The writer and freedom fighter Mihal Grameno was born in Korça. As a young man, he immigrated to Romania, where he became involved in the patriotic movement, as a member and secretary of the “Drita” society. He participated in the Congress of Manastir (1909) and fought with a gun in his hand in the Çerçiz Topulli detachment. He was imprisoned several times by the Ottoman government for his activities. Mihal Grameno is the author of many patriotic songs that have come down to our days. “For the Motherland”, “Farewell”, “Blessing for freedom” have passed through word of mouth. Even his dramatic works, “The Curse of the Albanian Language”, “The Death of Pyrrhus”, “The Baptismal Grave”, “The Kiss”, have made an era in the Albanian scene. Grameno is one of the founders of Albanian journalism of the Renaissance era. His name can be found on the pages of many notebooks of the time, while he published and directed the newspapers “Lidhja Orthodhokse” (“The Orthodox League) and “Koha” (“The Time”). (In the photo: Mihal Grameno; The story “Angelic Saideja”, written by Mihal Grameno.)
Text: Robert Elsie, History of Albanian literature, “Dukagjini”, Pejë, 2001, pages 237-239.
Photo: © National History Museum
