In Nikšić today, on the occasion of July 13, Statehood Day, the completion of the reconstruction of the Freedom Square and the unveiling of the monument to the national hero Čedomir Ljubo Čupić were solemnized.
The monument called "Hero on the Corse", the work of Zlatko Glamočak, was unveiled by the presidents of the state and municipality, Milo Đukanović and Veselin Grbović. The monument to Ljub Čupić, with a height of 2.20 meters and a width of 90 centimeters, was made according to the conceptual design of Mihailo Radojičić, and the finances were provided by Nikšić entrepreneur Dr. Dušan Đurović.
Korzo has a special symbolism for a folk hero. He was taken through that promenade, in chains, for the last time, before being shot.
"For me, the realization of this project was an honor, and it will represent one of the symbols of the city," said Đurović, the founder of the monument.
The ceremony was attended by the President of the Parliament Ivan Brajović, members of the Government, presidents of several Montenegrin municipalities, numerous dignitaries from the economic and social life of the state and the city, as well as numerous Nikšić citizens. Among them were the cousin of the national hero, Čedomira Čupić and Rajko Popivoda, who came from Belgrade, as well as other members of the Čupić family.
"It's a wonderful monument. I can't describe in words how I feel. It has to be experienced. Pride, sadness and happiness are mixed. I talked about my uncle, whose name I bear, to my children and grandchildren, and then to anyone who wanted to hear. "Not everyone is in the mood to listen, especially nowadays when something new has arrived. Fortunately, there are many who are interested in it," said Čedomira Čupić.
She admitted that when talking about her uncle, she does not use his nickname, Ljubo, which is much more popular, but prefers his first name.
"When I was little, they tried to call me Ljuba. I didn't respond to Ljuba or Mir, but only to Ceda. I am a lively female Ceda," said the cousin hero.
In his welcoming speech, the President of the Municipality reminded that the Nikšić square was designed by the Croatian architect Josip Slade in 1883 at the invitation of King Nikola, who also made the first regulation plan of Nikšić. The square as well as the entire city center was designed by Josip Slade from Trogir. Until the Second World War, the square was called Karađorđa, after the end of the war it became Marshal Tito Square, and since 1992 it has been Freedom Square. According to Slade's plan, Nikšić should have received six squares. Three were made - Sloboda, Sava Kovačević and Šak Petrović.
"The municipality of Nikšić has invested significant funds to arrange the old square in the spirit of European squares. The square has an area of 12.500 square meters. There is a fountain in the central part of the square, and at the corners there are spaces for catering activities, as well as four old reconstructed fountains. In addition After the monument to King Nikola, a monument to the national hero Čedomir Ljubo Čupić, who was killed by local traitors, was erected on the square," Grbović said.
"Ljubo walked past the people of Nikšić with dignity, telling them with his smile that fascism will be defeated, and Ljubo will forever send them his smile of defiance and courage from the Nikšić square, as a sign of victory over fascism and an incentive for all anti-fascists in the world," Grbović said. and thanked the donor Dušan Đurović and the sculptor Zlatko Glamočak.
Paving work on the Square was carried out by the Nikšić companies "Mechanizacija i programat" and "Progres", and it was paved with autochthonous Nikšić stone. The investment value of the complete reconstruction is about one and a half million euros. The money was provided from the budget of the Municipality, and thanks to a donation of 150.000 euros from the Chinese Embassy, the sidewalks were paved and a new layer of asphalt was laid on the peripheral streets.
On the occasion of the ceremony, a concert of the Montenegrin Symphony Orchestra was held, conducted by maestro Grigori Krasko.
Last night, a lecture on "Freedom Square 1885-2018" was held at the "Onogošt" hotel, where Maksim Vujačić, Radovan Damjanović and Slobodan Bato Mirjačić spoke.
A photo that went around the world
At the end of April 1942, after a battle near Nikšić, Ljubo Čupić fell into the hands of the Chetniks, who sentenced him to death by firing squad. After the sentencing, he was taken out of the courtroom, a former theater building, and that's when a photo was taken that went around the world. His smile was immortalized by the official photographer of the Italian fascists, Karlo Ravnič, and the film was preserved by the famous photographer from Nikšić, Migo Zorić. He was shot on May 9, 1942 on Petrova glavika in the old cemetery, behind the church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and was declared a national hero on July 10, 1953.
It was recorded how Jean-Paul Sartre spoke about Ljubo Čupić's character, who asked to be photographed next to the famous photo, and with what admiration and respect Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter Indira Gandhi stood in front of it.
In 2013, the Post of Montenegro issued a stamp with the image of Ljub Čupić, and two years later, playwright and writer Obrad Nenezić published the novel "A Smile for Marija Mihailovič", inspired by the life of "the only Montenegrin who reconciles all differences, ideological, religious, national". the most famous Montenegrin singer-songwriter Miladin Šobić sang about Čupić's smile.
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Bonus video:
