Jusuf Gërvalla, writer, activist of the national issue, Hero of Kosovo, was born in Dubovik of Deçan (Kosovo). He completed his education in his hometown, while his studies in Pristina and Ljubljana. For a while he worked as a translator in the newspaper “Flaka e vellazerimit” (“The flame of brotherhood”) in Skopje, then a journalist in the daily “Rilindja” (“Renaissance”) in Prishtina, where he followed cultural and musical activities in Kosovo and beyond. In the field of literature, he has published the following works: “Fluturojnë e bien” (“They fly and fall”) (1975), “Shenjat e shenjta” (“Sacred signs”) (1980), “Rrotull” (“Around”)(1983). He also became known for his dramatic and journalistic works, as well as in the field of translation. He also contributed in the field of music. Due to his patriotic and political activity, he was forced to leave Kosovo and settled in Germany, where he received the status of a political refugee. In emigration, he continued to engage in political activity, participating in the organizations of emigrants from Kosovo. He first published the newspaper “Lajmëtari i Lirisë” (“Messenger of Freedom”)(1980), and later “Zëri i Kosovës” (“Voice of Kosovo”) (1981). Jusuf Gërvalla represents the intellectual of special national proportions, whose work is designed within the poetic vision and the national ideal. The creative dimension of his work expresses literary themes that are related to the fate of man and the Albanian people. He is considered one of the most important activists of the national issue. He was killed in Untergruppenbach, near Stuttgart in Germany, in 1982. (In the photo: Jusuf Gërvalla)
Text: The encyclopedic dictionary of Kosovo – Vol. I , Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo, Prishtina, 2018, page 505–506.
Photo: © https://gazetavatra.com/jusuf-gervalla-poet-dhe-atdhetar-i-shquar/
Graphic processing: AHCF
