Dead philosopher comes back to life at Grobiņa school

Take note – story published 1 year ago

The Grobiņa high school named after Latvian writer and philosopher Zenta Mauriņa (1897-1978) has encountered a laugh-or-cry occurrence: the deceased keeps receiving letters and consignments from parents, children, and state institutions, local newspaper Kurzemes Vārds journalist Liene Kupiča told Latvian Radio on November 28.

Despite Zenta Mauriņa being regarded as a prominent figure, the first to start the genre of literary essay in Latvia, her works included in school programs, it is evident that people have not heard of this writer and assumed it is the school's principal (although it is still unheard of, at least in Latvia, to name a school after a living principal).

Thus, Mauriņa, who should have stopped receiving active correspondence 45 years ago, still gets letters addressed to her by parents, state institutions including the State Police, and couriers also carry deliveries to Mauriņa as the school's principal.

The actual principal, Laila Roga, is now holding lessons at the school to tell children about the life and work of Mauriņa in hopes that they will not try to wake the dead in the future.

This year, Zenta Mauriņa would have turned 125. To remember her, several events have been held, and Latvian Postal office also issued a commemorative stamp. Zenta Mauriņa (1897-1978) was a distinguished writer, translator, and the founder of the Latvian literary essay genre, as well as a lecturer in Latvia, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. 

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