Ljudi su kao rijeka. Čisti na izvoru a prljavi na ušću...

Human beings are like river. Pure at the source of the river and dirty on the delta (mouth).
                                                                                                                                                   Sabahudin Hadžialić

15.9.2012.
POEZIA, magazin za poeziju i kulturu, Iasi, Rumunija
Godina XVII, broj 3 (61), Jesen 2012.g.
Intervju

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Magazin objavljuje Društvo pisaca Rumunije...Magazine is published under the jurisdiction of the Association of writers of Romania

„Pot fi un scriitor al naţiunilor, nu un scriitor naţional” – 
convorbire cu scriitorul
şi jurnalistul Sabahudin HADŽIALIĆ (Bosnia şi Herţegovina)

"Engaged artist is not the national artist. He is the artist of the nations." -
interview with author
and journalist Sabahudin HADŽIALIĆ (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Author of the interview: Marius Chelaru

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From left to right: writers and poets - Sabahudin Hadzialic (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Samira Begman (Switzerland) and Marius Chelaru (Romania), spring 2012 (Hotel EVROPA, Sarajevo, BiH)
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From left to right: writers and poets - Marius Chelaru (Romania), Samira Begman (Switzerland), Diti Ronen (Israel), Craig Czury (USA) and Sabahudin Hadzialic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) in front of the house of birth of Nobel prize winner for literature back in 1961 Ivo Andric in Travnik (Bosnia and Herzegovina)...spring 2012
  1. Sabahudin Hadzalić, I think that if you want to know a man, you could start with the most beautiful part of his life, childhood. So, please tell us about your childhood, natal lands, your family, people from that times, about school etc …
At the beginning, I think that every part of human’s life is the best part of it. Namely, all depends on the eye of the beholder. To make it even simpler, I think that man should always stay a child, and play the game of the life. Why? Because, only being a child we can play creating a new reflections of life. Of our own, in principal. But, to be in the same time, very careful to be, as a child, a creator of life risk. What is that? Answer is simple: Innocent creation of thought that leads, through the game, for the solution of problems within the life, never forgetting that we are just visitors on this earth ground and we will return back to the heaven and/or hell, depending on how   we were playing the game on Earth.

To make long story short, I had very happy childhood, creating the first steps for the game of life. Currently, I have just finished a first part of my novel trilogy in which there is a part of autobiography within the section of XXI century (other part of the novel is in XI century) in which my main character remembers his childhood through the words:”Happiness is not a way of living during the childhood. It is raison d’etre of the childhood.” Simple, but the truth.

On other hand, to talk “natal lands, your family, people from that times, as school etc     …” would be too much, although I would like to underline that, again, in simpler way, that we were better people: my land, my family, people from that times, the schools. Now? Everybody, focused on survival (including me, of course), forgets the beauty of living, and it is, again, with the family and the land and the people and the school of life.

Have we been better people, of just we will always have “good old times” regardless in which time we are living? Why is that? Because, as the time is passing by, it is getting worst and worst for the human civilization in general. So, every new time will say for the past ones: good old times. Isn’t it?

  1. Dear Sabi, when we met, we discussed on road to Travnik, about all kind of clichés, about how few we know one about each other, today, when they say that information has all roads opened…  What means B and H from the point of view of the beginnings in  writing/ literature?
If you are targeting B and H as (B)osnia and (H)erzegovina, than, it means everything. First of all – motherland, but the land of “egalite, fraternite and liberte” and not like it is today, in after war B and H: the land of sorrow, hatred and envies”. Solution is: to understand the best part of all human beings living in B and H and to start building up society of understandings of diversity to be able to have country of love. Slogan of DIOGEN pro culture magazine, which I am Editor in chief, is: We are unifying diversities. That is worth fighting for. And, in regards, as you have mentioned “What means B and H from the point of view of the beginnings in  writing/ literature?”, than, means the land of our children, not ours. Even, we, the writers, should only think about that, to inspire the nation and the leaders to think about the better future of our kids. Because, if we think about common good, on a long term, everybody wins. Individual good wins on a short terms, nothing else.

