Pimen PANCHANKA, a poet, was born August 23, 1917 in Tallin, Estonia, into a family of workers. His parents were poor peasants from Belarus that had moved to the Baltic States to earn some money. After one year as a factory worker he undertook studies to become a teacher (1932-1933). He served as a principal and a teacher in a variety of schools. He took part in World War II (1939-1946) fighting on a number of fronts. Panchanka helped to liberate Western Belarus from Poland, worked as a war journalist for "front" newspapers and in 1944-1945 was attached, for some time, as a journalist to the Soviet divisions in Iran. Since 1946 he worked as an editor in various large literary journals in Belarus. In 1958 he took part in a UN Session as a Belarusian representative. He served as deputy of the Supreme Council of Belarus in 1959-1967, 1971-1990. He was also Chairman of the Peace Protection Republican Committee.

His first works were published in 1934. He authored numerous books of poetry. Panchanka had his works published in 2 and 3 volume editions. His pre-war verses were full of praises for the new order in the country and love of his country. During the war his tone changed to a more patriotic, and sometimes tragic or satirical, style. His post-war books showed the active social stand of the poet, his deep impressions of life, the struggle to raise a better generation of people and his effort to raise general awareness in Belarusians of their worth as a nation. He is also known as a critic. He translated works from German and Polish classics, from Lithuanian and other literatures. Many of his verses were turned into songs.

He was awarded various orders: 'Lenin's Order', 'Patriotic War Order' (2nd Grade), 'Order of October Revolution', and other medals and orders. He also received Honorary Addresses of the Supreme Council of Belarus, was awarded the title of the 'People's Poet of Belarus' (1973), 'Honorary Academician of National Academy of Sciences' (1994), National Prize of the USSR for the book Where does the Skylark Sleep? (1981), National Kupala Prize of Belarus for collection of poems At Lightnings' Light (1968) and the Kupala Literary Prize for long poem Patriotic Song (1959).

Siarhei PANIZNIK was born into a peasant family in 1942, in the Vitsebsk region. After graduating from Mahilou Medical School (1962) he worked as a medical assistant in a hospital in Mahilou. From 1962-1975 he was serving in the Army and after his graduation from Lviv Higher Military Political School of the Navy (1967) he was sent to serve in Prague, Czechoslovakia. He was so ashamed about the Soviet government's acts in Prague that he refused to wear the uniform. Whilst in Prague he met with several liberals and a famous Belarusian singer M. Zabeida-Sumitski. All this became known to the authorities. Paniznik was dismissed from his service and lost his membership with the Communist Party. The Union of Writers was also discussing the issue of his membership at the time but they came to a favourable decision for him. In 1976 he worked as a paramedic for the ambulance service in Minsk. From 1977-1978 he worked as an editor for Viacherni Minsk newspaper. In 1980 he became an editor for the Belteleradio Company. Following this he worked as an editor for Yunatstva Publishers (1982).

His first poem was printed in 1959 in a local newspaper. Since then he has authored numerous books of poetry and one documentary. Paniznik is very active in establishing cultural relations between Belarus and other countries.

He was awarded with a medal and the 'Three Stars Order' from Latvia.

65. Uladzimir PAULAU, a poet and a prose writer, was born into a peasant family on December 25, 1935, in the Minsk region of Belarus. In 1954 he graduated from high school and started working for a local newspaper before being summoned to the Army. In 1957 he entered, and in 1962 graduated from, the Belarusian State University where he majored in journalism. He has worked for various national newspapers and journals, consulted for the Union of Belarusian Writers, and worked for Mastatskaya Litaratura Publishers. Since 1990 he has been a member of the Board of the Union of Belarusian Writers.

His first verses were published in 1954. Paulau authored several books of poetry and several books of prose. His main themes are memories of childhood war, the work of Salihorsk miners and love. He has tried to find new poetical ways of expressing feelings. His prose is written in a lyrical narrative style.

He writes for children as well and has also translated the works of Russian, Ukrainian, Lithuanian, Latvian, Moldovian, Chuvash and Hungarian poets; he has done some prose translations as well. Many of his verses were turned into songs. .

