Against the Current: The Memoirs of Boris Ragula, MDMcGill-Queen's Press - MQUP, 2005 - 185 pages A Polish citizen of Belarusian descent, Boris Ragula escaped German internment during World War II only to find on his return to Belarus that it had fallen under the control of Soviet totalitarianism. He was imprisoned by the communist secret police but finally escaped with his family to Belgium.Ragula earned a medical degree and then fulfilled his dream of immigrating to Canada where for forty years he ran one of the busiest practices in London, Ontario, and played a pioneering role in the North American anti-smoking movement.Against the Currentoffers a personal account of the plight of European refugees and the importance of immigrants to Canada's postwar growth. Ragula's insights into the complicated nature of identity in central Europe shows how "ordinary people" negotiate the complex, often contradictory claims of national, ethnic, religious, and geographic loyalties. His memoir provides a personal perspective on some of the major events of the twentieth century. |
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Page vii
... Charles Ruud xi Editor's Note xiii Illustrations 3 , 100 , 112 , 147 , 161 I My Beginnings 7 2 Freedom ? 40 3 Liberation ? 59 4 The Eskadron 73 5 Refugees in the West 103 6 Early Days in London , Ontario 117 7 Community.
... Charles Ruud xi Editor's Note xiii Illustrations 3 , 100 , 112 , 147 , 161 I My Beginnings 7 2 Freedom ? 40 3 Liberation ? 59 4 The Eskadron 73 5 Refugees in the West 103 6 Early Days in London , Ontario 117 7 Community.
Page 72
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activities Aklavik armed arrived asked Aunt Luba Baranovichi barracks Belarus Belarusian students believed Boris Ragula Canada Canadian cancer cell cigarettes colleagues command commissar Communist continued doctor escape Eskadron examinations explained family physician farm farmer Father Robert fear forces friends gave gendarmes German guards gymnasium homeland hospital Hutor hypnosis independent Inuvik Janka Joan joined Kareliczy knew Komsomol Koscik later learned living London Free Press Lubcza Ludmila medical school Medicine military Minsk mother Navahrudak Nieman River NKVD nurse Ontario organization Pap smear patients patrols Poland police Polish political pope Pope Pius XII prisoners Rada Red Army Red Guerrillas refused regime returned Russian sian Siwko smoking soldiers soon Soviet Union spoke St Joseph's territory tion tobacco smoke told took Traub troops Ukraine Uncle Bazyl village Vilnius Vowa wanted Wolfmyer