Asia Journalist Association (AJA),  Secretary General, CAJ ** Alexandra Ochirova’s book “Russian Cosmism” opens the doors to an extraordinary world where philosophy, art and poetry are intertwined. This book represents a significant contribution to the study of Russian cosmism, covering not only national, but also universal aspects of the human soul.   Alexandra Ochirova, a modern poet and thinker, reveals to readers her unique understanding of Russian cosmism; transporting them to a world where philosophy, poetry and cultural traditions merge into a single whole. In her works we find not only deep reflections on space and human consciousness, but also warm admiration for the cultural heritage and wisdom of our ancestors.   This book becomes a bridge between past and future, tradition and innovation. It provides readers with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the secrets of Russian cosmism through the eyes of Alexandra Ochirova. In her poems and philosophical reflections we find not only national identity, but also a universal approach to the eternal questions of humanity. As a UNESCO Ambassador, Alexandra Ochirova has a clear message; a message for the peace of mankind and the preservation of nature. She has the wrath of fire, but she hopes that harmony will prevail, embracing humanity with is mercy. This is an invitation to think, explore and comprehend the eternal mysteries of the cosmos that have troubled humanity for centuries.

This week, the TV Cultural Channel, Moscow, hosted a presentation of the book, and interviewed its publisher, poetess Margarita Al, Russia.

TV Presenter: Margarita, I am addressing you as the publisher of the book and the moderator of the presentation, which essentially became a round table on "Russian Cosmism - Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity". The presentation of the book by Alexandra Ochirova "Russian Cosmism" on the TV channel "Culture" of the Russian Federation has already caused a wide resonance. How do you evaluate this event?

Margarita Al: The presentation of the book "Russian Cosmism" by Alexandra Ochirova, a poet, Doctor of Philosophy, academician and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, has indeed become an important event not only for Russian literature and philosophy, but also for the world cultural scene. The presentation of the book to a wide audience, and the program has already been watched by hundreds of thousands of viewers, was felt as a moment when the philosophy of cosmism found a new voice, capable of fitting into modern world processes and at the same time looking far beyond them. This evening became a kind of bridge between the traditions of the past and the aspirations of the future, where the ideas of cosmism came to life, taking us to understand not only the human place in the Universe, but also how harmony between space and man can become the key to understanding our common future. The presentation took place in one of the best libraries in Moscow: the M.I. Rudomino Library of Foreign Literature.

TV Presenter: Who created the impressive illustrations that accompany the philosophical depth of the book, and what is their significance for the perception of "Russian Cosmism"?

Margarita Al: The creator of the impressive illustrations was Zurab Konstantinovich Tsereteli, an outstanding monumental artist, sculptor, painter, teacher, president of the Russian Academy of Arts and People's Artist of the USSR. His works have always been distinguished by deep symbolism and scale, and his contribution to the design of the book "Russian Cosmism" became not just a visual accompaniment, but a real continuation of philosophical thought. This is the fourth book that he has illustrated, and his images filled the pages with special energy, giving Ochirova's poetry and philosophy a new dimension, where each drawing helps to more deeply feel the cosmic connection between man and the Universe. 

TV Presenter:: Famous cultural figures spoke at the presentation. What moments from their speeches did you especially remember? 

Margarita Al: When Grigory Eduardovich Ordzhonikidze, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation, Executive Secretary of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO, spoke about how the Russian philosophy of cosmism goes beyond national boundaries and becomes part of the global cultural code, it seemed that he was broadcasting the strategy of a new stage of human thinking - cosmism ceased to be an abstract idea and took the form of a real system built into our digital and cultural reality, where each person is a link in a continuous process of renewal, and his words, as if transmitted through a cultural interface, revealed to us a picture of the world where human consciousness and cosmic order are united into one whole.

TV Presenter:: How, in your opinion, is the poetry of Alexandra Ochirova connected with the philosophy of Russian cosmism?

Margarita Al: The poetry of Alexandra Ochirova is a kind of code, a cipher, through which a person gains the opportunity to understand his place in the megastructure of the Universe, since her poems, woven into the philosophy of Russian cosmism, become not just a poetic gesture, but a key to understanding the inextricable connection between internal worldviews and infinity, between the stars and human consciousness, where each verse is like an element of a complex system linking the thoughts of Vernadsky, Fedorov and Tsiolkovsky with modern scientific and philosophical discourses.

TV Presenter: What was the role of translations of the book and how did they influence the perception of Russian cosmism in the world?

Margarita Al: The translation of the book "Russian Cosmism" was not just an expansion of the audience, but a transformation of the ideas of cosmism into a global cultural context, where each culture finds its meaning in the philosophy of the synthesis of man and the Universe. Sergei Zenkevich, a poet, translator and literary critic, made the book accessible to the English-speaking world, conveying not only linguistic features, but also deep philosophical meanings, which is of great importance in such a multi-layered direction as Russian cosmism. His translation became a kind of cultural bridge, and the editor of the English edition was Michael Lavery, a specialist in Slavic languages ​​from the University of Maryland, who fine-tuned the tone of the translation, making it understandable for an international reader, immersing them in the philosophy of space, where human consciousness and the Universe are inextricably linked. The book has already made a significant contribution to the global cultural discussion, participating in the international competition of the WOW Prize in two language groups - Russian and English. With serious competition among four language categories: Russian, English, Arabic and Spanish, which underlines its importance on the world stage, the book was shortlisted for the WOW Prize in two languages, which in itself is an incredible achievement. But the main thing is that in the Russian language group, 'Russian Cosmism' took first place, and Alexandra Ochirova was awarded the WOW Prize 2024. This triumph took place in Nigeria, at the first congress of the World Organization of Writers (WOW) Congress, where outstanding works from all over the world were noted and recognized. In total, writers from 89 countries took part in the competition" I would especially like to highlight the translation of the book into Chinese by Professor Enho Shi from the International Center for Poetry Translation and Research, which will be completed by December. The book is scheduled for publication in April 2025, with a subsequent presentation at the Beijing International Book Fair. A scientific article on Russian cosmism by Alexandra Ochirova is also being prepared there. In addition, the translation into Spanish is being done by Professor Ruben Darío Flores Arcila, who is the president of the Leo Tolstoy Institute of Culture in Bogotá, as well as an active translator and poet, which opens the door for a Spanish-speaking audience, offering them a new perspective on the harmony between technological development and the spiritual quest of humanity. The translation into Arabic was undertaken by Mr Ashraf Aboul-Yazid (Ashraf Dali), whose interpretation emphasizes Ochirova's philosophical call for peace and the preservation of nature, recalling the importance of harmony and mercy, which runs like a red thread through her poetry, and allows the Arab world to connect to these eternal questions about the place of man in space and his connection with nature.

