Flaka e Janarit
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Flaka e Janarit ("January Flame") is a multidimensional cultural event that starts on 11 January in Gjilan, Kosovo with symbolic opening of the flame, to keep up with various cultural activities to 31 January of each year.
In this city, it gathers thousands of artists and art lovers from all the Albanian territories, who for three consecutive weeks transform the city into a culture metropolis. The nation's martyrs are honored through values of art by this event, which began before the 10th anniversary of the assassination of the writer, the activist and the patriot Jusuf Gërvalla, along with Kadri Zeka and Bardhosh Gërvalla.[citation needed]
It was exactly the tenth anniversary without these three martyrs of freedom and from coincidence of these murders in a same date on 11 January, this event got this name Flaka e Janarit. Moreover, this month has "devoured" many devout patriots.[1]
This event started in 1991. For years it is being developed in these places, Bresalca–Përlepnica–Gjilan. "Flaka e Janarit" did not only serve as a highly qualitative cultural event to remember martyrs, it also reflected the situation in Kosovo. Founder of Manifestation were Independent Cultural Association (which operated from 1991 to 1999) and the Youth Forum of LDK, in Gjilan. Also the one who contributed a lot, one of the biggest supporters until his death, was known as Albanian writer, Beqir Musliu.[citation needed]
It was named as "Flaka e Janarit", because in this month heroically had fallen martyrs, as Skanderbeg, Jusuf Gërvalla, Isa Boletini, Kadri Zeka, Bardhosh Gërvalla, Rexhep Mala, Nuhi Berisha and other Albanians who gave their life for freedom and national unity.[2]
Until 1999, this event was held in circumstances of occupation by Serbian militants. For this reason it was considered an illegal organization for eight consecutive years.
In 1999 when the massacre of Reçak happened, shocked the democratic world, and as a sign of mourning and honor to the massacred martyrs, organizers removed over half of the program. This let us understand that, even after many hard circumstances of Kosova from invaders, "Flaka e Janarit" did not stop its journey.[3]
There were four pillars, derived from writing of Jusuf Gërvalla: Literary, performing, music, and visual arts[4]
Personalities that "Flaka e Janarit" is dedicated to
Rexhep Malaj
He was among the greats patriots in Kosovo. Was born on March 29, 1951, in Hogosht-Kamenice. After he finished eighth grade in elementary school, on May 20.1965, his family moved in Gjilan. He went to the "Zejnel Hajdini" high school in Gjilan in 1966/67. Was different from the others because he had skills for sports.[5] Was suspended from high school because he organized few demonstrations. After this, in 1969, he continued studying in "Skanderbeg" high school. In academic year of 1969/70, after he ended the second academic year in Preshevë, he re-continued the third year of middle school in "Zejnel Hajdini".[6] During the last year of his studying, he was employed as a teacher in elementary school "Liria" in Marec village. With this accomplishment he reached his goal of being a teacher.[7] One of the famous quotes is: "The days are passing like arrows, along with them and the life, on despite this memory remains never digested". Today for his patriotic actions talk many his friends who fought together to protect homeland, and we see his name in any flag of Albania.[8]
Nuhi Berisha
Nuhi Berisha was born on October 3, 1961, in Svirca of Kamenica. Grew up and was educated in a patriotic and revolucionar family. After he finished primary school, he enrolled in "Zejnel Hajdini" high school, in Gjilan, Kosovo. In high school he became friend with Rexhep Mala, with whom he fought for Kosovo's freedom and unity. After Nuhi Berisha finished high school, he went in the Law Faculty of University of Pristina, and later also in the Faculty of Sports.[9]
Kadri Zeka
He was born on April 25, 1953, in the village Poliçkë-Hogosht. Studied in Pristina. He was a journalist and a lawyer. After some years he went in Switzerland, where was active in many Albanian organizations in exile, and maintained.[citation needed]
Jusuf and Bardhosh Gërvalla
Patriotic brothers. Jusuf was born on October 1, 1945, in Dubovik, in an Intellectual family. He was very smart, and had all quality and dimensions that make an outstanding personality. Unfortunately his possibilities remain completely unspoken. Soon after the night of 17 January 1982 he and his brother were killed in Untergruppenbach near bulletproof Stuttgart from Albanians nation adversaries. The murder of Jusuf Gërvalla terminated the original creations of Albanian creations. The novel " Rrotull " is the first effort of Jusuf Gërvalla on writing a long prose but this novel is unfinished because of his death. Jusuf Gërvalla's literary creativity, his poetry and journalism had an important impact in the development of the art and of the Albanian opinions.[10]
A famous quote of Jusuf Gërvalla is:"At the forefront of this nation and to its feet, sacrifice and death for realizing its aspirations, will come to us with glory through life".[11]
