Memory of George Mirsky

Georgy Ilyich Mirsky is a common patriarch of orientalists, Arabists and Islamic scholars. This is a person who all his long life, almost 90 years, gave a profession that, once chosen, he never changed. He had such a huge number of publications that their full list occupies a whole brochure.

Mirsky has always been engaged in politics a lot. This was not advertised, but he talked a lot with a variety of politicians in the Middle East and made a great contribution to the Soviet policy in the region, even if this was not always noticeable. Although for a long time he did not leave the country, since he was simply not released. He was not a dissident, but he always spoke frankly, and because of this he had trouble.

After the Soviet Union broke up, George Mirsky paid a lot of attention to journalism. He had brilliant performances at Echo of Moscow and in other places. So he was not only a scientist of an academic warehouse and a subtle diplomat, but also a good publicist.

Plus, Mirsky was also a writer. He wrote a brilliant and very interesting book about his life, from the beginning and, practically, to the end. This is his own history, and the history of our state, which he sets out very tactfully.

They say about him that he enjoyed universal respect, and this is true. Our generation, people who are now over 50 and 60, considered themselves simultaneously his colleagues and his students. I personally had an opponent to defend the candidate dissertation. He was respected by everyone, regardless of the attitude, however, almost everyone treated him with sympathy. He always told the truth, was not afraid of anything, although he risked.

He knew very well that he was dying, and really wanted to live a little, hoping, believed and was active to the end. He called me before the operation to discuss our common affairs. Georgy Ilyich believed that everything would be fine, although he was psychologically ready for any outcome. And now I do not see the other person of the level of worldly among Arabists, Islamic scholars or orientalists.


Photo: ru.wikipedia.org