Paul-Eerik Rummo

Paul-Eerik Rummo
Paul-Eerik Rummo in 2011.
Minister of Population and Ethnic Affairs
In office 2003–2007
Prime Minister	Juhan Parts Andrus Ansip
Preceded by	Eldar Efendijev
Succeeded by	Urve Palo
Minister of Culture and Education
In office 1992–1994
Prime Minister	Mart Laar
Preceded by	Rein Loik
Succeeded by	Peeter Olesk
Personal details
Born	(1942-01-19) 19 January 1942 (age 83) Tallinn, Estonia
Spouse	Viiu Härm
Children	3

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.

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

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

Legacy

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

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

1. "Paar: Viiu Härm ja Paul-Eerik Rummo". Anne & Stiil (in Estonian). 6 December 2005. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
2. 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.

External links

• Estonian Writers Online Dictionary

Political offices
Preceded by Rein Loik	Estonian Minister of Culture and Education 1992–1994	Succeeded by Peeter Olesk
Preceded by Eldar Efendijev	Estonian Minister of Population and Ethnic Affairs 2003–2007	Succeeded by Urve Palo