Google Doodle Celebrates Mina Witkojc, Advocate for Sorbian Literature and Culture

Today's Google Doodle celebrates Mina Witkojc, a significant figure in Sorbian literature. Born on April 11, 1893, in Groß Düben, Germany, Witkojc began writing early. She published her first poem in 1913 and went on to write novels, short stories, and poems in Sorbian and German.

Witkojc's work often focused on Sorbian identity and culture. She was a strong advocate for the Sorbian language. Her writings have been translated into several languages and praised for their beauty and insights into Sorbian life.

Besides writing, Witkojc was a teacher and activist. She was a member of the Sorbian National Council and involved in many organizations promoting Sorbian culture. She passed away on February 5, 1975, in Bautzen, Germany.

The Google Doodle features an illustration of Witkojc under a tree, writing in her journal. The background shows a beautiful landscape of Sorbia with hills, forests, and a river. This doodle reminds us of her contributions to Sorbian literature and culture.

On this day in 1893, Witkojc was born in Burg, Germany. She grew up there and later worked in Berlin as a day labourer. Her interest in Sorbian identity grew when she met Czech and Upper Sorbian intellectuals. She then moved to Bautzen, a town with more Sorbs.

In Bautzen, Witkojc worked as a journalist and became the chief editor of the Lower Sorbian newspaper Serbski Casnik. She also promoted the Wendish and Sorbian people through her work on the Wendish book calendar Pratyja.

Witkojc translated poems from other Slavic languages and wrote her own poetry. Her poems often used images of nature to express her love for her culture and homeland.

During the national socialist government era, Witkojc was forced to leave Serbski Casnik as the government banned the Sorbian languages. She was also banned from writing altogether.

Years later, she was expelled from Lusatia through residence bans and arrested for putting up Sorbian-language posters. In 1954, she returned to Burg and continued to write despite systemic suppression of her culture.

She published poems and stories in Nowy Casnik and released a poetry book called K swětłu a słyńcu (To the Light, to the Sun). In 1964, she received the Ćišinski Prize.

Two schools and a library in Burg are named after her. A street in Cottbus also carries her name. The Mina Witkojc Award is given to activists promoting the Sorbian language.

Happy birthday Mina Witkojc! Your moving prose and love for your heritage will always be remembered.