55 years ago, on February 26, 1968, about twenty young literary creators from Nikšić, members of the literary sections of the Gymnasium, Teacher Training and Technical School, embraced poetry and founded the Club of Young Writers, which later grew into the Literary Community and was named after the writer and to the professor of the Nikšić High School Vladimir Mijušković.
During all that time, the members did not deviate an iota from the set goal - they defended themselves against all adversity with poetry and prose, and it's not that there weren't any, and the Community welcomed all those who knew that "writing is an act of faith, and not a grammar trick” (Elvin Brooks White).
The eternal homeless who still dream about their home, but also the home of all lovers of literature, will mark the jubilee as it should be - by hanging out with writers and their works. In the morning of February 26, starting at 11 a.m., they will organize a tribute Miroslav Jovanović Timotijev i Janko Brajković, one of the founders of the Community, who passed away last year, while the evening hours (19 p.m.) are reserved for prose creators of the Community and the awarding of the "Zaloga" award for prose.
About the Literary Community, manifestations, plans, but also whether a book can beat a "juvenile computer", as the famous Grove (Ljubivoje Rsumovic), we spoke with its president I save Bajović.
When Nikšić was Yugoslavia in miniature
"When you look into the past and look at the work of the Community so far, it is easy to conclude that through various activities and forms of cooperation, it spread culture, connected people and thus became a witness to an indelible time, making an immeasurable contribution and stamp to the culture of Nikšić and Montenegro, which makes us proud. And we are also proud of the initiation of Nikšić literary meetings and many events, especially the rich publishing activity, the anthology 'Stormy fields of poetry' and the 'Album of Nikšić literary memories', two prestigious literary awards Zaloga' and Vito Nikolić. We are proud of the great literary names, founders and members of our Community: Vito Nikolić, Gojko Janjušević, Vukman Otašević, Milan Dug Krivokapić, Dragan Radulović, Janko Brajković, Dear Mijović, Miroslav Jovanovića Timotijeva, Braha Adrović, Dušan Govedarica, Dobril Pavić... We are proud of the new generation of members and the creative spirit that reigns among the membership", says Bajović, who was elected to lead the Association last year, while Dušan Govedarica became the honorary president.
In addition to Bajović, there are members of the presidency Jovan Drašković, Miloš Kecojević, Slavko Milić i Sofija Simović. The community currently gathers around thirty writers, and recently they lost three important creators, in addition to Brajković, who, as Bajović said, was the right hand of writers and culture, and Timotijev, who passed away a fortnight ago and Milosav Misko Prelevic.
So far, the literary community, as a publisher and co-publisher, has published close to 700 titles of various genres, mostly poetry, but also prose and special editions, such as genealogies, ethnographic writings, bibliographies, essays, reviews, dictionaries, translations and editions of Italian and Romanian poets and writers, but also the first books of young creators who have established themselves in the Community. And it all started in 1969, a year after the foundation, when the almanac "Kaktusi", a collection of members, was published.
"The debutant 'Cactus' and the young creators symbolically announced their true foray into the world of poetry. That year, together with the Municipality of Nikšić, they launched the great Yugoslav event Nikšić Literary Meetings, the oldest event in Montenegro and one of the most prestigious literary fairs in the former Yugoslavia. With the Nikšić Literary Meetings, the young writers of Nikšić enter the big door of literary events".
After a twenty-year break, the meetings were renewed in 2014, and thanks to them, Nikšić hosted numerous eminent literary creators such as Desanka Maksimović, Mihaila Lalić, Meša Selimović, Ćamilo Sijarić, Branko Radičević, Dobrica Ćosić, Stevan Raičković, Slavko Janevski, Duško Trifunović...
