Memorie.al/The secret report of the former director of the Institute of Language and History, professor Androkli Kostallari, is published, addressed to the Central Committee of the ALP, regarding the visit made in Albania by the professor of the University of Prishtina, Rexhep Qosja
According to the document, which is published for the first time and in full, the well-known academic from Prishtina, who at that time was defending his dissertation with a scientific work on the figure of Asdren, stated to his Albanian colleague, Androkli Kostallari, that he “studied Marxism- Leninism and there was no other worldview than the Marxist-Leninist one ”, that“ only socialism would bring Albania out of the great backwardness ”,“ transformation and creation of the new man, meaningful works ”,“ very significant that Albania is the first country in the world without church and mosque ”etc.…
The occasional approaches to the political circles of the Albanian left, do not seem to have been conjunctural or instantaneous actions, but premeditated and with full conviction of his ideals formed since the time of early youth. This impression should be created immediately while reading the secret report with much indoctrinated statements, even typical of a fanatical communist, those made by academician Rexhep Qosja, during his several-week visit to Albania in 1970, when he came to collect materials and archival documents for his dissertation on the figure of Asdren. Statements of prof. Rexhep Qosjes, which are found in the report he made to the Central Committee of the ALP, his colleague from Tirana, Androkli Kostallari, look very surprising and almost unbelievable. We say so, because Tito’s Yugoslavia of that time, that is, the period when Rexhep Qosja was formed as an intellectual, only had the name communist. Without prejudice at all the worldview and formation of prof. Qosjes, against his political convictions, the first thing that can be discussed is the veracity of the report. So, has prof. really stated those things? Qosja, or were they added or adjusted by the author of the report, who was also the man who accompanied him during his stay of several weeks in Albania? Given the time when that report was drafted, the strict rules that worked in such cases, and the consequences that could fall on the person who could fabricate or distort the statements and statements of the accompanying person, the version that those statements automatically fall are manipulated. Another version that can be thrown for discussion is that, those statements were made by prof. Qosja, as a tribute paid by him, to benefit from facilities in his work during his stay in Albania. But even this is a little unbelievable, if we take into account the visits of many other colleagues of prof. Qosjes in that period in Albania (Idriz Ajeti, Hajrulla Gorani, etc.), where none of them made such statements, the idea with those banners and posters that the communist regime had and that were found everywhere in our country. If we consider the report drafted for the famous actor from Kosovo, Bekim Fehmiu, during his visit to Albania, he does not find such statements anywhere… But still, political convictions are the right of every human being and no one can be imposed on anyone itur Attached to the report of prof. Kostallari, in the relevant file located in the Central State Archive (Fund 14. Central Committee of the ALP, structure), there is also a study by prof. Rexhep Qosjes, on Literature in Kosovo and the hierarchy of values of Kosovar creators. Another very interesting thing that can be noticed in the file where the report in question is, are some poems in manuscript authored by Jakup Çeraja and Agim Vinca, two well-known intellectuals and creators of Albanian lands in the former Yugoslavia. They entrusted their creations to Qosja, to bring them to Tirana and to publish them in a newspaper, a message which was carried out after Vinca’s poetry was published. We said a little above “interesting”, as Agim Vinca at that time was inspired by the “heroic act” of 14-year-old Shkurte Pal Vata from Dukagjini, who lost her life accidentally while working as a volunteer in the construction of the Rrogozhina-Fier railway. And so, he wrote a poem (or rather a poem), about the deceased girl who was awarded the title “Heroine of Socialist Labor”. To be more precise in our judgment, we say that today these poems seem “out of fashion”, but at the time they were written they were more than normal and “fashionable”, and such creations are found in almost most of our poets . But the “interesting” thing we said a little above, is the indoctrination of Albanian poets beyond political boundaries, as in the case of Vinca in question. However, these things and the above case must be seen and judged for the time when they were written and the circumstances in which the author happened. The report in question of prof. We are publishing Androkli Kostallari in full and without any changes or abbreviations, together with the relevant facsimiles.
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Reports of Prof. Dr. Kostallarit for the Central Committee
(Handwritten note on the report)
Comrade Behar, according to your request, I am sending you two summarized reports on some opinions expressed by the researcher Rexhep Qosja and on the current state of Albanian Literature in Kosovo.
