Description

Pałuta Badunova (1885–1938) was a teacher, politician, and writer. She was the first female minister in Belarusian history, the only woman to hold a ministerial post in the BNR (Belarusian Democratic Republic), and a leader of the alternative left. She stood at the origins of Belarusian feminism.

“Badunova’s authority in the Belarusian movement was recognized by both allies and opponents and acknowledged by the prophets of Belarusian identity. Jazep Drazdovič painted her portrait. Janka Kupała, in his famous play ‘The Natives’ (Tutejšyja), merged Pałuta’s personal fate with the destiny of Belarusian democratic statehood.” (Valancina Lebiedzieva)

“The achievements of Pałuta Badunova, who was executed in Minsk in the ill-fated year of 1938, seemed to be forgotten forever, and her marginalized and ridiculed figure vanished into oblivion… her heroism was forgotten, while her age, unhappy love, imperfect Belarusian language, leftist views, and so on, were mocked. The path of pioneers is often difficult and thorny, especially when the pioneer is a woman. Badunova’s journalism clearly reflects the duality of the Belarusian soul: between West and East, between religion and secularism… In this way, the author attempts to consolidate Belarusians and find a compromise, not through radical means, but by peacefully inviting them to the negotiating table.” (Uładzisłaŭ Harbacki)