On April 11, 1876, Salih Gjuka (1876-1925), activist of the Albanian patriotic movement, publicist, lecturer, Teacher of the People, was born in Pejë. He is also known by the nickname Gjukë (Xhukë) Dukagjini. He studied Law at the University of Thessaloniki and further specialized in linguistics in Istanbul and Paris. In the first years of work as a teacher and education inspector in Skopje Monastery (1905-1908), he became one of the most active activists of the Albanian patriotic clubs “Bashkimi” of these cities. Furthermore, he headed the patriotic society “Lahut’ e Malësisë”, collaborated closely with the patriot Fehim Zavalani for the publication of the newspaper “Bashkimi i Kombit” (1909-1910) and directed it in the last two issues. He was one of the organizers of the II Congress of Manastir (1910) and of the “Squad of Albanian students of Thessaloniki” (1911-1912). In 1912, he participated in the National Assembly for the Declaration of Independence, as a delegate from Peja, Gjakova, Plava and Gucia, where he was elected a member of the first Albanian Senate. He was among the first officials of the educational structure of the Government of Vlora, as director of education in the district of Berat (1913-1914), inspector of education in the district of Durrës (1919). Salih Gjuka was also known as a linguist, publicist and ethnographer. He published in Manastir the monograph “Shkrolaria e shqypes” (1910, republished in Kosova, in 1991). As a collaborator in the publication of the newspaper “Populli” (1915–1919), he addressed patriotic, social, and educational themes often with a polemical tone. He died in Berat. He was decorated with the “Order of the Flag”. (In the photo: Salih Gjuka)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 1 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 865-866.
Photo: © https://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salih_Gjuka
Graphic processing: AHCF
