Maksim TANK (real name Yauhen Skurko), a poet, was born into a peasant family on September 17, 1912, in the Minsk region of Belarus. He graduated from Polish school and studied in the Belarusian magnet school and in other magnet schools in Vilna. From 1927 he worked as an active underground Communist. From May 1933 till December 1934 he was in Vilnia jail for his beliefs. He worked for various left wing newspapers. After the liberation of Western Belarus he worked for a variety of newspapers. During World War II he continued to work for several newspapers, including poster newspapers. He presided over the Union of Belarusian Writers, and was elected to the Supreme Council of Belarus (was the Chairman of the 6th and 7th Sessions), and also to the Board of the Belarusian-Polish Friendship Union. He was chosen Academician for the Academy of Sciences in 1972.

His first verses were published in 1932. In the 60 years of his poetic career he authored numerous books of poetry and a book of memoirs. His wide views and knowledge of Russian, Ukrainian and Polish cultures and literatures, as well as European traditions, made him an outstanding figure of Belarusian literature in the 20th century. In his poetry Tank used a wide variety of themes. Most of his verses closely knit with the life of the common person, yet they were written as intellectual poetry with wide views. Tank searched for new poetical forms and methods. He also wrote for children. He translated a bulk of Russian and Polish poetry into Belarusian. His works were published in two, four and six volume editions and are considered modern Belarusian classics, Tank being one of the major European poets of the 20th century.

He was awarded several orders and medals from Belarus, USSR and Poland. He was awarded the title of 'Hero of Socialist Work' (1974), 'People's Poet' (1968), 'Honorary Citizen of Minsk' (1987) and of Radashkovichi (1992). He was awarded the USSR State Prize for his book of poetry So that They Would Know (1948), 2 Kupala Prizes for his book The Trace of Lightning (1959) and My Daily Bred (1966) and Lenin's Prize for his book The Pines of the Naroch (1977).

Raman TARMOLA, a poet, was born into the family of a handicraftsman on April 4, 1936, in Mir, Hrodna region, Belarus. In 1960 he graduated from Minsk Pedagogical Institute (historical-philological). He worked as an editor at Belarus TV. From 1977 till 1980 he was a member of the editorial board for Belarusfilm, and from 1980 onwards he worked for Belarus TV.

His first verses published in 1957. He has authored several books of poetry, including one for children. His verses are very open in the way they portray the feelings of his generation and of the children of war. Tarmola speaks of conscience, work, youth, love, friendship and the beauty of nature. He has also written several scripts for documentary films.

Valiantsin TAULAI, a poet, was born into the family of a railway worker on February 8, 1914, in Baranavichi, Belarus. He spent his childhood years in a village near Slonim. In 1927 he entered a Belarusian magnet school in Vilna, but was expelled for taking part in a students' strike. In October of 1930 the underground Communist organization sent him to Soviet Belarus, where he studied in the Belarusian State University. At the end of 1932 he was sent to work for underground Communists in Western Belarus. He was one of the organisers and leaders of the "Peasant and Worker Writers Literary Front" (1933). He was twice arrested and sentenced by Polish authorities (1929 and 1934). In 1939 he was liberated by the Soviet Army and worked for a local newspaper (1939-1941). During World War II Taulai was involved in the resistance movement. Several times in his life he was on the verge of death and many times imprisoned. In 1944-1945 he worked for another local newspaper. From 1945-1947 he was the vice president of Yanka Kupala Literary Museum. He died of heart disease developed in prison.

His first verses were published in 1928. He authored six books of poetry, all of them published after his death. His verses combined deep lyricism with passionate zeal for his country. Taulai wrote of his experiences in prison and of the resistance movement in Belarus; published critical reviews and articles; studied Yanka Kupala's life and work; and translated works from the Polish and Russian classics.

The Central library in Baranavichi and in Lida, both located in Belarus, bear his name, as do the streets in six towns and villages in Belarus. Several memorable plaques and a museum are devoted to him.

88. TSIOTKA (real name Alaiza Pashkevich), a poetess, prose writer, publicist, enlightener and revolutionary, was born on July 3(15),1876 in Piaschyna settlement, Vilna province, now Hrodna region, into a family of rich peasants. She was educated at the Vilna gymnasium and then in St Petersburg. She was one of the leaders of the Belarusian Revolutionary Society and upon returning to Vilna in 1904 continued her revolutionary activities. Her nick name Tsiotka ('Auntie') also became her penname for her radical verses, prose works and political manifestoes.

She started writing in 1902 under the influence of Frantsishak Bahushevich. Owing to her political activities she was obliged to leave Belarus, so she moved to Austrian Galicia where she was able to continue her university studies and to publish two collections of poetry, A Cross for Freedom (1906) and Belarusian Violin (1906). She was able to return back home in 1912 due to her marriage and subsequent change of her maiden name. Again she became active in the revolutionary movement and in the taking care of the underprivileged. She died of typhus in Vilna where she came to see her dying father and decided to stay to help take care of the sick.

Kastus TSVIRKA, a poet, translator, and folklorist, was born into a peasant family on March 28, 1934, in Minsk region. He graduated from the Belarusian State University where he majored in Belarusian language and literature (1958). He worked as a teacher of the Belarusian language, in a local newspaper, and on Belarusian radio. In 1972 he got a PhD at the Institute of Linguistics, Ethnography and Folklore at the Academy of Sciences of Belarus. He holds a PhD in history (1972) and has worked for the literary journal Polymia and for the Union of Belarusian Writers since 1990.

Tsvirka started publishing his works in 1951. He has authored numerous books of poetry including several books for children. His poetry, full of current life issues, history, work, his youthful dreams and his romantic view of life, makes a portrait of a generation that saw war through the eyes of children and helped to rebuild the country. He writes critical reviews on ethnography and folklore. He has translated from English, Georgian and Ukrainian, as well as the poems of Belarusian-Polish writers of the 19th century from Polish into Belarusian.