Few Mexican heroes are more linked to the intellect and creative and consistent thinking of the Mexican Revolution than their precursors, the Serdán brothers, inhabitants of the city of Puebla de los Ángeles.
Starting in 1873, the year of Carmen Serdán’s birth, a lineage of extraordinarily patriotic Mexican men and women would emerge in the city of Puebla, since they gave us the certainty of an intellectual nation that would guide the best Mexicans and blow it up 40 years later.
With the Serdán brothers, we Mexicans acquired the belief and we could say even the faith in the advent of social change and the entry of modernity through their patriotism. The award that you give me here, in the city of Puebla, refers me to patriots of the stature of an absolutely exceptional family such as, to the honor of the history of Mexico, Natalia, Carmen, Aquiles and Máximo Serdán Alatriste.
The Serdán brothers have been an example of other intellectuals and patriots who occupy a prominent place in our history. I remember that Guillermo Haro, with whom I had the privilege of living and having three children, felt true devotion for the Serdán family, and his admiration infected me, since the headquarters of the National Institute of Optical and Electronic Astrophysics (INAOE) in Tonantzintla was key in our lives and that of our children, who would later have the privilege of celebrating their marriage and the baptism of their children in the extraordinary baroque church of Santa María Tonantzintla. Haro was responsible for the construction of the town’s primary school, which would also provide very good level observers, as did, for example, the University of the Americas Puebla, which attracted academics and researchers from the United States and Europe for the benefit of young people who every day exchanged their bicycle for teaching in their classrooms.
As if this were not enough, I have also received my doctorate from Puebla. for the sake of honor from their Benemérita Universidad Autónoma, in 2002, and in 2013 they placed in my hands, in addition to many other gifts, the Academic Excellence Award from the same university, Unidad Regional Tehuacán. I remember with special affection a tribute to Salvador Allende at the Palafoxiana Library, in which Mrs. Hortensia Bussi de Allende, a refugee in our country, moved her listeners.
To the director of the INAOE, Guillermo Haro Barraza, this award that you grant me would give a special feeling of gratitude and joy, because he, an astronomer, loved Tonantzintla and Puebla like his life, and Tonantzintla gave him not only the stars of its night sky, but the proximity of many future researchers and scientists who observed its sky, until the city of Puebla grew to such a degree that the lanterns ate up the astronomical night. So much illumination made Tonantzintla change its observation to the sky of San Pedro Mártir, in Baja California.
Now that our very beloved city of Puebla decides to give a lawyer who bears my name the great recognition Carmen Serdán, intellectual emissary with her brothers of the Mexican Revolution, I humbly reiterate the devotion that my children and I have for science and culture of Puebla, as well as the one we feel for the baroque sky of Santa María Tonantzintla and the memory of one of its great researchers: Guillermo Haro.
Living in Tonantzintla with our three children, Emmanuel –also a scientist, who studied at the Benemérita University of Puebla–, Felipe and Paula, was a gift from the blue stars that Guillermo himself discovered in this sky.
Today, November 20, 2024, it is exciting to remember the 114th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution and to find ourselves this morning in Puebla de los Ángeles, in whose main square and under whose lanterns the friends of Guillermo Haro walked on so many Fridays and Saturdays, as well as They opened the door to the wonderful chapel of Santa María Tonantzintla, whose angels have known how to cover the heads of men and women loyal to human knowledge with their wings.
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#Carmen #Serdán #Medal #Elena #Poniatowska
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**Dr. Poniatowska, you mentioned your personal connection to Puebla. Could you share a specific memory or experience that exemplifies the city’s intellectual spirit and connection to the Serdán legacy, perhaps an encounter with a person, a place, or an event? How did this experience shape your understanding of their impact?**
## Interview: The Legacy of the Serdán Brothers and Puebla’s Intellectual Heritage
**Guests:**
* **Dr. Elena Poniatowska:** Acclaimed Mexican writer, journalist, and recipient of the Carmen Serdán medal.
* **Historian specializing in the Mexican Revolution:** To provide historical context and insights into the Serdán brothers’ contributions (Name to be confirmed).
**Introduction:**
Welcome, viewers. Today, we delve into the fascinating history of the Serdán brothers, unsung heroes of the Mexican Revolution, and their enduring connection to the city of Puebla. Joining us are two esteemed guests: Dr. Elena Poniatowska, a renowned Mexican writer and recipient of the Carmen Serdán medal, and [Name of Historian], a leading expert on the Mexican Revolution. Dr. Poniatowska, your connection to Puebla and the Serdán family is profound.
**Section 1: The Serdán Legacy**
* **Question for Dr. Poniatowska:**
You’ve spoken about the Serdán brothers inspiring belief in social change and modernity. Could you elaborate on how their intellectualism and patriotism influenced the course of the Mexican Revolution? What specific actions or ideas made them stand out as precursors to the movement?
* **Question for Historian:**
How did the Serdán brothers’ ideas resonate with the broader population of Mexico? Was their vision for social change widely embraced at the time, or did it encounter resistance?
**Section 2: Puebla as a Crucible of Intellectualism**
* **Question for Dr. Poniatowska:**
Puebla appears to have been a major hub of intellectual thought during this period. Could you share your memories and observations about the city’s cultural and intellectual climate? What factors contributed to Puebla’s reputation as a center of enlightenment?
* **Question for Historian:**
Were there other prominent intellectuals and activists in Puebla besides the Serdán brothers who contributed to the revolutionary movement? How did these individuals interact and collaborate with the Serdán family?
**Section 3: The Role of Science and Culture**
* **Question for Dr. Poniatowska:**
You mention Guillermo Haro Barraza, fomer director of the National Institute of Optical and Electronic Astrophysics (INAOE), in relation to Puebla and the Serdán brothers. How did Haro’s scientific work intersect with Puebla’s cultural heritage, and what was the significance of his connection to the city?
* **Question for Historian:**
How did the confluence of scientific pursuits at INAOE with cultural and intellectual movements in Puebla contribute to the city’s identity and development?
**Section 4: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future**
* **Question for Dr. Poniatowska:**
Receiving the Carmen Serdán medal is a significant honor. What does this award symbolize for you personally, and what message do you hope it conveys to future generations about the importance of intellectualism, activism, and social responsibility?
* **Question for Historian:**
What lessons can we learn from the Serdán brothers’ legacy today? How can their story inspire us to confront contemporary social challenges and work towards a more just and equitable society?
* **Closing:**
Thank you both for sharing your invaluable insights into this important chapter in Mexican history. The story of the Serdán brothers and Puebla’s intellectual heritage serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative potential of ideas and the courage to fight for a better future.
