Jorgji Karbunara (Babë Dudë Karbunara), patriot and activist of the National Renaissance, Teacher of the People, was born in the “Kala” neighborhood of Berat. He got his first lessons in his hometown. He continued his further studies in Corfu at a two-year teaching school, then in Trieste (Italy), where he completed the classical high school. He acquired a wide culture for the time and knew several foreign languages, Greek, Italian, French, and Latin. After returning to his homeland, he devoted himself entirely to the issue of national liberation. In the 70s of the 20th century, he met in Berat with Naim Frashëri, then with Kostandin Kristoforidhi and Hasan Tahsini. Jorgji Karbunara, together with Dhimitër Kola, Gjergj Stefa, Mehmet Myftiu, etc., was among the founders of the Branch of the Albanian League of Prizren in Berat (June 22, 1878). Jorgji Karbunara worked to spread the teaching of the Albanian language and national ideas. He also used foreign schools in Berat and the surrounding villages. For his patriotic activity, he earned the respect of his fellow citizens, who called him Baba. He was persecuted by the Ottoman authorities, who burned his house in September 1894. Jorgji Karbunara was among the founders of the “Bashkimi” society, which was founded in Berat on July 20, 1898. After the proclamation of the Constitution, Jorgji Karbunara, having the support of other countrymen and the people of Berat, opened two Albanian schools in Berat on August 4: “the school of “Tregu“, where Baba Dudë Karbunara and Sulo Resuli themselves taught, and the one in the neighbourhood “Muratçelepia”, where Islam Vrioni and Kahreman Vrioni taught. Jorgji Karbunara was one of the founders of the “Bashkimi” club of Berat (1908), in which he was elected vice president, and one of the main organizers of the protest rally that was held in Berat (February 28, 1910) to protect the Albanian alphabet , against the introduction of the Arabic alphabet. He participated in the national movement in Berat during the uprisings of 1911-1912. With his initiative, in 1911, the branch of the Committee of Albanians for the Protection of National Rights was formed, establishing links with the committees operating in the cities and other provinces of Albania. He participated as a representative of the people of Berat in the National Assembly of Vlora (1912) that proclaimed the Independence of Albania, where he was elected a member of the Eldership. During the uprising against Prince Wied of 1914, he was arrested and tortured by Musa Qazimi’s rebels. He passed away in Berat, in 1917. In 1937, on the 20th anniversary of his death, his fellow citizens erected a bust as a sign of respect. (In the photo: Jorgji Karbunara)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 2 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 1123-1124.
Photo: © https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bab%C3%AB_Dud_Karbunara
Graphic processing: AHCF