"In addition to Nikšić's literary meetings, members of the Community also launched the Rada Tomov Tribune for the affirmation of young creators, the Month of the Book event, Auto(r) na korzu, With the Poet at Midnight, as well as special programs for primary and secondary school students, Book Against the Internet and From Children letters to great writers, and they also organized literary evenings throughout Montenegro and the region. The literary community has collaborated with many significant cultural subjects in Montenegro and beyond, such as Goran's Spring, Meetings in Struga, but also meetings in Vrbas, Smederevo, Loznica, Kumanovo, Kragujevac, Trebinje, Banja Luka, Bari... Published by the Community translations of books were published Ana Santoliquido i Vitorina Kurćija from Italy, as well as translations of poetry by Romanian poets Karoline Ilika i Lane Jon. The association established the Vito Nikolić and Zaloga literary awards, as well as the Spasoja Pajo Blagojević and Radula Željko Damjanović awards, which, in agreement with the Municipality of Plužine, are awarded in that city as part of the Poetic Word at the Source of Beer event.
Bajović, not without pride, points out that the Association has donated more than fifty thousand books to libraries, primary and secondary school students and deserving individuals since its foundation.
"If we look at and compare the time from the founding of the Community to the present day, it can be said that its founders lived and created in happier and brighter circumstances. Back then, the book was much more loved and appreciated, more was read, more was created, the poem flew more joyfully into the canopy of the future. Hardworking Nikšić lived and created in the ecstasy of great hardships. Famous writers came from all over Yugoslavia. The living poetic word echoed among the workers of the Ironworks, Brewery, and Bauxite, in schools, at the university, in front of always full halls. It was a literary weave of infinity. Even today in the Community, poems lead poets down endless paths, although today's times are less favorable to writers. It was as if life had fallen into disrepair, faltered. But that's not why the poetic word has faltered, it's just that very little is read today. Today, everything is faster than a book. Information society and social networks put reason to sleep and obscure the paths of the future, and without great reading there are neither great questions nor great answers. Reading is a great journey and getting to know yourself and the world," says the president of the Community.
Literary homeless people who still dream of a home
Members of the Community overcame all childhood illnesses, when it came to literature, they encouraged themselves and others, created a monument to poetry and prose. There is only one disease that he cannot overcome - homelessness.
"Our Literary Community, from its founding until today, is suffering the most without a permanent roof over its head. Temporary compromises were found, but never a permanent solution. All the wishes and thoughts of the writers of the Community are mobilized around the burning question - a permanent solution of space for current and future writers. Without a roof over our heads, we are unable to achieve and realize our programs and plans. Members work and create without their common corner and address. There are more and more young creators who want us to help them, to join our Community, to advise and encourage them. And how? Milka Mijuskovic, daughter-in-law of Vladimir Mijušković, gave us a large painting of Vladimir. And where should we put her? Half of our documentation has been executed, a large number of our publications are lying around in private cellars. When announcing the competition for the Zaloga literary award, the works were sent to a private address. We will certainly continue to create with faith in better days for the written word, for the book, for the preparation of quality programs that will bring the audience back to literary events".
But they will continue to dream of a literary home. Bajović and the other members hope, not for long.
"In the last two years, the local administration, headed by Marko Kovačević, helped some of our literary programs, for which we are grateful. A year ago, we received a promise from Kovačević that he would permanently solve the issue of working space. We hope and believe that, after more than half a century of homelessness, with the support of the Municipality, we will finally solve this pressing problem".
And until then, they will continue to create, publish new books, organize author's evenings, promote members' works, tour Montenegro and the region... The updated edition of the anthology "Stormy Fields of Poetry" will also see the light of day, and, if they manage to secure financial funds, will also award the Vito Nikolić award.
"We in the Literary Community are united by common great goals and poetic ideals. We are fated to serve culture and raise it to a higher level. We have great mutual communication, we believe in ourselves and in our contribution to the general good and cultural development of Montenegro. Where there is no great poetic inspiration, there is no real truth either," concluded Bajović.
From short stories to dramas and comedies
Vladimir Mijušković, a Montenegrin writer and distinguished professor at the Gymazija in Nikšić, was born in 1909 in Kunk near Nikšić. He is the first Montenegrin writer from the interwar period whose works were performed on the stage. He wrote a large number of dramas and comedies, "My Children", "Bez Data", "Underworld of Hell", "Something Is Born", "Family Circle", but he is better known as a storyteller. He published the collections of short stories "Gorštaci" and "Tragom vremena", and his legacy consists of the novels "Raskršće", "Klizave okuke" and "Zolaga". He died on November 30, 1963.
Bonus video:
