Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė: the path of creativity and life
One of the most outstanding personalities of Lithuania, a great woman, who has revealed her talents in various fields, has done a tremendous merit for Lithuania.
She had always take part in activities that were most necessary at the time: she taught, healed people, wrote books, textbooks, raised orphans, took care of bees, helped the poor children to get an education.
Noble and bright ideas, Bitė received by her parents – especially her father, a physician, promoter of humanistic ideas Jonas Petkevičius.
He persuated her daughter not to study further at a university because if she graduated, she would have had to leave Lithuania.
J. Petkevičius said that every intellectual‘s duty is to work for their homeland, which lacks bright people.
One of the most important ways of expression for Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė was journalism, during which she posed the most urgent problems of the time: the importance of women in society, education.
Associations established by Bitė helped the poor and disabled, took care of prisoners, defended women‘s rights.
Undeservedly forgotten and underestimated creativity of the writer. Her „Karo meto dienoraštis“ could have been called as that time Lithuanian epic.
Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė had been heavily involved in the political movement. In 1920 she was elected into Lithuanian Seimas and was a chairman. She also ran to the position of the president of Lithuania.
Now, Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė is recognized as a symbol of dignity and nationality.
She was one of the five women, who were written in top hundred of the most prominent Lithuanian people.
Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė was an honorary citizen of Panevėžys and its district.
G. Petkevičaitės-Bitės students honored her memory by continuing her work, and spread her ideas.
Juozas Balčikonis gymnasium (Respublikos St. 47, Panevėžys).
It was a place where intelligentsia‘s elite was working during the period of interwar. Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė worked there as a teacher.
The sculptor Bernardas Bučas created the monument of G. Petkevičaitė-Bitė, which is located near gymnasium.
The gymnasiun has a museum, in which you can find interesting and valuable material about the personalities, who have worked there, such as: J. Balčikonis, J. Jablonskis, J. Lindė-Dobilas, G. Petkevičaitė-Bitė, J. Zikaras and others.
The gymnasium has a nice courtyard, which is decorated with bas-reliefs of famous people.
Currently, the gymnasium is famous in Lithuania for its learning achievements, students‘ achievements of national and international Olympiads.
The building was constructed during 1883-1884 years.
The gymnasium had different names during historical periods. The name of J. Balčikonis had been given to the gymnasium after the restoration of Independence.
Local Lore museum (Vasario 16-osios St. 23, Panevėžys).
In the museum you can find exhibitions about history, nature and the craft of cross making.
The real pride of natural exposition is butterflies and insects collection by V. Straševičius, which is largest in Lithuania.
Museum has about 98,160 items. Among them, is a unique collection of Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė‘s legacy, such as: greeting and bussiness cards, writer‘s notebooks, graduation certificates and public letters.
There are also educational programs in the museum, which are about G. Petkevičaitės-Bitės life. People can learn about the old pharmacy, folklore and even modern ways of treatment.
Local Lore museum is located at a complex, which belonged to Moigiai family during the period of interwar.
Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė public library ( Respublikos St. 14, Panevėžys)
This is a universal library in Panevėžys region and the biggest library in North Highlands.
Library has a unique interior which merges with ancient and modern architecture. Saulius Juškys, the architect, have been awarded with the prize of this building.
The library regularly organizes cultural events. The most famous one is „Panevėžys literary winter“.
Each spring, during Gabrielės-Petkevičaitės-Bitės birthday, library organizes a conference.
Gabriele Petkevicaite-ancient burial place of Christ the King Cemetery (Ramygala St, Panevezys).
The monument “Lesykla” (“Feeder”) was built by Bernardas Bučas. G. Petkevičaitės-Bitės burial place was transformed by Vidas Žigas‘s project.
Puziniškis Manor (Puziniškis Vlg., Panevėžys.)
This is the manor where Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė was born. She lived there for a long time. Puziniškis manor certainly was a huge attraction centre of Lithuanian culture, which brought lithuanian elite: Jonas Basanavičius, Jonas Jablonskis, Vincas Kudirka, Povilas Višinskis, Žemaitė who was the writer Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė wrote novels with. They both used name Dvi Moteri (Two Women) as their pen-name.
Bee House (St. Zita St. 18, Panevėžys).
This is the house where Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė lived during 1932-1943 years. Even though this exposition is not working right now, city’s intellectuals have gathered into association called “Bitės namai” (“Bee House”). The members of this association organizes various events.