Knygnešystės fenomenas Pasvalio krašte
ENDuring the years of ihe press ban. not a few book-carriers were active in Pasvalys region, among them was "the King of the Book- Carriers" Jurgis Bieliakas - Bielinis from Biržai. In Pasvalys he had good supporters and helpers. The owner of Šembeliai farmstead, located behind ihe present town park, Petras Šembelis. who was encouraged by J. Bielinis to transport the banned press, crossed the Russian-German border of that time for 34 times. J. Bielinis often stayed at the former farmstead of Jonas Avižonis in Svalia street and at the farmstead of Kazys Gumbelevičius in Vaškai street in Pasvalys. There were arranged shelters for the illegal press, which have survived and are preserved now. Book-carriers Juozas Steponavičius and Steponas Povilionis must be mentioned as well. In total, together with supporters and helpers, there were about 20 spreaders of the banned press in Pasvalys region. The famous engineer Petras Vileišis, born in Mediniai village (Pasvalys region), supported the Lithuanian press by his writings and encouraged other intellectuals to do the same. The famous ophthalmologist from Pasvalys Petras Avižonis studied at Mintauja Gimnasium in his youth and contributed greatly to the spreading of the Lithuanian press. The writer Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė didn't consider herself a book-carrier, but she supported heartily the spreading of the Lithuanian press.
