Isuf Luzaj was born in Kaninë, Vlorë. He completed primary school in Vlora, while high school in Shkodër. In 1933, he enrolled at the Sorbonne University in Paris, but for economic reasons he interrupted his studies. In 1936 he returned to Albania to work as a French language teacher in Elbasan and Korça. From 1940 to 1941, he was imprisoned in Italy, but then he returned to Albania, where he distinguished himself for his fight against fascist troops, the anti-communist resistance of the National Front, as well as his contribution to the establishment of the Social-Democratic Party in Shkodër, Tirana and Vlora together with Musine Kokalari, Skënder Muço, etc. In 1944, he left Albania for Italy, where he was accused of murder and the communist government asked to repatriate him, in order for him to submit to “the people’s trial for war crimes”. In 1948 he left for Argentina, where he worked in the Ministry of Education as a translator and in 1957, he graduated in literature and philosophy. During the period 1960-1970, he held important positions, as director of the French Institute “La France à l’étranger”, as an adviser to the Ministry of Education in Argentina, as a professor of philosophy and the French language at the University of New Hampshire, head of the department at same university, General Director of Foreign Languages at Barat College-Lake Forest , Illinois as well as head of department at Indiana University. Isuf Luzaj passed away on November 25, 2000, in Chicago. He was awarded with important titles, such as: “Professor emeritus” in the USA, presented by President Ronald Reagan; with a medal “For outstanding academic services” in the USA and a gold medal from the University of Buenos Aires. On June 19, 2017, the President of Albania, Bujar Nishani, awarded him the “Honour of the Nation” decoration. (In the photo: Isuf Luzaj)
Text: National Historical Museum
Photo: © https://ata.gov.al/
Graphic processing: AHCF
