Happy Power Engineer»s Day! Or romantic story

Power Engineer»s Day is traditionally celebrated on the third Sunday in December in Kazakhstan. This time the holiday is a special! Anyone who has at least one light at home should know that in 2020 the State Commission on Electrification of Russia (SCER) program will be exactly 100 years old.

State plan on electrification of Russia, this is how the abovementioned abbreviation stands, was adopted on December 22, 1920 at the VIII All-Russian Congress of Soviets. The bold and even fantastic ideas that formed the basis of the historical document made the USSR power engineering state.

It would seem that everything is clear and understandable, where does the romantic? – You ask. And we will answer in the French manner – look for a woman. Or rather, a muse. After all, not only a poet can have a muse, but also an engineer. Especially if the engineer is a romantic and a dreamer. The name of this specialist is Genrikh Graftio. And he was one of the most ardent ideologists of the electrification plan implementation.

During his life, Genrikh Graftio managed to do a lot, for example, he developed a project for the first railway in Russia with electric traction, became the author of the Petersburg tram, and participated in the design of almost all hydro-electric power plants built in the USSR. When it came to the electrification of the Country of Soviets, this brilliant engineer was appointed one of the first members of the SCER!

The muse of our hero was Antonina Graftio – his wife and faithful friend. He loved her passionately and all his life. And she answered him in return. In the harsh 1918, Antonina Graftio followed her husband when he was appointed as chief engineer of the Volkhov hydro-electric power plant construction. She was made the personal secretary of Genrikh Graftio, «WITHOUT SALARY AND FOOD RATION». Malicious tongues said that no decision was made without Antonina Graftio, and the objects were surrendered exclusively on her birthday. And it was true!

Genrikh and Antonina Graftio lived a happy life together. He died in 1949, she died in 1957. Antonina Graftio was buried next to her husband at the Bolsheokhtinsky cemetery in Saint Petersburg. On the tombstone there is an inscription, invented by her during her lifetime: «Finally, we are near...».

A beautiful story, agree! But what does the holiday have to do with it? But this is the most interesting. After all, Antonina Graftio»s birthday is December 22. Coincidence? We don't think so...