Meetings with the well-known albanologist Robert Elsie and the hostage for the project left in the middle *
Saturday, September 5, 2020. My colleague, publicist and archeology researcher, Nuri Çuni, while we were talking in the cafe, takes a copy of the project of the book of albanology Robert Elsie, to translate into English for the preparation of the publication in albanian by albanian a well-known publishing house in Kosovo, reminding me of the recent meeting with Elsie and the project left in the middle, for the reason of passing away. The book is the one entitled ‘Albanian Bektashis’, and recently written by Elsie, whose (single copy) publishing house is making some corrections to Çuni, which will last six months in a row, will recommend Elsie for the preparation of the whole book. “I watched it carefully, I made some technical corrections, such as the spelling accuracy of some Bektashi objects, such as date, religious term, etc., and you will send it soon. Collaboration which he have a lot of conversations with me ‘, his handwriting, different opinions, etc. our country, in the homage that takes place in the National Library in Tirana, due to the absence of the Bektashi World Leader, Dede Edmond Brahimaj, with his message, I together with the dervish Sali Petin, “my colleague Çuni tells me. In continuation, Çuni reminds me of the meeting in his office with Elsie, that beautiful day in April 2007. It was my first meeting with the albanologist (I meet him other times), quite by chance. in the office of colleague Çuni, I saw a temporary man browsing some documents and taking notes, as well as 2-3 others, standing talking to the colleague.I sat at the desk that continues without worrying, I was impressed that he looked much older than he actually was.The standing interlocutors fled.The three of us remained.
-You know the gentleman who works at the table?- asks my colleagues.
-No ,Maybe looks like e known face, but… – I continued.
-It is the albanologist Robert Elsie, he is working here with me for a book related to Bektashism- added Çuni.
We meet each other and I introduce myself to him
-Oh, yes, I read from you something, I’m glad we’re meeting – added Elsie.
We continued talking long that day. Society colleague and work guides in different parts of the country, at cult sites. In a conversation, Elsie promised me a long interview. In fact, part of it is the realization… There was a request from Elsie and he asked for more help if he could be accompanied to some Albanian villagers in the Pogradec-Dibër area, inside and outside border.
-In old documents I found that in Qarrishtë, Frëngovë, Ladorisht to Dibër e Madhe, once there were indigenous isolation of Bektashis .. I want to go- he told me.
-Take time and let me know -I promised.
-Okay, thank you. We hope to leave as soon as possible and when we return, we will finish the interview, and we will have more of our faces there with facts – he was smiling.
There gone month and day, week and many months. I was surprised to learn that he passed away on October 2 (he was born in Vancouver, Canada on June 29, 1950). He wanted to be buried in the northern mountains of Albania, and so what he wanted become. I hope that my colleague Çuni, who has hundreds of pages of his manuscript, the talk of writing the travel assignment, will publish as soon as possible the book promised to him. To shed more light on the famous Elsie, the albanologist, writer and translator that Albania loved so much and has left for the Albanians a valuable scientific, historical and cultural wealth. Place that he loved so much and asked for his bones to rest forever in this land.
The homage to the national museum, Çuni, together with dervishes Sali Petin, left a note in the book and appreciation.
Note: This article is taken from Kujtim Boric’s book “Journalist’s Diary” – the second part, which has been published.
Short presentation of the book
The book “Albanian Bektashis. (History and culture of a dervish order in the Balkans) “, by Robert Elsie, published in English, is brought in Albanian in October 2020, precisely in the experience of his separation from life (October 20, 1900 in Istanbul). The title of the book in English is “The Albanian Bektashi: History and of a Dervish order in the Balkans” and in Albanian it is entitled “Albanian Bektashis. “History and culture are an order of dervishes in the Balkans.” The book is translated into Albanian by Gëzim Aliu and was published by the publishing house “Botime Artini” in Prishtina, in 2020, while the design is by Fatri Bajgora. The book is with special links, voluminous, with 780 pages in total.
