A poet in Russia is more than a poet. This thesis also applies to the profession of a writer. But this was only in the Soviet Union. The fate and work of Albert Likhanov serve as a vivid illustration of this.
Childhood and youth
In the Soviet school, children were not only taught literacy, but also educated. One of the effective methods of education was literature lessons. Many students not only read books, but also tried to write their own works. Albert Anatolyevich Likhanov was born on September 13, 1935 in an ordinary Soviet family. Parents lived in the old Russian city of Kirov, which until 1934 was called Vyatka. My father worked as a locksmith in one of the timber processing enterprises. Mother is a laboratory assistant at a local clinic.
The boy grew up smart and energetic. Expressed in modern language, he was considered an informal leader among peers on the street. Albert learned to read early and retold his friends tales and fables, which he read in books. At school, the future writer studied well. His favorite subjects were Russian language and literature. During the war, he composed pathos of poetry in which he predicted an imminent victory over the enemy. In high school, Likhanov began writing notes for a local newspaper. The decisive influence on the choice of a profession was made by close communication with journalists and proofreaders.
After school, Albert went to Sverdlovsk to get a specialized education. There, without much tension, he entered the journalism department of the Ural State University. Student years flew by in a flash. At this time, student Likhanov as part of the construction team worked on the construction of national economic facilities. He made acquaintances with colleagues from other educational institutions. He observed real events and conflicts that occurred in his area of attention. He recorded interesting stories and incidents.
In 1958, a certified journalist returned to his "native shores" and became a full-time employee of the Kirovskaya Pravda newspaper. The publications of the young journalist are distinguished by strict consistency and clearly expressed thought. Likhanov not only acquaints the reader with a specific situation, but also offers specific solutions or a line of behavior. Two years later, he was transferred to the post of chief editor of the regional youth newspaper Komsomolskoe tribe. Already in this chronological segment, Albert begins to write stories and short stories.
Creativity and Formation
The first story, entitled "Shagreen Skin" appeared on the pages of the magazine "Youth" in 1962. The beginning author was noted and invited to the All-Union meeting of young writers. Likhanov attended the seminar of the famous children's writer Lev Kassil. This event left a deep mark in my memory for many years. After the seminar, Likhanov worked for two years as his own correspondent for Komsomolskaya Pravda in the Novosibirsk Region. During this time, the writer's notebooks were filled with a huge amount of information.
In 1967, two books of Likhanov's "Labyrinth" and "Deception" were published. And at the same time, he was invited to Moscow for responsible work in the editorial board of Smena magazine. Tough conditions and high requirements did not frighten an experienced journalist. Since the magazine covered all aspects of the life of the younger generation, Likhanov had to plunge into these topics, as they say, with his head. In fact, it turned out that behind the brilliant facade of a "happy childhood" there were serious conflicts and flaws. Talking about it out loud was not accepted.
While working as editor-in-chief, Albert Anatolievich Likhanov ensured that the Smena youth magazine was read by people of all ages and professions. On the pages of the publication raised the problems of raising children, attitudes towards the older generation, discussions were held on morality and moral duty. Likhanov not only writes books about children and adults, but is also involved in specific cases to change the situation. In 1985, he wrote a letter to the Government of the Soviet Union asking for concrete measures.
Social work
After the writer’s appeal, the Government passed a resolution on helping orphans. A few years later, in 1987, the Soviet Children's Fund was created in the country. In a nutshell, it is impossible to convey and talk about those obstacles and traps that had to be overcome on this path. To effectively solve problems of this magnitude, Likhanov was elected People's Deputy of the USSR. He made tremendous efforts for the Soviet Union to accede to the Universal Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The writer's contribution to the creation of a child protection system is difficult to overestimate. When the collapse of the Soviet Power, Likhanov did not give up and continued its activities. Today, all the institutes created on his initiative are functioning in modern Russia. Among them are the Scientific Research Institute of Childhood, the Rehabilitation Children's Center, a book publishing house and other structures.
