Organized by AAB College in cooperation with the Albanian Institute of Sociology, the Publishing House “Gjergj Fishta” and the Publishing House “Drita”, the Scientific Promotional Forum “Gjergj Fishta – life and writing” was held at AAB College.
This forum, among other activities was organized to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of the national poet Gjergj Fishta, and aimed to present the polyhedral figure, contribution and multidimensional work of Gjergj Fishta, the presentation of the complete work with 10 volumes, as well as the promotion of the last two publications of the fishtologji fund.
At the opening of the forum, the Chairman of the Steering Council of AAB College, Lulzim Tafa, said that AAB not only as one of the largest universities in the region but also as one of the main cultural centers has considered it very important to mark this anniversary, although limited due to pandemic conditions.
Tafa said that Gjergj Fishta is one of the most emblematic figures of the Albanian nation. “In the creative field, Gjergj Fishta was undoubtedly a great writer. His work became the inspiration for our battle and struggle for existence and freedom. In the field of action, Fishta was a great national activist, participant in many events that gave life to the processes of emancipation and national development. ” He also emphasized the role of Fishta as a humanist and cleric, stressing that Fishta was a patriotic cleric and that religion was never divided from the homeland and the nation.
“Gjergj Fishta was a great patriot and above all he was one of the greatest inspiring Albanians. His verses inspired whole generations on the path to gaining freedom and independence. Fishta’s ‘’Lahuta’’ became a reference of the ideals for the fair struggle for the integrity and sovereignty of the Albanians…”, said Tafa. “However, said Tafa, Fishta and his work did not always have a path paved with flowers, because he was condemned by the regime of monist Albania. Two dictatorships came together against him: the dictatorship of Albania and Yugoslavia.
“He was convicted and his writing was banned,” Tafa said.
While, the director of the Albanian Institute of Sociology, at the same time professor at the University “Aleksandër Moisiu” in Durrës, spoke about the role of Fishta as a representative of social sciences and humanities.
He began his speech by describing the 1985 Albanian Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Gjergj Fishta, according to whom Fishta was, among other things, “the leading representative of the Clerical reactionary literature who took an active part in cultural and political life to strengthen the positions of the Catholic clergy. . He fought furiously against progressive ideas, hailed the occupation of Albania by fascist Italy and “Lahuta e Malcisë” is a poetic panorama of historical events from the Albanian League of Prizren to independence reflected by the positions of the Catholic clergy. Gjergj Fishta anthemized backwardness, patriarchy, ignorance. Raised mercenarism, etc. “
Sokoli said that this description of Fishta was intended to transfer the regime crime to science, in order to deny his role. “Fishta was the most cursed of the convicts,” said Sokoli, “because he was required to be considered non-existent.”
Even today there are rumors that take the assessment of Fishta even further than the position of the Dictionary of the Albanian Academy of Sciences of 1985, saying that Fishta was a collaborator of fascism, said Sokoli, underlining that this was the reason why the Albanian Institute of Sociology has declared 2021 as the year of Gjergj Fishta, as a moral and intellectual obligation.
Returning to the role and contribution of Gjergj Fishta, Sokoli said that Fishta is a universal intellectual, a prophetic personality of Albanian culture, writer, even as foreigners have called him the founder of an Albanian philosophical school. His creativity regardless of form is burdened by a philosophical weight. But his philosophy is a social philosophy, he observed the events of his time, reflected them in his creativity, but also reacted by holding an intellectual attitude. He was a man of action not just of creation, Sokoli emphasized.
The scientific promotional forum marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of Gjergj Fishta, continued with references of other participants, such as Prof. Dr. Xhavit Beqiri, who spoke about the language and style of Gjergj Fishta in his writing.
This activity also promoted the set of works of Gjergj Fishta, by the Publishing House “Gjergj Fishta” and two new titles “Father Gjergj Fishta: places-years-works”, by Besa Hoxha Beqiri and “Gjergj Fishta Theater” of authors Tonin Çobani and Ndue Ballabani.