"Russian Cosmism" in translations is a world literary event, a global cultural transformation, allowing the philosophy of cosmism to acquire new forms of perception in various cultures, turning it into an element of the world cultural matrix, where each poem by Alexandra Ochirova opens new horizons for dialogue between civilizations and peoples.

TV Presenter: What are the reasons for the modern interest in Russian cosmism, which was emphasized at the presentation?

Margarita Al: At the presentation, each of the speakers expressed their own opinion on what the interest in the philosophy of Russian cosmism is. In a world where the boundaries between physical and virtual realities are becoming less clear, cosmism offers the key to understanding this new reality. The philosophy of cosmism allows a person to find a balance between technology and metaphysical questions, offering a deeper understanding of the connection between the real world and digital processes. This was the central theme of all the speeches at the presentation.

Konstantin Aleksandrovich Kedrov, poet and philosopher, professor at the Gorky Literary Institute, in his preface to Alexandra Ochirova's book "Russian Cosmism" noted that her poetry reveals the philosophy of cosmism, linking cosmic thinking with everyday reality. He emphasized that her works serve as a kind of bridge between the world of ideas and the world of feelings, helping to comprehend our place in the vast space of the Universe. Kedrov expressed the opinion that through Ochirova's texts we are approaching an understanding of how humanity can interact with the cosmos on a metaphysical level. 

Sergei Evgenievich Biryukov, a poet and researcher of the avant-garde, noted in his speech that the work of Alexandra Ochirova opens up a new perspective on the traditions of Russian cosmism for the reader. Biryukov emphasized the avant-garde elements of her poetry, which allow us to come into contact with the philosophical depths of the cosmos and reveal new facets of perception through special poetic forms and images. He expressed the idea that Ochirova's poetry is not limited to the traditional approach, but goes much further, combining artistic and philosophical codes. 

Andrey Igorevich Yavny, writer and philosopher, expressed the opinion that modern interest in cosmism lies in its ability to offer not only philosophical ideas, but also practical guidance for humanity in the era of technological revolution. He emphasized that cosmism allows us to understand the new reality in which a person must find a balance between the desire for technological progress and the search for spiritual guidelines, and in this context, Ochirova's poetry becomes an important tool for understanding these processes.

Alexander Alexandrovich Goloborodko, People's Artist of the RSFSR, with his performance of Ochirova's poems at the presentation managed to create a deep emotional connection between the audience and the philosophy of cosmism. In his performance, Ochirova's poetry was filled with philosophical depth, each verse sounded like an invitation to reflect on the eternal questions of human existence and its connection with the boundless cosmos. This performance became a powerful final chord of the evening, strengthening the perception of cosmism as a relevant and living philosophy. Questions from the audience only confirmed that the interest in Russian cosmism today is due to its ability to answer the most important questions of modern humanity, which is on the verge of technological and cultural transformation.

TV presenter: How did international attention to the book "Russian Cosmism" affect its perception and status in the global philosophical and cultural environment?

Margarita Al: Publications about "Russian Cosmism" appeared in leading publications in Russia, Africa, Asia and Latin America, which significantly increased interest in the book and gave it the status of a key phenomenon in modern philosophy. These publications opened the doors to a broad discussion of cosmism in the international arena, attracting the attention of philosophers, cultural scientists and researchers who see in this book a new look at global questions about the future of humanity and its connection with space. Thus, the book became not only a flagship in Russian philosophical thought, but also an important element of the world cultural dialogue, strengthening its place in the global cultural heritage. 

TV Presenter: What steps are being taken to recognize Russian cosmism as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity?

Margarita Al: We have every reason to say that Russian cosmism deserves recognition at the international level as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Alexandra Ochirova's book is a unique phenomenon that combines the literary and philosophical heritage of Russian cosmism, opening it up to a new audience. Moreover, today she is the only author who has dedicated her life and work exclusively to this topic. Conferences, seminars and international discussions are held, which become transition points where humanity is smoothly transferred to a new level of understanding reality, and here we are no longer talking about a simple exchange of ideas. This is the process of creating a code that will one day be integrated into the cultural system at the global level, connecting traditions, technologies and the future in one common stream, where cosmism will become an integral part of the world heritage.

Photos

Margarita Al

Round table on Russian Cosmism - Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity Ochirova signs copies of her book, published by WOW and the Silk Road Literature Series, Cairo 2024 Alexandra Ochirova during the book presentation

Video Links:

Ashraf Aboul-Yazid ; a Bridge to Cross Times

TV Video

https://www.culture.ru/live/broadcast/107861/russkii-kosmizm

Alexandra Ochirova and Margarita Al