Results of the Silvije Strahimir Kranjčević literature awards
SILVIJE STRAHIMIR KRANJČEVIĆ awards for 2007 go to Dragica Rajčić and Vlado Franjević
The “Silvije Strahimir Kranjčević” award for literary creativity amongst emigrants and their descendants is awarded every two years by the Croatian Heritage Foundation Rijeka branch. This time there were 23 applicants from Europe and North America. The winning work was “Gnijezdo rođenja”, by academic sculptor Josip Diminić.
The judging panel consisted of: Prof. Emeritus, Dr. Sc. Katica Ivanišević, Prof. Dr. Branka Kalogjera and Prof. Dr. Estela Banov. The panel was confronted with a difficult task this year. It is worth noting the high quality of the large number of works presented which made the judging all that much more difficult. The panel therefore recommended that it would be worth motivating further participation in similar events and awarded an additional three Croatian Heritage Foundation plaques for poetry.
We thank all those who participated in this year’s “S. S. Kranjčević” award.
Report by member of the judging panel, Prof. Emeritus Dr. Sc. Katica Ivanišević:
Croatian literature has its roots in the Chakavian dialect, emerging from the Dubrovnik and Split circles (Držić and Marulić), however the first written record of Croatia’s heritage can be found on the Baška tablet which is regarded as the birth certificate of Croats. It is that fact that unites all Croatians wherever they may be or their lives may have taken them.
Literary creativity amongst emigrant Croats today, more than ever, indicates that it is an inseparable part of contemporary Croatian literature not only in fact but in style too. It is only the place of residency, that is, the topic of which it speaks that differentiates it into emigrant literature. Thirty years ago or more that literary expression was focussed on its yearning for the homeland, forced separation from the homeland, inability to communicate and subdued patriotism. Today, the situation is completely different. We have our freedom and independence and communication abilities are enormous: from the Internet to electronic mail to travelling to the homeland which has become a regular vacation spot. However the topic of emigrant literature has not changed dramatically. They still feel a yearning in their heart because wherever they are, they are not at home but are always “foreigners in a strange land” as the poet Josip Zorica from Sweden described. Croatian emigrants in the written word in various publications or in their own sense have given a huge contribution to preserving the Croatian language in foreign milieus.
In their endeavour to unite emigrant Croats with the homeland every second year since 1984 (except the war years) the Croatian Heritage Foundation’s Rijeka branch has released a literature competition entitled the “Silvije Strahimir Kranjčević” award. The most common literary form sent to this competition is poetry which about eighteen authors send in and about five authors with their prose.
This poetic creativity is quite varied with a wide spectre from attempts to put their feelings on paper to excellent poetic works that have contributed to Croatian contemporary literature. The judging panel had a difficult task in separating just one amongst many good poets and prose writers.
The first prize for prose was awarded to DRAGICA RAJČIĆ for her “Slike” that was evaluated as a very good reflective and stylistically ordered prose. This auto biography shows an incredible sincerity to the point of pain and stylistic beauty. Dragica Rajačić is currently living in the USA.
The first prize for poetry was awarded to VLADO FRANJEVIĆ. His topic belongs to contemporary Croatian poetry and verse which largely influenced his work but at the same time his creativity is influenced by European poetry. Nevertheless, his poetry carries something personal, an authentic impression that is quite recognisable. He is featured with understanding as proof of humanity. In his poem “Kad bih barem
imao još jednu ruku” that attitude comes to full expression “…kad drugi u redovima stoje/ da dozvoljeno bude / onim ljudima / da nas vole i maze..”. Franjević, who lives in Liechtenstein, liberates his intellectual potential through his poetry and although his poems are topically hermetic they are at the same time metaphoric and filled with his own experiences in new surroundings.
Winners of the Croatian Heritage Foundation plaques were awarded to the following poets: RUDOLF MILETICH (USA), NINA NOVAK (Canada) and IVONA BEKIOPOULOS (Germany). They are building bridges to others through their love. They write about the national but also the cosmopolitan. Their poetry has not remained on mere nostalgia. They carry much deeper connotations. Their poetry is particularly highlighted with stylistic images and strongly expressed patriotism. They are torn between two homelands. Poets in emigration struggle with a feeling of being uprooted yet their love towards the homeland remains their root and fate.