Sincerely, A. Kostallari
REPORT ON THE WORK DONE DURING THE STAY IN OUR COUNTRY BY THE SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATE OF THE INSTITUTE OF PRISHTINA, REXHEP QOSJA
From January 6 to 28, 1970, Rexhep Qosja, a researcher at the Albanological Institute of Prishtina, stayed in Albania invited by SUT. Rexhep Qosja, although a relatively young employee at that Institute and has not worked for many years in the field of literary criticism and history, enjoys a good name in the circles of critics and scholars there. In addition to his work at the Institute, not long ago he was assigned to give lectures at the Faculty of Philology of the University of Prishtina for some of the most prominent writers of the Literature of our National Renaissance and the period 1912-1919.
It seems that Rexhep Qosja is a talented critic and a diligent employee in the field of literary history studies. He has a wide literary horizon and promises for serious work in the field of Albanian literature studies. Being a very effective and productive work and who has constantly collaborated in the literary press of Kosovo, as in “Jeta e Re”, “Rilindja” etc., he was able to publish two collections of essays and studies in a very short time for authors of Albanian literature of the past, of today’s literature as well as of some writers of literature that takes place today in Kosovo.
He seems to have a modest attitude towards his production so far, calling everything he has published so far ‘the work of his creative youth’. He admits that in his studies there is a lot of naivety and thoughts that can be overthrown, but notes that his intentions have always been only for the good, to highlight the literary traditions of our past and to affirm the creative artistic force of the Albanian people nowadays.
In his studies and in the meetings he had with various friends, he reaffirmed that; “There is no worldview other than the Marxist-Leninist one”, that he tries to study the Marxist-Leninist methodology, no matter how much he has achieved this. But it must be said that in the works of Rexhep Qosja there is a certain eclecticism that comes, apparently, due to the circumstances of his formation, in part, and due to his still young age.
During his three-week stay in our country, Rexhep Qosja worked to collect material on the topic of the dissertation “Life and work of Asdren”, with which he will defend his doctorate within the next two years.
Working intensively before and in the afternoon, he was able to study the entire Asdren fund rich in the State Archives, consult with magazines and newspapers of the time that are in the National Library and provide material on the topic in question, as well as use documents of the Vienna archive located at the Institute of History and Linguistics that have data on the political and social activity of Asdren.
The work of collecting the material was quite fruitful and he left satisfied that he had fully achieved his goal, collecting much more data than he thought. To carry out this work, Rexhep Qosja was given all possible assistance by the Institute of History and Linguistics and other institutions where he worked.
During his stay in Albania, despite the limited time, due to the rich material that came before him, Rexhep Qosja visited the cities of Vlora, Fier, Durres, Kruja and Shkodra. A number of industrial centers and socio-cultural institutions of these cities, Apollonia, Petrela castle, the exhibition “25 years of Socialist Albania”, the national exhibition of Figurative Arts, the Art Gallery, the Museum of the National Liberation War, the Ethnographic and Archaeological Museum, assisted in the performances of the National Theater, Opera and Ballet Theater, as well as the Ensemble of Folk Songs and Dances; had a meeting with the Director of the Institute of History and Linguistics, Androkli Kostallari, with the President of the League of Writers and Artists of Albania, Dhimitër Shuteriqi, with the head of the History of Albanian Literature at the Institute of History and Linguistics, Koço Bihiku, with the head of the editorial office of Albanian Literature at the Publishing House “Naim Frashëri”, comrade Dhimitër Fullani, with the director of the National Library, his wife Marika Vogli, and with the Director of the Scientific Library of SUT, Mihal Hanxhari. During these meetings he spoke on a range of issues; we are summarizing them below.
During various visits and in conversations he spoke enthusiastically about the successes of the socialist construction of Albania. He said: “His heart becomes a mountain” when he looks at the rapid development of Albania in these 25 years to convince that “history can be shortened”. “The main thing,” he said, “is that you do all this relying on your own strength.” He said he was convinced that only socialism could save the Albanian people from the miserable and backward situation in which they found themselves in the past. This condition, as he said, he knew only through readings, but also from the memories of his father, who for 12 years lived in Shkodra, before the First World War, and left there dead from misery, disease and hunger. , all his relatives.
- Rexhep Qosja said that, in addition to great progress in the economic and cultural field, he was particularly impressed by the fact that Albania has changed and the human physiognomy, a new man has been formed with new features. In particular, the movement for the eradication of religious beliefs and the complete liberation of women, as he valued events of great importance. “It is very significant,” he said, “that Albania is the first country in the world without churches and mosques”. “Religion,” he said, “disturbs and distorts the conscience of the people, and unfortunately in Kosovo, it still has a strong influence.” “There are Madrasas there and there are people who, instead of sacrificing their savings to build a school, use them to go to the Kaba.”
