Book 'Bosniaks in Macedonia in the 20th Century' Presented, Author Ramčilović: It's Time for the Affirmation of Bosniak Identity!

(Patria) - In the hall of the National Library in Rožaje, a promotion was held for the book “Bosniaks in Macedonia in the 20th Century” with a special emphasis on culture and education - second augmented edition, by author prof. dr Zećir Ramčilović, which was printed with the support and co-financing of the Fund for the Protection and Realization of Minority Rights in Montenegro, and in the implementation of the project by NGO “Zelena gora”.

The promoters and participants of the event were: prof. dr Draško Došljak, mr Sait Šabotić, who is also the reviewer of the book, and mr Sead Šahman.

Mr Sead Šahman stated in the introductory part that the book is the result of extensive scientific research by prof. Ramčilović, more precisely the author's many years of dedication to the topic for his doctoral dissertation under the same title, which was defended at the Institute for National History at the University “St. Cyril and Methodius” in Skopje in 2013. He reminded that the first edition of the book in the Macedonian language was published in the capital of Macedonia the very next year, 2014.

“In the book, prof. Ramčilović focuses on the fate of the Bosniak people, an indigenous European people who, among other things, find their place in Macedonia, the land of Macedonians, a glorious and friendly people whose identity is also very often subject to dispute and denial” - said Šahman.

In front of a large audience in Rožaje, prof. dr Draško Došljak emphasized that Ramčilović's book allows us to reject widespread misconceptions about the history, language, and culture of Bosniaks, which have arisen from unfounded and unargued texts on these topics.

“This is a book of memory culture that is based on first-class historical sources, with the intention that truth comes first” – said Došljak.



He stated that the book by prof. dr Zećir Ramčilović about Bosniaks in Macedonia confirms the author who prioritizes science, and historical truth is the vertical of this monograph.

“Dr. Ramčilović eliminates historical falsifications about the Bosnian language with archival documentation that truthfully speaks about the existence of the Grammar of the Bosnian Language by F. Vuletić from 1890, as well as the Turkish-Bosniak Language from 1912, and confirms the language as an important identity segment of Bosniaks” – emphasized Došljak.

In his presentation, the reviewer mr Sait Šabotić touched upon the book's contribution to regional historiography, recounting the historical journey of Bosniaks in Macedonia from the Ottoman period to the beginning of the 21st century.

"The chapter titled 'Bosniaks in Macedonia from 1941 to 1991' covers a fifty-year period that was rich in various historical events and processes that inevitably included the Bosniak population. In this part, the author strived to create a global picture of the contribution of Bosniaks to the fight against the country's occupiers, especially those who were not born in Macedonia but whose life destiny brought them there and determined the direction of their actions” - said Šabotić.

He pointed out that in this spirit, the book contains a whole host of prominent revolutionaries such as Rifat Burdžović Tršo, Alija Avdović, Džemail Mehmedović, Halim Halimić, Bećo Bašić, Isa Omeragić, Ahmed Redžepagić, Hivzija Ćatović, and many others, whose actions greatly contributed to the awakening of the broadest layers of the population regarding the revolutionary struggle.

The author of the book, prof. dr Zećir Ramčilović, stated in his address that the 20th century can be characterized as one of the most difficult for Bosniaks, a century when even their bare survival was threatened.

“This book is the result of research at the beginning of the new 21st century and is a good indication that the 21st century will bring progress, full emancipation, and affirmation of the Bosniak identity” – stated Ramčilović.

He noted that the position of the Bosniak community in North Macedonia has significantly improved recently.

“My professional engagement in Montenegro, as well as the fact that Bosniaks in North Macedonia, in Montenegro, and in all the countries where they live have become a socio-political factor, are in decision-making positions and are part of all important processes, supports the aforementioned” – concluded Ramčilović.

Among others, the promotion was attended by the presidents of the municipalities and the Municipal Assembly of Rožaje and Petnjica, representatives of the academic community, representatives of the diplomatic corps, the director of the State Archives from Cetinje, as well as representatives of the economic and cultural community.