Pilip PESTRAK, a poet and a prose writer, was born into a peasant family on November 27, 1903, in the Brest region. He studied a two-year Community College course. In 1914, at the start of World War I, he moved with his parents to the Samara's Division in Russia. He studied there at school, worked as an accountant's helper in a credit company, and then at a local governmental office. He entered the social and historical department of Samara University. In the fall of 1921 he returned back to Belarus with his parents where he worked at a saw mill and as a forester. Pestrak also spent time serving in the Polish Army. He started working for Belarusian Communists during Polish rule in the 1930s. He spent almost 11 years in prison in Poland until being liberated by the Soviet Army in 1939. He was chosen as a deputy of the People's Council of Western Belarus (1939) and also received various other governmental positions in the Supreme Council of Belarus. Pestrak also worked at the National Academy of Sciences.

His first verses were published in the 1920s under a nickname Bringer of News. He authored several books of poetry. His works talk about the struggles for liberation and praises of the courage of political prisoners (during his Western Belarus time). Many of his novels also show the new order in Belarus after the events of 1939. After the war he mainly worked as a prose writer. His works were edited in a 4 volume edition in 1969-1971 and many of his poems were set to music.

He was awarded several orders and medals and given the title of 'Honorary Worker of Culture of Belarus' (1968). In 1964 he was awarded Kolas Literary Prize for his novel Seradzibor. A street in Minsk and in Hrodna both bear his name, as does a library in Ivatsevichi.

Ivan PTASHNIKAU, a prose writer, was born October 7, 1932, in the Minsk region, into a peasant family. After finishing school he worked as both a teacher and an editor at the same time. In 1957 he graduated from the Belarusian State University, journalistic department. He worked as an editor at Belgosizdatelstvo (1957-58), and in the prose department of Polymya magazine, as an editor (1958-62).

He started to publish his stories in 1952, with the first book appearing in 1959. Most of his stories are devoted to village life and the associated social problems. Most publishers refused to publish his works due to the subject matter, causing him great difficulties. He also wrote about children in many of his novels and stories. His novel Tartak was made into a film in 1974 and in 1989 his novel Olimpiada presented as a stage performance. Many of his works were translated into other languages. Medals and awards presented to him include: Honorary Addresses of the Supreme Council of Belarus and Kolas Belarusian State Prize (1978) as well as the title 'Honorary Worker of Culture of Belarus'(1983).

Yazep PUSCHA (real name, Yazep Plaschynski), a poet, critic and translator, was born into a large peasant family on May 7 (20), 1902 in the village of Karalischavichy, Minsk region. He was educated at the universities of Minsk and Leningrad and he taught at various schools in the Minsk region. In 1930, under the Stalinist purges, he was arrested as a 'National Democrat' and exiled to the Urals for five years (the sentence was reversed in 1956). During his exile Puscha worked a number of different jobs before becoming the headmaster of a school in Vladimir province, Russia (1937-1941). At the beginning of WWII he was called up to serve in the army. After the war he taught and was also the headmaster of a school in Murmansk region, Russia. His visited Belarus in 1955 and 1956 and returned back to Minsk with his family in 1958, where her resided till his death.

The first Belarusian book that he read was Y. Kupala's book. Two years later he met M. Charot, a noted Belarusian poet, whose friendship he highly valued all his life. He began writing and publishing poetry in 1922 and was one of the founders of Maladniak and then Uzvyshsha literary association. His books from the twenties include Vita (1926), Days of Spring (1927), Songs on the Ruins (1929) and Tears of Blood (1930) and are very lyrical, full of various associations and joyful feelings. Nothing was heard of him in the literary world for many years, and it was generally assumed that he had died, but in 1956 a new sonnet of his was published in the October issue of the literary review Polymia, an event which is taken by some critics to mark the beginning of the 'thaw' in Belarus. After this Puscha once more became active in poetry, publishing Verses and Poems in 1960. Many of his verses were made songs.

Aliaksei PYSIN, a poet and translator, was born March 22, 1920, in Mahilou region, Belarus, into a peasant family. In 1938 he entered a Journalism University in Minsk. He was sent to work for a newspaper in Western Belarus. During World War II he took part in the action and was wounded twice. From 1946 onwards he worked for various newspapers. In 1974 he was elected Head of the Mahilou Regional Division of the Belarusian Writers Union.

His first verses were published in 1938 and he authored numerous poetical books. His main themes were war experiences and its role in a person's life, global current problems, and the inner world of a person. The tone of his verses is optimistic, open and deeply psychological. They are written in traditional verse scheme. He also wrote for children and did translations from Russian to Belarusian. He was awarded several medals.

He was awarded the Kupala State Prize for his collection of verse Your Palms (1968). He received the title of 'Honorary Worker of Culture of Belarus' (1980). His name was given to a school in Palyzhye (his museum is there).