COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE OF PETRAS KRIAUČIŪNAS

May 31, 2003 a commemorative plaque was attached to the gymnasium’s wall to commemorate Petras Kriaučiūnas, who was a famous pupil of the school, educator and pioneer of  Lithuanian National Revival. The memento is a creation of sculptor Julius Narušis.

Petras Kriaučiūnas (born September 16, 1850 Papečkiai village, Vištytis, Lithuania – died January 20, 1916, Yaroslavl, Russia) was a pioneer of Lithuanian National Revival in Sūduva region, book smuggler (Lithuanian: knygnešys), teacher, erudite, interpreter, writer of „Aušra” and „Varpas”. He was fluent in eight languages. After graduation from Vištytis primary school, he attended Marijampolė Gymnasium (1863-1871), the Sejny Priest Seminary (1871-1875), and the Spiritual Academy of Petrapilis (1875-1879). In 1881 Kriaučiūnas graduated from the University of Warsaw. Afterwards he started to teach Latin at Marijampolė Gymnasium.

It was his personal example, pedagogical work, social activities and mesmerizing words what lit nationalism's fire in Marijampolė, spread it across Sūduva. Kriaučiūnas had taught about 80 prominent people and has led to hundreds of Lithuanians to become self-aware. Students of P. Kriaučiūnas became leaders of National Lithuanian Revival, they built Lithuanian State.

His excellent philological education formed P. Kriaučiūnas as a great scholar.

During the late 19th- early 20th centuries Kriaučiūnas gained international authority in the world of languages and science. He and his works attracted such leading figures of linguistics and philology as F. De Saussure, J. Baudouin de Courtenay, A. Leskien, J. Mikkola, A. Aleksandrov, E. Volters and others.

„P. Kriaučiūnas’s road to Lithuanian identity was amazingly solid and consistent, crucial to the National Revival and true to his patriotism.” (dr. A. Vidžiūnas).