THE LIFE AND WORK OF THE DONOR ATANAS BLIZNAKOV IN THE MONOGRAPHS BY SLAVE KATIN
World War II and everything that happened at that time marked the milestone for Bliznakov’s commitment to Macedonia. The establishment of the People’s Republic of Macedonia was a window into the world through which Atanas expressed his thoughts, commitment and dedication to his motherland. Atanas and Slavka followed together the progress and development of the free part of Macedonia. They rejoiced in the progress and dreamed of going to Macedonia together to see what was going on there.
The establishment of the Republic of Macedonia as a state of the Macedonian people within the Federation of Yugoslavia represented a new factor in the historical development of the Macedonian people. It was a fundamental pillar in the homogenization of their national consciousness.
The creation and development of institutions in the area of national disciplines – history, art, film, music, etc., the development of primary, secondary and post secondary education in the Macedonian language, the existence of an autocephalous Macedonian Orthodox Church, etc., had immense significance for the mutual connection of Macedonians regardless of whether they lived in the Republic of Macedonia or abroad.
Thus in 1958 Atanas and Slavka decided to visit the People’s Republic of Macedonia. Their joy was endless and within a few months, they learned the truth about the liberated part of Macedonia and the beleaguered Macedonian people.
During their stay they visited many historical and cultural monuments, had meetings with numerous people from social and cultural institutions of the Republic and toured many towns.
That developed an interest and energy within them so that when they returned to Gary they started to think about how they could help the Republic of Macedonia; how they could pave the way to their future, to their retirement days.
Atanas’ interest in contributing first came to the fore when the D’mbeni Meeting was organized in 1958, which he financed by himself. Then the idea grew into establishing a foundation; an idea which was realized twenty years later.
People from D’mbeni lived all over the world, visiting one another when they could. In the last week of May, 1973 there was to be a “D’mbeni Meeting” in Saraj, a picnic spot near Skopje. Invitations were sent to all people from D’mbeni whose addresses were known, no matter where they lived.
The motif of their native village was always displayed on the invitation and verses from the poem “Lokvata and Vinjari”, by Lazar Pop Trajkov, were also cited. In addition to specific data such as the day and hour of the meeting, the natives of D’mbeni were always invited to pay homage to their fellow citizens who had died for the freedom of Macedonia and then to join in the celebrations as it was usually done at Lokva.
The D’mbeni Meeting was well attended, not only by D’mbeni countrymen who lived in Skopje, the capital of the Republic of Macedonia, but also by others who came from other countries. All day long they performed folk dances and sang songs from D’mbeni; from Kostur.
Atanas and Slavka visited Macedonia in 1968 for the second time. This time they also visited Bulgaria where they had relatives. But on that occasion they were not happy with their stay there and decided to return to Macedonia; to the country where they chose to spend their remaining years.
Until their final arrival in Macedonia, Atanas exchanged extensive correspondence with those responsible in the Republic and in the Rector’s Office of the University in Skopje. As a result of this productive cooperation and openness and good intentions on both sides, the Foundation “Atanas Bliznakoff” was established.
To be continued
By SLAVE KATIN
