In these chapters, a big part of Eugenia Ginzburg’s time in prison was with her cellmate and cell neighbor Gary Sagiddullin. I think the part of her story that stood out the most to me was about Gary’s political views. While communicating through the cells with Eugenia, Gary said “I was and I remain a Leninist. I swear it by my seventh prison (Ginzburg 72).” As Eugenia began to learn more and more about Gary, she also learned that he did not like Stalin. “Gary hated Stalin with a bitter passion (Ginzburg 74).” I found this to be a very interesting view point. A big part of our discussion on Tuesday was about Lenin and Stalin, and how Stalin was often portrayed as having the same mentality and ability as Lenion. If this is the case, why do you think Gary Sagiddullin hates Stalin with such a passion when Stalin is seen as being a similar leader to Lenin?
Russia, the Soviet Union, and the CIS (HIS240 S20)
Revolution and its evolution!
I could see how Sagiddullin could hate Stalin while still respecting Lenin as the two had many opposing ideas beyond their surface similarities. The Stalin slideshow discussed in our last class highlighted Stalin’s focus on portraying himself as a Christ-like, or divine leader, something Lenin tried to keep his distance from as a leader. Furthermore while Lenin was not above violence, the example of the anti-kulak campaign comes to mind, he envisioned a peaceful and orderly Soviet Union closer to Marx’s idea a communist utopia. Stalin, on the other hand, was more or less a power hungry dictator who would do anything in his power, especially the use of force to maintain his power.
I think Sagiddullin could have gone either way. It would depend on the level of education and involvement he had had in politics. It’s easy to hate someone who is commonly associated with someone you already hate. When it comes to Sagiddullin, he would have been directly affected by Stalin’s policies. Obviously because that’s how he wound up in prison in the first place. Sagiddullin would have been further removed from the ramifications of Lenin’s policies. He hates Stalin because he is suffering because of Stalin. He could hate Lenin just for his association with Stalin. Or he could be very involved in politics and discerned the difference between the two leaders and mayhaps not hated Lenin as much as he hated Stalin.
I think Sagiddullin hates Stalin so much because in his eyes, Stalin is far from what the ideals of Lenin. Personally, I believe Stalin is far from the ideals of Leninsim. From how Lenin treated the people of the Soviet Union and was actually a peaceful man, the people were happy with Lenin. Whereas, Stalin is putting the Soviet peoples against themselves and cause chaos. Also, Lenin was more gradual on his ideas of turning the Union to communism, where Stalin is throwing the people into communism. Therefore, I believe it is easy for Sagiddullin to hate Stalin. Lastly, if Stalin and Lenin were such similar leaders, why is there Leninism AND Stalinism.
Exactly. Stalin and Lenin are different, history makes that very clear. Sagiddullin is directly suffering because of policies and actions that Stalin has implemented. Which in my opinion is a justified hatred. Would Sagiddullin have been in prison under Leninism? Probably not. Therefore, Sagidullin wouldn’t have hated Lenin (or wouldn’t have hated him as much) as Stalin because Sagidullin is intelligent and can evaluate the difference between the leaders and their policies.