Felix Gorelik

In the novel by Maxim Gorky "Mother", for the first time in history there was given a picture of an ordinary Russian woman – Nilovna, who became a companion-in-arms of her son – Paul Vlasov, who was thrown into the Czar’s prison for his revolutionary activities.

"Her son was knocked out of the revolutionary ranks – Mother then took his place," said one of the characters in the novel.

History now is repeating itself. In the victory of the counter-revolutionary forces, which has thrown our Motherland back 100 years, into jails the present regimes are throwing fighters who are struggling for the interests of the working class. In jail there found himself a follower by conviction of Paul Vlasov – Igor Gubkin – one of the most dedicated of the present revolutionary fighters for the rebirth of the USSR. And his Mother, as did Gorky’s Nilovna, stood together with her son.

The situation of Igor Gubkin is tragic. He has already spent 8 years in Russian jails. Ahead of him are another 14 years of incarceration on the false charges and accusations. The present authorities hate Gubkin with a passion. Gubkin in his dedication and deep conviction of the necessity to prepare for an armed uprising against the present regime and to liberate all other former Soviet republics from the present occupation regimes. He criticizes vehemently the illusions of some communist parties who think that through parliamentary means they will bring back socialism and the Soviet Union. He calls them "Legal Marxists". Years behind bars did not break Gubkin’s dedication to socialism and communism. He edited newspapers, wrote 5 books and has many dedicated Marxists who collect finances and who publish the materials that he had written.

Gubkin was leader of the underground organization that was called the "Revolutionary Army Council", which was dismembered by the state security forces. There were sent to prison 11 young comrades who were thrown into prison on false charges in Odessa.

"In front of us are years of struggles" writes Gubkin from prison " and we need to stand firm and not be broken – therefore we will stand form and will not be broken into submission!"

Svetlana Fedorovna (his Mother) is very proud of her son. This is a small woman who was born in Chitinsk region of Siberia and speaks with Siberian character. She is in complete harmony with her son in this revolutionary struggle. She distributes newspapers, collects finances to help all of the political prisoners in ex-USSR.

Across 10 thousand kilometres journey she went from Moscow to see her son near Vladivostok. Along the way across Russia, at every stop people gathered to see her, to talk, to give encouragement, to donate money, products for the political prisoners.

In her article, published in the newspaper "Revcom", she speaks about this across Russia trip as she saw it from the window of the train: "There flew past a terrible ruined land, villages, factories and other structures, all covered over with weeds, in ruin were the collective and state farms…nothing but ruins, ruins, ruins, devastation and dullness!"

Her life is now totally dedicated to her son and his freedom. She has become the dedicated Communist, a revolutionary.

"All of these many meetings – writes Svetlana Fedorovna Gubkin – had made me even stronger in my dedication, that the work of our sons and daughters is not for nothing." She ender her article with words of a poem:

"Until we feel the pain of others.
Until lives within us compassion.
Until we still dream of the future –
Our life is truthful and sincere."

The novel "Mother" written by Gorky was about the first Russian revolution.

The new generation of heroes – like Igor Gubkin and his Mother, the Komsomols who were arrested in Odessa – show us very clearly that the idea and ideals of Revolution, Socialism is not buried forever.

Mother of Gubkin – a revolutionary May Day in Moscow with hundreds of Red Flags. Vanguard of Communist Youth getting ready to march. A young revolutionary selling the youth newspaper. He is a regular of NSC. All Union Communist Party (b) gathering.