A prominent historian and chronicler, student of multiple aspects of our cultural, artistic and gastronomic identity, our biography today is one of the richest intellectual reserves of the 20th century. His writings are reference material in various sociological, cultural and journalistic schools due to its versification and wide range of influence. His death, which occurred in 2003, was the subject of heartfelt columns from various figures in the educational and cultural field. His name is synonymous with academic rigor and love for Peru, attributes that have been understood by various educational institutions in Lima (Chosica), Huancayo and Cajamarca, who have taken it as their identity. But, as is often the case, his background and importance is unfairly ignored by large sectors of our society. For this reason, in this new chapter of our series of biographies, we ask ourselves:and who was Juan José Vega Bello ?
If, out of national gratitude, the title Master of Peruanidad was awarded , this highest distinction would also correspond, in all fairness, to Juan José Vega , who personified the living soul of our nation and its history, its future and its desires and ideals, both in his passionate teaching work and in his prolific scientific research, perpetuated in his books and newspaper articles, but above all in his students and those who they met him, all of them repositories of his admirable wisdom and simplicity, of his generous friendship and always welcoming company, of his exemplary humanism.
Juan José Vega Bello He was born in Lima on September 13, 1932, and also died in Lima on March 8, 2003. He was one of our most notable historians, a renowned university professor and a relevant journalist.
From a very young age he entered university teaching, which he did as his favorite activity. In the vast field of historical research, he was the main promoter of the scientific review of the foundations of the History of Peru, which was expressed in a novel interpretation of our past.
His masterful historiographical project focused basically on the end of the Inca Empire and its conquest-invasion by the Spaniards, although he also fully studied the Great Liberating Revolution of Túpac Amaru II and Micaela Bastidas Puyucawa, to which he devoted his monumental work in 2 volumes:Túpac Amaru and his companions, a shocking collection of thirty-five biographies of the main protagonists of the historic popular rebellion of 1780-81, in which along with that of José Gabriel is that of his immortal companion Micaela Bastidas.
he also innovated in the historical exposition, arguing that it should be given in a simple and pleasant style, within the reach of everyone's understanding. Likewise, he was one of the historians who traveled the most in Peru, and the only one of urban origin who deepened his knowledge of classical Inca Quechua. He was married to Carmela Miranda.
In journalism he was, from 1959, a contributor to the newspaper El Comercio, editor of its Sunday Supplement, and then editor of political issues (1961). Likewise, he was a contributor to the weekly 7 Días, edited by the newspaper La Prensa, from Lima.
As a teacher, he taught the History of Law course in San Marcos, replacing his teacher, the distinguished historian Jorge Basadre. Likewise, he served as Director of the II Region of Education (1963-1964) and the Directorate of Coordination of Universities and Municipalities (1965-1966), in the Ministry of Education.
He was also Rector of the Enrique Guzmán y Valle-La Cantuta National University of Education (1967-1972), in which he edited the magazine Cantuta and a series of consecrated publications to divulge historical, literary and cultural subjects. It is worth remembering that Cantar de Túpac Amaru, a remarkable collection of poems by Manuel Scorza, was released in number 2 of Cantuta (1969). He was also a professor at the Escuela Superior de Guerra and at the Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal.
A member of the Acción Popular party, he was elected Deputy in the general elections of 1962, which were annulled by the military coup. Likewise, he was elected Mayor of Miraflores, in 1967, a position he resigned from. In 1969 he edited the Peruvian Journal of Law History, which had only one issue. And during the second phase of the military dictatorship of the 1970s, he directed the newspapers Expreso and Extra (1976-1977), and El Comercio (1978-1979).
He also gave lectures in various countries around the world. In France and Spain he also taught. He was president of the X International Congress of Andean Man and Culture, in 1994. In recognition of his teaching work, the Ministry of Education awarded him the Palmas Magisteriales in the degree of Commander .
Since the beginning of the 80's he collaborated in the newspaper La República, from Lima, with articles on historical and general culture topics, written with his unique style:entertaining, colloquial and abundantly informative. His comments and his reflections on the social and cultural panorama were also received by radio and television media.
It also highlights his contribution to the General History of the Army with his study The Army during the Spanish domination in Peru (volume III, 1981) and, in collaboration with Atilio Sivirichi Tapia, Continuation of the Tupac Amaru struggle (1781-1783) (volume IV, volume I, 1984).
He has more than 30 books, and his journalistic articles exceed 2,000.
Between our institution and the great historian and teacher there was a close relationship marked by fraternal friendship and mutual collaboration. From it we evoke three memorable events:
In 1998, Derrama Magisterial published his outstanding work Guaman Poma, el Precursor, one of the most comprehensive, attractive and educational studies on the greatest chronicler in our history.
On October 4, 2002, within the framework of World Teachers' Day (October 5), Juan José Vega Bello he was decorated by Spill Magisterial with the first José Antonio Encinas Medal of Honor , maximum institutional distinction granted, in life, to those who with their professional practice and social humanism mark milestones in the future of our national education and culture.
And since, in addition to all the above, Juan José Vega was one of the first intellectuals who thought, wrote and spoke about the fascinating universe of Peruvian food and pastries, which noted that they are also a support for memory and resistance, for strength to build a new Republic, our José Antonio Encinas Cultural Center organized the Juan José Vega Round Table – Peruvian cuisine and our national identity, on Thursday, October 21, 2010, in which, with our Auditorium filled with Peruvians and Peruvians, included the historian Lorenzo Huertas Vallejo (a great friend of Juan José), the anthropologist Humberto Rodríguez Pastor, the chef of El Señorío de Sulco, Isabel Álvarez, and the teacher of the IEE Rosa de Santa María, María del Pilar Cabello Pérez.