A cultural cornucopia

Various articles will appear concerning the Joint Congress of EAS and EAB which took place in Glasgow between 23 and 26 May 2003. These articles will analyse and criticise; but here I present a partial and summary picture of an extraordinary event.

Early arrivals were well catered for on the Friday afternoon: Charlie Dornan lectured cogently concerning the linguistic complexity of Scottish place names, and Ed Robertson chose the enormous theme of Human Language and Historical Progress. It was good to see audiences of around 50 persons at this early stage.

The Opening Ceremony was despatched light-heartedly by Scottish President Duncan Thomson. He mentioned the theme of Communication; but rightly gave pride-of-place to the guests-of-honour from Russia and France together with delegates from at least 12 other countries. Mike Seaton also premiered his variations on the Esperanto Anthem, La Espero.

There then were difficult choices for the participants: Hugh Reid on the Art of Interpretation or Flavie Audibert on Mime and Dance, followed by Angela Tellier and Bill Walker on the new course based upon Gerda malaperis, or a rigorous master class by Paul Gubbins concerning writing for La Brita Esperantisto.

The evening finished with spirited singing by Stephen Thompson, which ensured that slumber did not win the day!

On Friday morning Flavie Audibert presented a practical course about mime; while Sian Leitch simultaneously lectured about the origins of language. The Scottish Committee was also shoe-horned in followed by the Scottish AGM..

Ian Fantom, the Information Officer of EAB, then took centre stage with his ideas about the way forward in terms of grand strategy.

Dr. Marjorie Boulton then revealed with characteristic wit and erudition that she had a close friend who belonged to the Glasgow Enlightenment. The friend lived in the 18th century! She made him live today!

After lunch Alexander Korĵenkov from Kaliningrad lectured about the Life of an Esperanto Entrepreneur. He has always endeavoured to combine high literary standards with profitability. His cultural periodical La Ondo de Esperanto is an attempt to provide news, culture and commentary. The Esperanto book market is not enormous; but well chosen titles sell. The main emphasis of his publishing house is translated literature; however, he guaranteed that outstanding original literature would not be neglected; but stressed that his quality criteria were high.

The members of JEB (Young British Esperantists) then presented their radical ideas for the future. This manifesto followed a nostalgic talk by David Kelso about JEB during his early Esperanto career.

Most of the afternoon was taken up with democracy at work: the AGM of EAB. Decisions were made and Trustees were elected.

After dinner, the Congress participants were entertained by a scintillating performance of classical music. Mike Seaton, Petra and Ian Fantom, Edith Sheldrake, Connal McKay and Sian Leitch contributed. What a galaxy of talent!

After a pause to draw one's breath there followed Paul Gubbins' play Zam-Zam-Zamenhof, directed by Colin Simmonds, First rehearsals has begun in Barlaston during the annual theatrical weekend, followed by feverish preparations on the day. It was a resounding success: the language flowed like wine (whisky?); the cast found the needed inspiration; and Paul made his serious points within a contest of levity.

On Sunday morning people went walk-about in Glasgow: the destinations included the Science Centre, the Tall Ship and the Botanic Gardens. Marvellous places, of course; but the language dimension was not neglected!

In the afternoon Alexander Korĵenkov lectured concerning his current project: the translation of the literary corpus of Dostoevsky, a writer of world renown who fully merited appearing in Esperanto. The first volume Blankaj Noktoj had already been published.

A dual event then occurred: a forum concerning the Ethics of Communication and a Service (Diservo) led by Fr. Charlie Dornan in the magnificently baroque St. Aloysius.

Immediately after these items the internet List Esper-Brit presented itself, followed by another interesting choice: a lecture on Computer Communication (the technological heart of the Congress theme) by Duncan Thomson or Angela Tellier lecturing about the Courses and Examinations of EAB.

Jack Casey then delivered a key-note lecture about the many-sided genius of John Logie Baird, one of the outstanding engineers of the last century and an iconic figure in Scottish culture.

The afternoon finished with Ian Fantom musing about the Psychology of Informing about Esperanto.

The Centenary Celebration of the Glasgow and Edinburgh Societies is comprehensively covered in an article elsewhere on this site.

Monday morning began with Alexander Korĵenkov lecturing about the extraordinary history and almost mythic present of Kaliningrad which he moved to recently from Asiatic Russia. Truth is, indeed, stranger than fiction; and the Russian name of the former Prussian Koenigsberg is an allusion to a Soviet hero and not the pure romanticism which it evokes. Undoubtedly the enclave has experienced a glorious past and could eventually be transformed into an extraordinary present reality. Alexander enthralled everyone as he pushed his notes to one side and took us on a voyage of discovery.

The Closing Ceremony consisted of appropriate thanks to all who had taken part, and specific thanks by Edmund Grimley-Evans, President of EAB, to Duncan Thomson and the Organising Committee.

There was a postlude: a sumptuous Russian lunch in the Cossachok Restaurant and a visit to the extraordinary kinetic sculptures in the adjacent Sharmanka. The atmosphere was, of course, genuinely Russian; but the animated conversations ensured that Esperanto flowed as copiously as the Russian beer!