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Barys Kit says that the Almighty helped him do "something useful for all humanity"

Barys Kit, an outstanding Belarusian scientist who turned 100 on April 6, said that the Almighty had helped him rise from "low spots in life," escape the "clutches of death" and do "something useful for all humanity."

"I'm especially proud of the years spent in the Fatherland," Dr. Kit said in a video address screened during an evening held Tuesday at the Palace of Arts in Minsk on the occasion of the birthday of the distinguished Belarusian mathematician, physicist, chemist, philosopher and educator, who currently lives in Germany's Frankfurt am Main.

"Those were truly revolutionary years, when I studied at Navahrudak Belarusian Gymnasium and was later a professor and principal of Vilnya Belarusian Gymnasium, which was called the cradle of Belarusian revival by [Belarus' literary great] Vasil Bykaw," Dr. Kit said.

"Barys Kit is the spiritual father of the Belarusian nation," writer Vasil Yakavenka, chairman of the organizing committee for celebrating the scientist's birthday, said at the meeting.

Mr. Yakavenka described Dr. Kit as "a simple, sincere, prudent and active Belarusian, a holy and sinful person of strong spirit and a man of enlightened and sharp mind."

Dr. Kit was and remains preoccupied with Belarusians' concerns and is wholly committed to his motherland, he said. "And this should further inspire us to work for the revival of our national consciousness, culture and language," Mr. Yakavenka said.

Dr. Kit “has never forgotten that he is a Belarusian and never lost contact with his motherland," said Alena Makowskaya, president of the Batskawshchyna World Association of Belarusians.

Dr. Kit has reached 100 years of age not only thanks to his "exceptional genes and powerful intellect" but also thanks to his "powerful love for Belarus," said writer and historian Uladzimir Arlow. It is disappointing that no one has yet written a history of Vilnya Belarusian Gymnasium, he said.

A message of greetings by Culture Minister Pavel Latushka was read out during the meeting.// BelaPAN.