
Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
literature.
Early life
He was born in 1935 in PererîtaPererita
Pererita is a commune in Briceni district, Moldova, located on the border with Romania. It is composed of a single village, Pererita.Most picturesque place is Zamca, a reserve surrounded by Prut as omega [Ω]. Between the first and second World Wars the village was part of Hotin region....
village, Hotin County
Hotin County
Hotin County was a county in the Principality of Moldavia , the Governorate of Bessarabia , the Moldavian Democratic Republic , and the Kingdom of Romania ....
, at the time, part of Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
(today part of Briceni district, Moldova). His parents, Pavel and Eudochia Vieru (née Didic) were engaged in farming.
Creative work
His first publishing debut was in 1957, a booklet of poems for children. The following year, Vieru graduated from the Ion Creangă Pedagogical State UniversityIon Creanga Pedagogical State University
Ion Creangă Pedagogical State University is an educational institute in Chişinău , Moldova. It was formed in August 1940 as the Pedagogical Institute Moldovan State, being renamed the State Pedagogical Institute Ion Creanga in Chişinău in 1952, and receiving its current name on 21 May 1992...
in Chişinău
Chisinau
Chișinău is the capital and largest municipality of Moldova. It is also its main industrial and commercial centre and is located in the middle of the country, on the river Bîc...
with a degree in history and philology. In 1959, he became editor at the Nistru magazine, published by the Writers' Union of Moldova. From 1960 to 1963, he served as editor in chief of the "Cartea Moldovenească" publishing house.
In 1967, Vieru's book "Poetry for readers of all ages" (published in 1965) was awarded the Moldavian Prize for Youth Literature. The following year, his book "Your name" became part of the contemporary literature curriculum in Moldavian universities.
He wrote another children's story/picture book "Bread and Dew" which features Doru, a 4 or 5 year old boy who lives in Kishinew with his parents.
Political activity
In 1973 Vieru visited Romania for the first time, remarkingIn 1974 and 1977, invited by the president of the Romanian Writers' Union
Writers' Union of Romania
The Writers' Union of Romania , founded in March 1949, is a professional association of writers in Romania. It also has a subsidiary in Chişinău, Republic of Moldova...
, Vieru visited Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, Constanţa
Constanta
Constanța is the oldest extant city in Romania, founded around 600 BC. The city is located in the Dobruja region of Romania, on the Black Sea coast. It is the capital of Constanța County and the largest city in the region....
, Iaşi
Iasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
, and cities in Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
.
In 1978, the "Junimea
Junimea
Junimea was a Romanian literary society founded in Iaşi in 1863, through the initiative of several foreign-educated personalities led by Titu Maiorescu, Petre P. Carp, Vasile Pogor, Theodor Rosetti and Iacob Negruzzi...
" publishing house printed "The Friday Star", Vieru's first work published in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
.
In 1989 he was elected member of Moldova's Parliament and campaigned for the unification of Romania and Moldova
Movement for unification of Romania and Moldova
A movement for the reunification of Romania and Moldova began in both countries after the Romanian Revolution of 1989 and the beginning of glasnost policy in the Soviet Union...
. The following year he was elected Honorary Member of the Romanian Academy
Romanian Academy
The Romanian Academy is a cultural forum founded in Bucharest, Romania, in 1866. It covers the scientific, artistic and literary domains. The academy has 181 acting members who are elected for life....
. In 1992, the Romanian Academy recommended Vieru for the Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
.
In 1995, he became a member of the Board of the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company
Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company
The Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company , informally referred to as Radio Romania , is the public radio broadcaster in Romania. It operates four national radio channels, and, under the Radio România Regional umbrella, eleven regional radio stations. The four national radio channels are: Radio...
, and in 1996 he won several Romanian literary awards.
In 2000, Vieru was awarded the "Eminescu
Mihai Eminescu
Mihai Eminescu was a Romantic poet, novelist and journalist, often regarded as the most famous and influential Romanian poet. Eminescu was an active member of the Junimea literary society and he worked as an editor for the newspaper Timpul , the official newspaper of the Conservative Party...
" Medal by the Romanian government
Government of Romania
The Government of Romania forms one half of the country's executive branch . It is headed by the Prime-Minister, and consists of the Ministries, various subordinated institutions and agencies, and the 42 Prefectures...
.
Death
Vieru was in a car accident in CahulCahul
-Demographics:According to the last Moldovan census from 2004 there were 35,488 people living within the city of Cahul and 1,317 people within Cotihana....
on January 16, 2009. At the time, he was out with friends celebrating the birthday of Mihai Eminescu
Mihai Eminescu
Mihai Eminescu was a Romantic poet, novelist and journalist, often regarded as the most famous and influential Romanian poet. Eminescu was an active member of the Junimea literary society and he worked as an editor for the newspaper Timpul , the official newspaper of the Conservative Party...
, a 19th-century Romanian poet. He died of his injuries two days later and was buried on January 20. It was estimated that his funeral was attended by about 10,000 people. Entire streets and boulevards in the capital city were shut down for that reason. Vieru's funeral was also broadcast live by Teleradio Moldova.
Awards
In 1996 he won several Romanian literary awards.The Romanian president Traian Băsescu
Traian Basescu
Traian Băsescu is the current President of Romania. After serving as the mayor of Bucharest from June 2000 until December 2004, he was elected president in the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2004 and inaugurated on December 20, 2004...
has posthumously awarded Grigore Vieru with the Order of the Star of Romania
Order of the Star of Romania
The Order of the Star of Romania is Romania's highest civil order. It is awarded by the President of Romania...
, Grand Cross.