On April 15, 1924 , Jup Kastrati, philologist, professor, Teacher of the People, was born in Shkodër. He completed secondary school in his hometown, while he completed his higher studies at the University of Tirana, in the branch of Albanian language and literature. He worked for several years as a high school teacher. In the years 1958-1993 he worked as a lecturer of the Albanian language at the University of Shkodra “Luigj Gurakuqi”, where he was also in charge of the chair (1973-1990). His scientific activity extends to several fields: history of Albanian linguistics and albanology, history of Albanian literature (especially Arbëresh literature), dialectology, Albanian and Arbëresh folklore, history of the Albanian school and pedagogical thought, bibliography. He has published a number of works, such as: “Bibliografia shqipe” (“ The Albanian bibliography”) (Tiranë, 1959), “Jeronim de Rada; Jeta dhe veprat” (“Jeronim de Rada; Life and works”) (Tiranë, 1979), “Historia e gramatologjisë shqiptare (1635–1944)” (“The history of Albanian grammatology (1635–1944)”) (Prishtinë, 1980); “Zef Jubani: jeta dhe veprat” (“Zef Jubani: life and works”) (Tiranë, 1987); “Faik Konica: jeta dhe veprat” (“Faik Konica: life and works”) (New York, 1995) etc. Jup Kastrati has published a series of articles and studies inside and outside the country, he has provided assistance for the development of activities and albanological publications at the University of Shkodra. Jup Kastrati has traced and put into scientific circulation facts and writings of interest, little known or unknown, and has made aspects of the work of some Albanian language researchers and scholars to be better illuminated and appreciated. He was decorated with the “Grand Master of Labor” Order. (In the photo: Jup Kastrati)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 2 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 1133.
Photo: © Center for Studies and Publications for Arbëresh
Graphic processing: AHCF
