Dashnor Kaloçi
Memorie.al publishes the unknown letter of Vasil Lazar, one of the first communists of the city of Shkodra, former classmate of Qemal Stafa, Vojo Kushi, Emin Duraku, Reshit Rusit, Nazmi Rushiti, etc., during the period they were studying in the classical gymnasium of that city, which sends it to Professor Skënder Luarasi, his teacher of that school, on the occasion of his 60th birthday, in 1960. Vasil Lazar’s full letter to the famous professor, who after recalling some of classmates who were no longer with each other, having been killed during the Anti-Fascist War and declared ‘Homeland Martyrs’ or ‘People’s Heroes’, he reminds his former teacher of different moments in his life and impressions many from that time, when they were his students in the benches of that school and he encouraged them to embrace communist ideas and take part in the Anti-Fascist War, and finally thanking him for everything he did for them!
“Your example strengthened my convictions in the justice of the case, filled our hearts with a great love and respect for you and showed us the path to follow. Like in those days we did not allow Radio without rehearsals, to take Barcelona and Madrid, to listen to the occupation of our beloved Professor. And the fate of Spain at that time was closely connected with the fate of our dear Professor. We wanted to know as much as we could about Spain, but also about our Professor. I mentioned only two episodes from your 60-year life, two very short periods of your very rich life devoted entirely to the Homeland of the People, the education of the new generation. But like these you have many others with the “color” of your past life and the liberation of the country. Suffice it to say that You, with your diligence and mastery of expression, which springs from the soul naturally, like volcanic lava, made us all, your students, not only to love literature but also to deal with it, who more and who less. We became, as it were, all “literary”, not the entire caliber of affirmative writers “, but at least dilettantes. I know, dear and very honored Professor, that you do not like praises and honors, even when you deserve them one hundred percent. “But at least this time you will forgive us for reminding you on the occasion of your 60th birthday.”
This is stated, among other things, in the letter that Vasil Lazar from the city of Shkodra, sent to his former teacher, Prof. Skënder Luarasi, in 1960, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of his birth. At first glance this letter has nothing special, but its special is the human side and the gratitude of a student for his former teacher and for this reason we were pushed to publish it in full on Memorie.al.
Vasil Lazar’s letter to his former teacher, Prof. Luarasi
Dear Professor
From yesterday’s press I learned about the celebration of your 60th anniversary, about the meeting organized in your honor and the decoration that was given to you by the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, the ‘Order of the Flag’, one of the most important decorations of our state.
Although it is a bit “boring” to wish someone for “seasons that have passed”, for “the age that goes from old age”, to “springs that do not return”, but when these “seasons, years and springs” have passed in the service of a High Ideal, for the good of the People, Homeland and humanity, as you have passed, dear Professor, dear teacher and educator of a generation of Heroes and Immortal Warriors, like Qemal Stafa, Vojo Kushi, Emin Duraku, Nazmi Rushiti and hundreds of hundreds of other friends who today are the leaders of the Party and the Government, then you do not feel sorry for your age, you do not feel sorry for the past life, you do not feel sorry for the springs that do not return!
“I am not mentioning the other merits and services you have brought to the Homeland of the People, but your contribution as a teacher, educator and militant of the great patriotic ideals is enough during the time you were a teacher in the Gymnasium of Shkodra, educator of Qemali, Vojo, Emin , Reshit and many other comrades who did not even spare their lives for the Homeland and Socialism or who today lead and work selflessly for the establishment of socialism in our country, with honesty, conscience, selflessness and courage as you taught, on the school benches and outside, we honored and loved our teacher.
You in the time of darkness and violence, oppression and medieval fanaticism of the bloody regime of Zogoll with your example, with your fiery word like the flame of truth that burns and burns, encourage a large number of students of our Gymnasium to embrace new communist ideas. You taught us to love the Homeland in a new way, completely different from what others taught, just as our beloved Party teaches us today. You taught us to love and respect the People to the utmost sacrifice for them – I am completely different from what others say and exactly as the Party teaches us today. You fill us with courage, to tell the truth in every case and everywhere, as the Party educates us today.
