PART OF THE MONOGRAPH “GOJKO JAKOVLEVSKI” BY SLAVE KATIN
Between the two world wars, many Macedonians went to attend schools in Bulgaria, Russia, and numerous European capitals. After World War II, however, Belgrade became a center for many Macedonian students who had completed higher education (such as the one of the authors of this monograph Slave Katin), who then left to work in their homeland as professors, doctors, engineers, artists, journalists, lawyers and so on.
During his stay, Goyko went to the IAST office every day and asked whether his visa was prepared. IAST office even sent a telegram to Germany asking for the visa he was waiting for. He was forced to wait, which made him disappointed, but he was still happy to travel to Germany.
While waiting for the visa, he had enough time to visit Mino Spasevski at Ada Ciganlija, who was engaged in a voluntary federal labor which was organized at that time. Mino was pleasantly surprised to see Gojko, as he thought he had already left for Germany. His dear friend Rade, who had been on a trip, arrived in Belgrade on July 23. At that time Goyko, Rade and Mino were brothers by friendship. Rade then suggested that they go with him to Novi Sad, Vojvodina, as he was to take his daughter there to his relative.
Goyko accepted the proposal with pleasure and they headed to Novi Sad. The trip to Novi Sad was good for Goyko for change, he wanted to see new places, new areas. There Rade invited him to treat him in a restaurant located over the Danube River. The guests were entertained by a famous orchestra there. They ordered a Macedonian song for a good mood, and the musicians sang not one but several Macedonian songs. Rade wanted to pay for their beautiful music, but the musicians didn’t take any money, which was a pleasant surprise for them. They stayed overnight with Rade’s relatives and returned to Belgrade the next day.
On the way to Novi Sad, Rade told Gojko that numerous Macedonian families lived in Vojvodina, more precisely in Zemun, as well as in the villages of Jabuka, Kacharevo, Gloganj and other places, including the famous Kichevo bakers who also introduced the burek and other Macedonian specialties in Vojvodina, as well as inhabitants from Prespa who cultivated the orchards. In the town of Jabuka, which resembles a city, lived more than six thousand inhabitants, 80% of whom were Macedonians, who raised family nests in the flat Banat. There, “Kocho Racin”, “Gotse Delchev”, “Macedonia” were the most common names of cultural, educational, sports and other organizations.
Thus, the House of Culture was named “Gotse Delchev”, the Macedonian cultural and artistic association was called “Vasil Hadzimanov”, and the elementary school was named “Gotse Delchev”. All of this talked about the relationship of the Macedonians in Vojvodina and beyond with their grandfather’s country of Macedonia. he
Beograd
Goyko also remembered the meeting when accidentally met Tode Miloshevskiat Terazija, a man from Gostivar, a teacher of music education, who worked at the elementary school “Bratstvo i edinstvo” school in Gostivar. At Terazija, which was a swamp in the last century, there are many cultural, educational, and commercial institutions today. There is also the “Balkan” hotel, the legacy of Janic from Mavrovo region.
At the Terazija was built the Palace “Albania”, which was the tallest and most beautiful building in Belgrade before World War II. After they met, Tode asked him about the purpose of his visit to Belgrade. Goyko replied that he was traveling to Germany. Asked by Tode to which Germany he would travel, Goyko replied to him that he was going to West Germany. Then Tode looked him in the eyes and told him that he would succeed there. After many years, Goyko realized what the teacher Tode Miloshevski wanted to tell him at that occasion.
Finally came the day of the so much awaited and desired trip. Information came from Germany that the visa was among the documents Goyko was given in Skopje. Goyko was outraged that school officials were misinformed, so he had to wander for two whole weeks throughout Belgrade. At the same time he was very happy to travel to Germany. Departing to this rich and democratic state, he forgot all the hardships he experienced on that journey from Zubovce to Belgrade.
To be continue
By SLAVE KATIN
