Jānis Rainis (English)

Rainis, also known as Jānis Pliekšāns (1865-1929), was a Latvian poet, playwright, and politician. He was a prominent figure in the Latvian national awakening movement, which aimed to promote Latvian culture and achieve independence from foreign rule. Rainis' literary works, which include poetry, plays, and prose, are considered some of the most important in Latvian literature. He wrote about a wide range of topics, including love, nature, social justice, and the struggle for national liberation. His plays, such as "Uguns un nakts" (Fire and Night) and "Indulis un Ārija" (Indulis and Ārija), are still performed in Latvia today. In addition to his literary work, Rainis was also involved in politics. He was a member of the Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party and played an important role in the establishment of the first Latvian republic in 1918. Rainis served as the Minister of Education and Minister of Foreign Affairs in the early years of the new republic. Rainis' contributions to Latvian culture and politics have made him an enduring symbol of Latvian national identity. …