V. A. Yurchyonkov: The Multifaceted Nature of Creative Activity (on the 65th Anniversary of His Birth)

Introduction. The relevance of this study stems from the need to understand the contribution of Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor V. A. Yurchyonkov to the development of regional historical scholarship and humanities research in the Republic of Mordovia. The aim of this article is to comprehensively analyze the scholar’s scientific, organizational, and pedagogical legacy. Materials and Methods. The study draws on the scholarly works, projects, and organizational initiatives of V. A. Yurchyonkov, as well as the work of his colleagues and followers. The article’s methodological basis are the principles of systematicity and scientific objectivity. The authors utilize historical-biographical and historical-genetic research methods. Results and Discussion. This article examines key areas of V. A. Yurchyonkov’s work: the reorganization of the Research Institute of Humanities under the Government of the Republic of Mordovia, the creation of an academic school, the implementation of large-scale research projects, the development of his own scientific hypotheses and constructs, public activities, and teaching practice. It shows that V. A. Yurchyonkov, distinguished by his unique scholarly erudition and professionalism, was a broad-based scholar in the humanities and a conceptualist who defined the essence of the development of Mordovia regional history as an integral part of a single all-Russian historical process. The scholar defines the configuration of the historical development of the Mordovian people and the Mordovia region within the framework of his concept of the formation of the Mordovians as a “pulsating” ethnic group, as well as in the context of the multidirectional and varying in strength, yet stable, interaction between the Russian center and periphery. V. A. Yurchyonkov is known as an educator and organizer of science. The academic school he founded includes many researchers successfully working at the intersection of history, cultural studies, ethnology, ethnosociology, historiosophy, and other disciplines. He is also the author of fiction and the screenwriter of short historical documentary films. The scholar was a true patriot of his native land and a consistent promoter of Mordovia history and culture. V. A. Yurchyonkov’s creative public stance and his work aimed at preserving the memory of military and historical events, developing memorial practices, and promoting the cultural achievements of Mordovia continue to resonate deeply with his colleagues in the republic. He has received well-deserved recognition at the Russian and international levels. Conclusion. The authors emphasize that V. A. Yurchyonkov’s legacy represents a holistic system combining fundamental research, organizational development, and teaching practice. His work laid the foundation for the further development of humanities in Mordovia and became a model for the integration of regional history into national academic discourse. This article contributes to understanding the role of new ideas and methodological approaches introduced by V. A. Yurchyonkov to modern scholarship. Its materials can be used in research in the fields of regional studies and local history, and in teaching the humanities.