Fehim Zavalani
Encyclopedia
Fehim Zavalani was an Albanian
journalist and activist of the Albanian National Awakening. He was also the editor of Bashkimi i Kombit, one of the most important Albanian newspapers of the era. In 1908 he became one of the head organizers of the Congress of Monastir, in which the Albanian alphabet
was standardized.
, southern Albania
. In 1896, along with Sabri Frashëri and Shefqet Frashëri, he founded the patriotic Secret Association of the Albanians of Manastir In 1905, along with Gjergj Qiriazi
and Bajo Topulli
he founded the committee of the liberation of Albania, one of the first çetë (armed guerilla groups) in Bitola
, Macedonia
. In Bitola he also founded the organization Bashkimi, whose alphabet proposal would become the official alphabet of Albania, and became the editor of Bashkim i Kombit, the organization's newspaper. After the newspaper published an eye-witness account of a massacre perpetrated by the Ottoman
army in northern Albania, the Ottoman authorities arrested Zavalani and the rest of the staff of Bashkimi i Kombit. On October 8, 1908 Luigj Gurakuqi
proposed him to organize a conference for the standardization of the Albanian alphabet.
The conference, known as the Congress of Monastir, was organized by Bashkimi in Zavalani's house in Bitola and led by Zavalani from November 14 to November 22, 1908. Fehim Zavalani held the introductory speech at the congress and was one of its delegates. Other delegates of the congress from his family include Izet Zavalani, delegate of Florina
and Gjergj Zavalani. In July 23–28, 1909 he was one of main participants and the leader of the Albanian faction of the Congress of Debar, organized in Debar
by the Young Turk association Union and Progress. The Young Turks aimed to impose osmanization of the Albanian society. Zavalani was one of the group of the Albanian nationalists who declined to sign off on the already prepared document, and instead forced the organizers to accept a series of articles in the final document, one of the most important of which was to allow the Albanian language to be taught in elementary schools freely. Fehim Zavalani's son, Tajar Zavalani (1903–1966), was an important Albanian historian, journalist, and translator. He started in 1940 the BBC Radio
service in the Albanian language where he was the speaker for 26 years until his death in 1966.
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
journalist and activist of the Albanian National Awakening. He was also the editor of Bashkimi i Kombit, one of the most important Albanian newspapers of the era. In 1908 he became one of the head organizers of the Congress of Monastir, in which the Albanian alphabet
Albanian alphabet
The modern Albanian alphabet is based on the Latin alphabet, and consists of 36 letters:Note: The vowels are shown in bold. to the pronunciation of the letters.-History:...
was standardized.
Life
Fehim Zavalani came from a Muslim-Protestant family of KolonjëKolonje
Kolonjë is a small village in Gjirokastër District, Gjirokastër County, southern Albania, located northwest of the city Gjirokastër which is about 30 minutes away. The village has a festival every year on the 10th of May called Dhjet Maj , when everyone who has left the village returns to celebrate...
, southern Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
. In 1896, along with Sabri Frashëri and Shefqet Frashëri, he founded the patriotic Secret Association of the Albanians of Manastir In 1905, along with Gjergj Qiriazi
Gjergj Qiriazi
Gjergj Qiriazi was an Albanian publisher and writer. He was born in Bitola, Ottoman Empire , where he attended the local school. Like his brother Gjerasim, he studied at the American College in Samokov, Bulgaria...
and Bajo Topulli
Bajo Topulli
Bajo Topulli was an Albanian freedom fighter. While he was a director in the Ottoman Secondary school in Monastir he founded in 1905 the "Committee for the liberation of Albania" in Korçë and led the first Albanian army against the Turkish Ottoman Empire after Skanderbeg's army and the League of...
he founded the committee of the liberation of Albania, one of the first çetë (armed guerilla groups) in Bitola
Bitola
Bitola is a city in the southwestern part of the Republic of Macedonia. The city is an administrative, cultural, industrial, commercial, and educational centre. It is located in the southern part of the Pelagonia valley, surrounded by the Baba and Nidže mountains, 14 km north of the...
, Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
. In Bitola he also founded the organization Bashkimi, whose alphabet proposal would become the official alphabet of Albania, and became the editor of Bashkim i Kombit, the organization's newspaper. After the newspaper published an eye-witness account of a massacre perpetrated by the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
army in northern Albania, the Ottoman authorities arrested Zavalani and the rest of the staff of Bashkimi i Kombit. On October 8, 1908 Luigj Gurakuqi
Luigj Gurakuqi
Luigj Gurakuqi was an Albanian writer and politician. He was an important figure of the Albanian National Awakening and was honoured with the People's Hero of Albania medal.- Life :...
proposed him to organize a conference for the standardization of the Albanian alphabet.
The conference, known as the Congress of Monastir, was organized by Bashkimi in Zavalani's house in Bitola and led by Zavalani from November 14 to November 22, 1908. Fehim Zavalani held the introductory speech at the congress and was one of its delegates. Other delegates of the congress from his family include Izet Zavalani, delegate of Florina
Florina
Florina is a town and municipality in mountainous northwestern Macedonia, Greece. Its motto is, 'Where Greece begins'. It is also the Metropolitan seat for the region. It lies in the central part of Florina peripheral unit, of which it is the capital. Florina belongs to the periphery of West...
and Gjergj Zavalani. In July 23–28, 1909 he was one of main participants and the leader of the Albanian faction of the Congress of Debar, organized in Debar
Debar
Debar is a city in the western part of the Republic of Macedonia, near the border with Albania, on the road from Struga to Gostivar. It is the seat of Debar Municipality.-Geography:...
by the Young Turk association Union and Progress. The Young Turks aimed to impose osmanization of the Albanian society. Zavalani was one of the group of the Albanian nationalists who declined to sign off on the already prepared document, and instead forced the organizers to accept a series of articles in the final document, one of the most important of which was to allow the Albanian language to be taught in elementary schools freely. Fehim Zavalani's son, Tajar Zavalani (1903–1966), was an important Albanian historian, journalist, and translator. He started in 1940 the BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
service in the Albanian language where he was the speaker for 26 years until his death in 1966.