The birthplace of Ivan Milutinović has been left to decay, although it is a cultural and historical monument, and the famous Piper - to oblivion, despite being a prominent Montenegrin revolutionary, communist and national hero.
A century and a half old stone house, Milutin's "cradle", in the Piper village of Cerovice, near Podgorica, remembers much better days, as well as the memory of one of the organizers of the Thirteenth of July Uprising, whose name was the main square of Podgorica, as well as the city - Ivangrad.
The square and the city changed their names, the authorities changed, and Milutinović disappeared from the history books...
The words engraved on the memorial plaque, placed at Milutinović's birthplace, bear witness to the image and work of a revolutionary who was forgotten by the state:
"In this house, on September 27, 1901, the national hero Ivan Milutinović was born, a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia (Central Committee of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia), a member of the Supreme Staff of the NOV and POJ (People's Liberation Army and Partisan Detachments of Yugoslavia), commander of the main staff of NOPO (National -liberating partisan detachments) for Montenegro and Boka, member of the national committee for the liberation of Yugoslavia - died on October 23, 10 near Belgrade."
A dilapidated house keeps memories
The village of Cerovice can be reached by car in about fifteen minutes from the center of Podgorica, without any notice that there is a cultural and historical monument dedicated to one of the most famous Pipers of the 20th century. The GPS is not helpful either, but the house and the Milutinović family are quite easy to get to.
"Vijesti" reporters interrupted Milutinović's afternoon coffee, asking if they had arrived at the right place.
Milutin Milutinović answered in the affirmative, saying that Ivanov's birthplace does not receive many visitors.
He also pointed out that the condition of his ancestor's home can be seen from the threshold.
He says that he tried several times to renovate the house, which he claims dates back to 1856. He explained to "Vijesti" that he did not succeed, despite numerous efforts:
"The house has been declared a cultural and historical monument. There is no way to start adapting it and bringing it to its intended purpose. The house is damp, the roof is in bad condition...".
Two rooms with family portraits, photographs, memorials, an antique stove, cupboards with books and the characteristic unpleasant smell of dampness...
That scene, says Milutinović, is just a reminder that modern times have almost forgotten about the house of a famous person.
"My grandfather and Ivan are brothers from their uncles. This year, in March, the Tourist Organization (TO) of Podgorica gave information that Ivan Milutinović's house was included in the city's tourist offer. I reacted to that by having a conversation with the director of TO and told him to come and see what he put in the offer. This is a shame... ", Milutinović does not hide his dissatisfaction.
The house was visited last week, before the elections in Podgorica, by a "high delegation" - state president Jakov Milatović, head of the URA GP Dritan Abazović and candidate for mayor Luka Rakčević.
Milutinović says that "they were taken aback by the state in which the cultural and historical monument is located."
"There was a proposal to clean the house before their arrival. I didn't want to, I wanted people to see his condition. I maintain the yard as much as possible. The house needs to be physically rehabilitated and set up in order for it to be that."
The bust almost ended up in the trash
Milutinović emphasized that he is very proud of his ancestor's historical legacy, saying that "he doesn't say or think that because they are family-related."
"He is a famous historical figure, without a blemish in his career. A man who is a pre-war lawyer. Who was the commander for Montenegro, Boka and Sandžak... He is one of the founders of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRJ). A man who for a large part of his life was persecuted by the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and imprisoned as a communist. He spent half his life in prisons. He commanded an army, and was very successful at it. He had one rank less than marshal...".
He does not hide his anger at the competent institutions which, in his opinion, did not sufficiently respect the character and work of Ivan Milutinović. As an example, he cites a bronze bust that, as he said, was placed in the former Chinese culture:
"I managed to save her at the last moment, so that she wouldn't be thrown in the trash. That makes me very angry.”
The attention of "Vijesti" reporters was drawn to a smaller room within the house.
Milutinović said that "he would like to show us what is in it, because it is a kitchen, but that is impossible".
"... Because of the condition in which that smaller kitchen is located. The ceiling in it hangs on one side".
He says he is afraid that the wall might collapse.
He says that he "patched" the facade of the house several times, as evidenced by the numerous traces of plaster.
"I am afraid that the walls of the house will collapse. We're in real trouble. Ivan Milutinović is the debutant of an era and deserves respect. A more responsible attitude towards all this is needed".
He does not hide his disappointment that the competent institutions did not deal more with the state of Milutinović's house. He also hopes that, whoever will form the new local government, "will finally do something about this problem".
"None of the authorities deigned to come. Journalists came a couple of times. I sincerely hope that the new authorities will do something about everything. Ivan Milutinović as a person is far above petty party stories."
The square in the center of Podgorica was named after Ivan Milutinović from 1945 to 2004. From 2004 to 2016, it was called Republic Square, and today it is Independence Square.
Today's Berane was called Ivangrad from 1949 to 1992.
From the casemate to the Tomb of the National Heroes
Milutinović became a member in 1923, and already in 1928 he was sentenced to six months in prison. Already the following year, he was arrested again and sentenced to six years in prison. Being imprisoned in Sremska Mitrovica and Lepoglava, due to rebellious actions, he was given another two years.
According to historical sources, after his release from prison in 1939, he became a member of the KPJ Central Committee, and at the KPJ Fifth Land Conference in 1940, he was elected a member of the seven-member Politburo.
After the start of the National Liberation War, he became a member of the Main Staff of NOPOJ. He worked on the organization of partisan detachments during the Užice Republic, then in Montenegro, then in the Bosnian Krajina...
He was a member of the Presidency of the Anti-Fascist Council of the People's Liberation of Yugoslavia. After ranks were introduced in the partisan army in 1943, Milutinović became a lieutenant general.
Together with Josip Broz Tito, he traveled to Moscow in 1944...
He died on October 23, 1944, not far from liberated Belgrade, when the river barge he was taking to Belgrade ran into a German mine.
He was buried in the Tomb of the National Heroes on Kalemegdan, together with Moša Pijada, Ivo Lola Ribar and Đuro Đaković.
He was declared a national hero on July 6, 1945.
Bonus video:
