Academician, writer and prominent critic of Albanian literature, Rexhep Qosja, who passed away today, has left a bequest addressed to his grandson, Valjeti.
The letter, dated April 30, 2016 and personally signed by Rexhep Qosja in Pristina, was made public by his grandson as evidence of the word given and respect for the trust.
In this letter, Qosja writes that “Since I have lived believing in scientific thought, spiritual upliftment and social progress… I want to be buried without religious ritual.
Since I have lived and thought… expressing critical views of rulers and their powers, I want to be buried without any official presence. I want only my family members to do my funeral. … no speeches, no media, no flowers, near the grave of my wife, Hope.”
He emphasizes that he lived simply and wants to be buried just as simply.
Referring to his life and work dedicated to freedom, national unity and the democratic well-being of Albanians, Qosja states that there is no debt left to either Albania or Kosovo, while any eventual debt from Kosovo can be judged by future historians.
The letter closes with the words: “I die peacefully” and with the conviction that he acted doing good and spreading humanity, despite the difficult political and social conditions in which he lived.
Full letter:
A letter for the end.
I am sharing it with you as a testimony of his word, respecting the trust entrusted to me.
Valjeti
__________________________________________________
MY NEPHEW VALJET
WHO CARED FOR MY LIFE AND BY WHOM
I ASK THAT YOU ALSO TAKE CARE OF MY BURIAL
Since I have lived believing in scientific thought, in the spiritual upliftment and social progress it makes possible, I want to be buried without religious ritual.
Since I have lived and thought, most of the time, expressing critical views towards the rulers and their powers, I want to be buried without any official presence.
I want only my family members to do my funeral.
Since I have taken care to live simply, I also want to be buried simply: without speeches, without media, without flowers, near the grave of my wife Hope.
Die peacefully.
Since I have devoted my life, mental creativity and political activity to the freedom, union and democratic well-being of the Albanian people, I can say that neither the state Albania nor Kosovo, of today and their future, have remained in debt. If Kosovo has left a debt to me – this will be what future historians of Albanian literature, culture and political thought will be able to say.
I don’t think I die without any sin.
Since I grew up, lived and worked in political and social conditions, which even after the liberation of Kosovo and the creation of its state, were very harsh, I cannot say that my expressed disagreements were always freed from some judgments and evaluations that were harsher than they should have been. However, I await the burial convinced that I lived, created and acted doing good, preaching good and spreading humanity.
I wrote these thoughts being aware and clear-headed.
Your grandfather, Valjet
Rexhep Qosja
(signature)
Pristina, 30.4.2016
