Lodz and Vilnius – what we have in common
Lodz and Vilnius have much more in common than it might seem at first glance: after the war, Vilnius scientists built academic Lodz, while artists and sportsmen co-created the social fabric of the factory city
– explains the researcher.
Dr Barbara Jundo-Kaliszewska's scientific interests include, among other things: political thought of a couple of outstanding Polish writers and intellectuals – Józef Mackiewicz and Barbara Toporska.
In recent years, I have conducted a number of archival queries in Poland, Lithuania and Switzerland. As part of the research results popularisation, I initiated my own journalistic programme "Rozmowy w Mackiewiczówce" [Discussions in Mackiewiczówka]. TVP Wilno has just confirmed the broadcast of the third season. It was also attended by scientists from the University of Lodz – Prof. Marta Sikorska and Dr Tomasz Lachowski. The work on the programme is carried out in the house of Vilnius intellectuals in Czarny Bór.
In the footsteps of Józef Mackiewicz – Lodz through the eyes of the writer
In November last year, the researcher organised a trip for students of the Faculty of International and Political Studies at the University of Lodz to Lithuania following in the footsteps of the Mackiewicz family. At that time, we managed to establish contacts with Polish youth from Lithuania.
In 1933, Józef Mackiewicz visited the city located on the banks of Łódka, where a series of unconventional special reportages from Lodz was created. The writer was famous for showing corners of interwar Poland with no "retouch". His descriptions of the factory city are also uncompromising.
A journey in time – a visit of students from Vilnius to Lodz
The writer's texts were the reason for submitting an application to the competition of the Foundation "Help Poles in the East" entitled "Miasto ciężarowych koni – Łódź w publicystyce Józefa Mackiewicza". For several days we hosted young people from Lithuania. Students and graduates of the Faculty of International and Political Studies at the University of Lodz actively participated in all the activities. We went on a "journey back in time" to see how the city looks today. The objective of the project was to celebrate the 700th anniversary of Vilnius and the 600th anniversary of Lodz and to familiarise young people with the achievements and selected ideas of the outstanding Polish writer Józef Mackiewicz (1902-1985). The goal seems to have been fully achieved
– says Dr Barbara Jundo-Kaliszewska.
Members of the Polish Club of Vilnius Students and students of the University of Lodz learnt about the work and ideas of Józef Mackiewicz using the example of a series of special reports from the city on the banks of Łódka.
The programme included lectures, analysis of source texts, discussions, trips in the footsteps of Józef Mackiewicz around Lodz (Piotrkowska street, Bałuty district, Manufaktura, Museum of the City of Łódź). The project is financed by the Chancellery of the Prime Minister as part of the Polonia and Poles abroad 2023 call.
The project is a continuation of previously undertaken activities under the project entitled "Pejzaże Wileńszczyzny w myśli Józefa Mackiewicza" [Landscapes of the Vilnius Region According to Józef Mackiewicz] The above-mentioned activities are aimed at presenting the figure of Józef Mackiewicz, a writer from Vilnius, reminding of his achievements in Lodz, promoting Polish universities and strengthening relations between young people from Lithuania and Lodz.
Source and photos: Dr Barbara Jundo-Kaliszewska, Faculty of International and Political Studies, University of Lodz; Łukasz Cieślak
Edit: Iwona Ptaszek-Zielińska, Communications and PR Centre, University of Lodz