Symon Rak-Michajloŭski

Symon Rak-Michajłoŭski (also spelled Symon Rak-Mikhailoŭski; ; 2 April 1885 – 27 November 1938) was a Belarusian political leader, writer, and teacher. He was a member of the Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic and a deputy of the Sejm (Parliament) of the Second Polish Republic (1922–1927). He wrote extensively for several newspapers, including Naša Niva, Belarus and Zvon, and authored music for the famous song "Zorka Venera" (the Venus Star) based on a poem by Maksim Bahdanovič.

Early years and the beginning of political career Rak-Michajłoŭski was born into a farming family in the village of Maksimaŭka in Vialiejka district, Vilna Governorate of the Russian Empire (nowadays – in Maladziečna district, Minsk Region of Belarus) on 2 April 1885. Having graduated from the Maladziečna Teachers' Seminary (1905), he taught in various schools in Belarus for several years, participated in cultural activities and collected folk songs.

His political activities among Belarusian peasants date back to the period of the first Russian Revolution in 1905, when Rak-Michajłoŭski was elected by the peasants of his region to be their lobbying delegate in the State Duma (Parliament of the Russian Empire). In 1906 he was imprisoned for three months for distribution of social democratic literature. Rak-Michajłoŭski wanted to continue his education in the Vilna Teachers' Institute but was not accepted due to his involvement in politics. The persecution by public authorities forced him to relocate to Crimea, where he graduated from the Feodosia Teachers' Institute (1912) and, later, worked as a college teacher.

Rak-Michajłoŭski was called up for military duty during World War I and served as a clerk due to his poor health.

Active among the military, Rak-Michajłoŭski also began an intensive campaign for establishing Belarusian schools. He organized the first Belarusian Teachers' Training courses in Minsk, 1918–1919, a Teachers' Seminary in the town of Baruny, and later, Teachers' Courses in Vilna, 1921. While working in different capacities in the Government of the Belarusian Democratic Republic, he also edited the Belarusian-language daily, Biełaruskaje Słova in Horadnia. Using his parliamentary immunity, Rak-Michajłoŭski expressed openly his national ideas and, together with his associates, participated in the preparation of an anti-Polish uprising on the territory of Western Belarus.

Notable works Гутарка аб беларускай мове [Discourse about the Belarusian Language], Minsk, 1919; Страшны вораг: Кніжка пра гарэлку [Dangerous Enemy: a Book about Spirit], Vilna, 1924; Прамовы дэпутатаў Беларускага пасольскага клубу ў Польскім Сойме. Паводле соймавых стэнаграм [Talks by the deputies of the Belarusian Deputy Club in the Polish Sejm. Based on the Sejm's stenography records], Vilna 1924; Прамовы дэпутатаў соймавага клубу Беларускай сялянска-работніцкай грамады [Talks by the deputies of the Sejm Club of the Peasants' and Workers' Union], Vilna, 1926.