You took Qemal Stafa out in front of the class to read his draft
You opened to us the doors of the invaluable treasures of world literature; You introduced us to Schiller, Shakespeare, Gorky, Goethe and the great colossi of the pen, and recited to us with your undeserved duff some of their writings. You encouraged, instructed, influenced and gave us the opportunity to read in class the draft of the announcement “The old is collapsing, a new life is being born from the ruins”, unforgettable to your students Qemali and his friends
When you do these things, you do not take into account the persecutions, the position, the sufferings and other consequences that could come from these very courageous actions from all sides: from the backward and terrorist regime of Zogoll, from the medieval darkness of the Catholic clergy, from the backward environment of cliques in power, from the Anatolian fanaticism that in Shkodra or this had very deep roots.
Your lessons, contacts with you outside of school and your stay for all the time you were our teacher have been for us a source of inspiration, great acts of education, joy and pleasure. Not only today, many years have passed since then, but even then these left deep impressions on our souls, when our consciences were just being formed, at the age of our first youth.
We are very honored our Professor, both I and all my friends, we are proud and very lucky that we had you educators at that age, because who knows, maybe change would be at the top of our spiritual formation, our character, our world-meaning.
Therefore I thank You and I am grateful to the end for what you have done for us all. So you did not stop for half on your educational, patriotic, deeply human paths. You did not suffice with sermons, words and encouragement, but most importantly, you gave the first living example, linking words in complete harmony with deeds.
We heard you from Radio Madrid
You, an ardent protagonist of human, patriotic, anti-fascist and anti-imperialist ideas, you worshiper of good, beauty and progressive cloud, the first flag bearer and active fighter of these great ideals of humanity, go and fight in heroic Spain, where the great values of humanity were defended, where honor and progress were defended, where the life and independence of our beloved homeland was also defended. Your example was worth more than ours.
Your example strengthened my convictions in the justice of the case, filled our hearts with a great love and respect for You, and showed us the way to follow. Like in those days we did not allow Radio without rehearsals, to take Barcelona and Madrid, to listen to the occupation of our beloved Professor. And the fate of Spain at that time was closely connected with the fate of our dear Professor. We wanted to know as much as we could about Spain, but also about our Professor.
I mentioned only two episodes from your 60-year life, two very short periods of your very rich life devoted entirely to the Homeland of the People, the education of the new generation. But like these you have many others with the “color” of your past life and the liberation of the country. Suffice it to say that You, with your diligence and mastery of expression, that
It springs from your soul naturally, like volcanic lava, you made us all, your students, not only to love literature but also to deal with it, who more and who less. We became, as it were, all “literary”, not all of the caliber of affirmative writers “, but at least dilettantes. I know, dear and very honored Professor, that you do not like praises and honors, even when you deserve them one hundred percent.
But, at least this time you will forgive us for reminding you of the truths I have always told you on the occasion of your 60th birthday, but I have no chance to talk to you. I started with age work and am finishing with it. Dear Professor, you have taught us that a person can live another hundred years, but when he does not work properly, these years are wasted while others live half of it, but they have a life full of noble deeds, they have a life rich, to live properly for the Homeland and the People.
You can be proud and happy that your work was crowned with success, the day you work for, the dreams and thoughts not only came and made us more beautiful than you could have imagined, but also faster than you expected, 15 years ago.
We were educated the way you wanted
And the generation that educates you grew the way you wanted. You are happy because, despite your age and suffering, a new spring has broken in your soul, it is the spring for which you worked and gave life to Qemali with friends, your students. Moreover, you are living in a society where your work and life are not only known and recognized but also valued and honored. I believe, I am convinced, moreover, that it is the greatest satisfaction in your life.
You have deserved and fully deserve this legitimate satisfaction. And as for age, I do not tell you that it pleases you, but you do not even look at all that you are years old. I only learned from the newspaper that otherwise you would not even remember, although I also saw my beloved Professor, I was over forty.
But you always look at me, dear Professor, the one you have always been, young in heart and soul, energetic, full of enthusiasm and youthful vigor, ready for any sacrifice and work for the good of the homeland, the people and socialism. I wish you to reach the 100th anniversary with the same quality and always see well in your family, in your children, in your people that you love just as much, in society and in all people of good will.
I embrace you with respect and love.
Your former disciple who never forgets you and will always be grateful to you. Memorie.al
Vasil Llazari
