Bašić: Words can be a space of resistance, and a book a debt to the homeland

(Patria) - In Bugojno last night, as part of the "Statehood Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina" commemoration, the book "Records of Bosnia, its People and Values" by Dr. Ahmed Kico was presented.

In addition to the author, Prof. Dr. Hazim Bašić, Fuad Đidić, and Viktor Dundović also spoke about the book at the promotion.

In an interview with the Patria News Agency (NAP), Bašić says that there are books that record time, and those that give it meaning, and Kico's book "Records of Bosnia, its People and Values" belongs to the latter category.

- It is not just a collection of texts, reviews, epilogues, prefaces, and author's essays created over thirty years, but a thoughtful travelogue about Bosnia, its people, and what is most important in it: about values that endure despite everything.

Kico does not see Bosnia only as a historical space; for him, Bosnia is a spiritual category, a mirror in which man and his time are reflected. His view is analytical; he does not idealize Bosnia, but he does not deny it for a moment - Bašić points out.

In every text, our interlocutor adds, one recognizes a thought that emerges from the experience of a country that has been challenged many times, but never defeated.

- Through his texts, Kico consistently connects three concepts that form the backbone of the book: space, the Bosnian person, and values. Bosnia is not just a geographical fact, but a space of memory.

In that space, the author recognizes people who, with their knowledge, faith, and work, maintained the continuity of Bosnian spirituality, from Ahmed-ef. Burek, Muhamed Mašić to Kasim Prohić and Husejin Čepalo, the tireless chronicler of the Skopaljska Valley.

Through their works, Kico shows that Bosnian tradition is not a static image of the past, but a living network of meanings that connects centuries. He reminds us that what we call 'heritage' is not a museum exhibit, but a way of thinking, speaking, and living.

At a time when borders and divisions are increasingly insisted upon, this book restores faith in the inner, intellectual, and cultural strength of Bosnia - Bašić assesses.


From the promotion in Bugojno (Photo: Bug.ba)

According to him, the author sees Bosnia as an ethical whole where history and conscience collide. In his writing, stećci are not just stones, inns are not just buildings, and vakufs are not just legal institutions.

- All of these are symbols of Bosnian civilization, which was created at the confluence of different traditions, but above all, internally shaped by a common sense of measure and justice - states Bašić.

The part of the book dedicated to anti-fascism and the moral values of resistance is particularly powerful, he adds.

- Kico clearly shows that the idea of justice and freedom has always existed at the foundation of Bosnian history, regardless of how difficult the eras were. In this, we recognize not only a historian but also a humanist who believes that Bosnia cannot be understood outside the concept of dignity.

His texts lack ideological passion, but they possess deep conviction. His book shows that one can speak about Bosnia calmly, yet decisively, with respect for facts and love for the country being written about.

Therefore, "Records of Bosnia, its People and Values" are not just historiographical contributions, but Bosnia's intellectual horizon. The author manages to combine tradition and modernity, not aiming to impress, but to deepen understanding - Bašić notes.

In the book, Bosnia is not an object of analysis but a subject, Bašić emphasizes, adding that it speaks through its people, its cities, its words.

- The author does not write from a distance, but from belonging. His Bosnia is a space of ethical duty, and writing about it is an act of responsibility. Ultimately, Kico's book is a testament to a Bosnia that thinks, feels, and remembers.

This book calls for an intellectual renewal of Bosnia. It reminds us that identity is not a finished given, but a process that lasts as long as our will to reflect on it. In this sense, "Records of Bosnia" is both a book about the past and a book about the future, as it teaches us that no Bosnia, neither political nor geographical, can survive without the inner one: cultural, intellectual, and moral.

In a world increasingly filled with noise and superficiality, his "Records" remind us that words can be a space of resistance, and a book a debt to the homeland. Therefore, this book is not only a testament to the Bosnia that was, but also a reminder of the Bosnia that can be, a land of meaning, dialogue, and enduring values - Bašić concludes.

Ahmed Kico is a prominent Bosnian-Herzegovinian publicist, cultural worker, and researcher of the social and spiritual history of Bosnia and Herzegovina. For over three decades, he has published numerous texts, essays, and reviews dedicated to preserving the cultural identity, language, and tradition of Bosnia.

His work is recognized for its consistent advocacy for the values of humanism, anti-fascism, and the multicultural heritage of the Bosnian space.