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Below are the 1 most recent journal entries recorded in the "Misha Verbitsky" journal:| February 19th, 2024 | |
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| 02:18 pm [Link] |
the country had almost completely disintegrated already Занятное интервью великого математика Аугустина Баньяги, про детство на банановой плантации в Руанде https://celebratio.org/Banyaga_A/articl Вообще из Руанды есть несколько хороших математиков (возможно, они все студенты Баньяги, по крайней мере единственный мой знакомый руандиец упоминается у него в интервью). Особенно интересно Jackson: You were the first Rwandan to get a PhD in mathematics. Is that why you were interviewed on TV? Are you well known in Rwanda? Banyaga: Yes. I know personally some people who have been in the government. The present government is Tutsi and is from a group that came with an army from Uganda and took over Rwanda. The Rwandan genocide started at that time. The previous president [Juv'enal Habyarimana], who died in a plane crash in 1994, had asked me to be prime minister. Of course I refused. Jackson: Why did you refuse? Banyaga: I told him that the country had almost completely disintegrated already. The aggression was so high, the people were very divided. Actually, if I had accepted, I would have been killed too. Jackson: Why did he ask you? You're not a politician. You are a mathematician! Banyaga: Yes! I don't know why. Maybe he thought that, if somebody is able to think correctly and do mathematics, that person can save the country. Jackson: He knew you were smart and accomplished. Banyaga: And I don't have in my heart hatred of anybody. I don't hate Tutsis, I don't hate Hutus. So probably he thought I could make a good linkage between all the people. Jackson: Were you tempted at all to take that position? Banyaga: Not at all. I was writing beautiful papers. I was doing good mathematics. Throughout my life, I have not been involved in politics. Now I am 72. When I left Rwanda, I was 20. You see, I spent almost all my life abroad. Usually I never talk about Hutu or Tutsi. But all these things are connected with my life somehow. Jackson: They have followed you. Banyaga: Exactly. I try not to be interested in what is going on in Rwanda, but I find myself looking at news from Rwanda every day! I can't help it. Jackson: I can understand that. You are interested in your home country even if in some sense you think it might be better not to be interested! When were you last in Rwanda? Banyaga: After 1990, I didn't go to Rwanda at all. Привет Current Mood: |
tired