- Rexhep Qosja, greets with special respect the successes that have been achieved in the field of education, culture, health, and especially of Albano logical sciences. He said that he was proud that the center of Albano logical studies is now Tirana, that he feels this legitimate pride in a special way when a group of Albanian scientists participated in the symposium on Skanderbeg, and showed the level of Albanian science. “Here, he said, a colossal job has been done, you have strong scientific teams with scientists of European rank. We there call our work only supplementary work of the work that is done here, it is very important that you have put the scientific work on a scientific basis “.
Speaking about the efforts made today by real Albanian intellectuals in Kosovo, Rexhep Qosja said that they are often accused of traditionalism, nationalism, etc. But he was convinced that the local interest in tradition is necessary and legitimate, it is an attempt to affirm the national being, – as he said. “There are people,” he said, “who say that Albanian literature starts late, after 1945. By denying tradition, we wanted to be excluded, so if others work 8 hours, we have to work 16 hours, to discover our tradition and to affirm the creative force of our people”.
Publication of a series of great works of our work today in Kosovo, such as “Before dawn”, “Dead River”, the works of Sterjo Spases, Ali Abdihoxha (the latter are being prepared for print), Rexhep Qosja i explained, among other things, the fact that the literature that develops today in Kosovo, delivers mainly poetry, it does not have a representative prose today, therefore the publication of these works is of great importance to prove to others the level of the development of the artistic literature of our people, when it is known that great prose is, after all, a sign of the maturity of a certain literature. With this he explained the fact that some of today’s Albanian novels there are also translated into Serbo-Croatian.
Rexhep Qosja said that, although it has been published a lot in Kosovo for 20 years, only in recent years is Albanian literature flooding. It now occupies the overwhelming place, 50% of publications.
- “Of course, all the work done there,” he said, “has its difficulties.”Now there is a struggle ‘to improve the structure’, which means improving the relationship between the Albanian and non-Albanian element in the management of affairs.” In his opinion, this report today still leaves much to be desired, there is a lack of staff in various sectors. With this, he explained his haste to get a doctorate within two years, as a task assigned to him, because the establishment of the University now finally requires the training and doctorate of Albanian intellectuals. “Besides,” he said, “55% of the University students are Albanian.” And not only will they have to listen to lectures in Albanian, but they will also have to be given literature in Albanian, because it is not easy for them to use literature in Serbian. In this regard, there is resistance from the students themselves, who cannot understand the literature in the old language.
- Rexhep Qosja said that, in his opinion, it would be quite normal and useful to increase cultural contacts with Albania, for groups of Albanian scholars and scientists, artistic groups, theater groups, etc. to come to Pristina. “Professors from France and West Germany come to us to give lectures, – and they must first come from SUT.”
Regarding his dissertation topic, Rexhep Qosja said that it would be better to be led by local scholars, because there, for lack of specialists, he is forced to lead a linguist. In the meeting with the Director of the National Library and the Director of the Scientific Library of SUT, he expressed the request to send to our library, the Library of the Albano logical Institute of Prishtina, all the publications here, promising that that library will send in exchange all its publications. He also orders a list of books and periodicals, which he donates from the libraries in question, mainly from the SUT Library, which did everything possible to meet his request.
- Rexhep Qosja announced that in March or later, the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Faculty of Philosophy in Prishtina and the inauguration of the University of Prishtina will be celebrated. He said that in this celebration, he loves to participate sent by SUT, especially from the Albano logical sciences. “This thing,” he added, “has been discussed among some friends, it has been discussed that it would be better to send invitations first, or to the universities there, but I do not know them further and I am not authorized to talk about it.”
Rexhep Qosja left our country with very good impressions of the reception and help given to him to create and work for what had come. He said that he did not work here for three weeks, but several times more, because he had the unstinting help of some friends who speeded up and made his work easier. “Here,” he said, “not only did I feel at home, but I also felt privileged by the facilities that were created for me to gather material on the topic, I was in better condition than in Prishtina”.
Leaving, he expressed his gratitude for the fraternal reception, for the unstinting help for the opportunity he was given to do his best to collect material for the topic of the dissertation./Memorie.al
