Paul-Eerik Rummo (born 19 January 1942) is an Estonian poet, playwright, translator and politician who was the former Estonian Minister of Culture and Education, as well as the former Estonian Minister of Population Affairs.

Paul-Eerik Rummo
Paul-Eerik Rummo in 2011.
Minister of Population and Ethnic Affairs
In office
2003–2007
Prime MinisterJuhan Parts
Andrus Ansip
Preceded byEldar Efendijev
Succeeded byUrve Palo
Minister of Culture and Education
In office
1992–1994
Prime MinisterMart Laar
Preceded byRein Loik
Succeeded byPeeter Olesk
Personal details
Born (1942-01-19) 19 January 1942 (age 82)
Tallinn, Estonia
SpouseViiu Härm
Children3

Rummo was born in Tallinn, the son of Estonian writer Paul Rummo. Paul-Eerik studied literature at the University of Tartu, graduating in 1965. Rummo has worked in Estonian theatres.

Personal life

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Paul-Eerik Rummo is married to the actress, poet, author, and translator Viiu Härm. The couple have three daughters.[1]

Legacy

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In October 1980, Rummo was a signatory of the Letter of 40 Intellectuals, a public letter in which forty prominent Estonian intellectuals defended the Estonian language and protested the Russification policies of the Kremlin in Estonia.[2] The signatories also expressed their unease against republic-level government in harshly dealing with youth protests in Tallinn that were sparked a week earlier due to the banning of a public performance of the punk rock band Propeller.[2]

In the novel Purge (in Finnish Puhdistus) by Sofi Oksanen, Rummo's poetry becomes a symbol of resistance against Russification in Estonia, sprinkled throughout the narrative.[3]

Selected bibliography

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Poetry
  • Ankruhiivaja (The Anchor-weigher), 1962
  • Lumevalgus … lumepimedus (Snow Light … Snow Darkness), 1966
  • Saatja aadress ja teised luuletused 1968-1972 (Sender's Address and Other Poems 1968-1972), 1989.
  • The September Sun. Facing bilingual with English translations by Ritva Poom. Cross-Cultural Communications, 1994.
Plays
  • Tuhkatriinumäng (Cinderellagame), printed 1969

References

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  1. ^ "Paar: Viiu Härm ja Paul-Eerik Rummo". Anne & Stiil (in Estonian). 6 December 2005. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b Vahtre, Lauri (28 October 2005). "Ajaleht Pravda ja 40 keisri hullu". Postimees (in Estonian). Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  3. ^ Jaggi, Maya (21 August 2010). "Purge by Sofi Oksanen". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
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Political offices
Preceded by Estonian Minister of Culture and Education
1992–1994
Succeeded by
Preceded by Estonian Minister of Population and Ethnic Affairs
2003–2007
Succeeded by