Boris Chichibabin

Official recognition came only at the end of his life in the time of perestroika.

Boris Chichibabin studied at National University of Kharkiv. The recorded working language is Russian. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are poetry. Employment is recorded with National University of Kharkiv. Distinctions recorded are USSR State Prize and Order of Merit (Ukraine), 3rd class.

• Name — Boris Chichibabin • Native Name — Борис Чичибабин • Birth Name — Boris Alekseyevich Polushin • Born — 9 January 1923 • Birthplace — Kremenchuk, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union • Died — 15 December 1994 • Place of death — Kharkiv, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine • Occupation — Poet • Education — University of Kharkiv • Awards — USSR State Prize, Order of Merit (Ukraine) • Illustration — Boris Chichibabin's tomb

Boris Chichibabin was the son of an army officer was educated in Chuguev in Kharkov oblast. His pseudonym was taken in honour of his uncle once removed on his mother's side, the academic Aleksei Chichibabin, an eminent chemist and one of the first Soviet 'nonreturnees'. In 1940, Boris began his studies at the Kharkov Institute, but on the outbreak of war was called up to the Caucasus Front. In 1945 he entered the philological department of the Kharkov State University, but by June 1946 had been arrested and sentenced to five in the camps for "anti-Soviet agitation". The cause of his arrest was his poetry itself. In prison Chichibabin wrote "Красные помидоры" (Red tomatoes), in the gulag "Махорку" (To cheap tobacco), and two spectacular pieces "тюремной лирики" (Lyrics from the Gaol). This poetry, put to music by the actor and singer Leonid Pugachev, is widely known throughout Russia. By the 1950s, by the time of his release from the camps, the principal themes of Chichibabin's writing were already marked out. Above all these are the lyrics of the citizenry. "The new Radischev is angry and sad" reminds us of the "state boors" in his poem of 1959, "Клянусь на знамени весёлом" "I bow to the banner of jollity" ("Не умер Сталин", or "Stalin did not die"). Chichibabin died in 1994.

Boris Chichibabin is recorded as having received USSR State Prize and Order of Merit (Ukraine), 3rd class.