But, if you think about B and H as (B)osniaks (Muslims) and (C)roats (Catholics) than you should add S as (S)erbs as well because, three main nations are living here, within Bosnia and Herzegovina (Entities Republic of Srpska and Federation of BiH). Answer for the above mentioned issue is within my thought/aphorism: “We are three tribes of the same people, but the problem is…WHICH ONE?” Also, it is great inspiration for writing as well. To understand each other and to interact culturally as much as possible to be able to avoid implosion of closed groups which will happen if we do not interact with “others”. Again, another quotation of mine: “Nation is historical category. We just need to wait for the end of history.” 

  1. How come that you are interested about culture, poetry, writing, generally speaking? Did you had a spiritus rector, a model? Can we speak in your case about mentors, you met face to face or not, which influenced, in a way or another your road in writing?
The answer is simple: It has been written within genetic code. Just came out from me as the person who would like to leave a mark through making a world to become a better place for living for all of us: http://sabihadzi.weebly.com .

  1. As a matter of fact when was the first time when muse visited you? What happened then and which were your next steps?
I would not call it a muse. I would rather call it a faith, destiny…Why, because, the muse is imaginatory being. The real being is a faith, destiny…When it met me? I think on a day of the birth. Left a mark to start writing in a age of 19. Not before. And when started, it last, so far, 33 years. The next steps? Still to find them. Namely, every time I think I met my next step, it has been running away. Towards me.

  1. How/ which was your literary debut, in journals and in volume?
My literary debut in journal was back in 1979 as reporter for the DZUBOKS, rock music magazine from Belgrade (Serbia) doing reportage from Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina) in regards rock concert of the band MOST (English: BRIDGE). Another debut, in volume was in 1987, being announced as one of the three best young poetry writers in former Yugoslavia (among 256 of poets) winning the third position and having published my first poems within the Anthology of poetry  MAY PEN (Svetozarevo, Yugoslavia, 1987.). Again, the debut has happened on a day of my birth, meeting my faith and/or destiny. Why? It has been written on the roads. Of my life. 

  1. We discussed on Bosnia and H. roads, mostly between Sarajevo and Travnik, about Ivo Andric, about literature from former Yugoslavia. In fact, tell us how are the literature, the culture, the editorial activity and press in BaH today?
Shortly- as late poet Branko Miljković from Yugoslavia (1934-1961) have said: “The day will come when everybody will write poetry”. Yes, through social networks (FB and others) everybody writes not only poetry but also prose and all other footprints of their soul, but as I have said recently:”It is not difficult to write. It is difficult to know how to write.”…for prose and for poetry: “Everybody can write a poetry but only few can write a poem.” Reflections of the previous war exists within writings as well. For me, that is a source of inspiration to make naked stupidity of chauvinism on all sides, because not even a single soul (not to mention culture sui generis) can exist without interacting with other soul and/or culture. Through writing I interact with similar souls with the goal to make this world a better place for everyone, regardless his/her ethnic, racial and/or gender stand.

Being Chairman of BH Journalist Union back in 1998, I have said that today you can become a journalist having two witnesses for that. Yes, we have inflation of journalists and deflation of knowledge. Only few magazines and journalists can call themselves the ones. Other serves the tajcoons and chauvinists. Why, because human being is hypocrite within its soul. Me? I just do no like democracy. Why? Because instead one idiot, I serve millions of idiots.

It is shame that I am the only living writer within the area of former Yugoslavia who is the member of Bosnia and Herzegovina Association of Writers (Sarajevo, BiH), Croatian writers association Herzeg Bosnia (Mostar, BiH), Association of writers Serbia (Belgrad, Serbia), Association of writers of Montenegro (Podgorica, Montenegro). Why? To show that I can be a writer of the nations and not a national writer.

The future? Only through the knowledge. But the knowledge with the facts and not knowledge base on myths.

  1. And, subsidiary, what are you doing in your daily life? Tell us about Diogenes, MaxMinus, about the magazines you work … starting with the first private journal from BaH, you own it, about radio …
Simply, writing, editing, writing, editing…Just recently, in Albania in June 2012, when was, as really honored person, asked to present myself at the Festival of Poetry in Sarande, I have said: “I do not want to talk about myself. Just Google me.” My work should speak instead of me.

So, here it is:

DIOGEN pro culture magazine: http://diogen.weebly.com

MaxMinus magazine: http://sabihadzi.weebly.com

About first private newspaper in Bosnia and Herzegovina back in 1990 I can just say that it has happened few months prior to the war and we knew we were doing good job. Why? Because, all three chauvinistic sides were attacking us. How? One number (issue) we were (newspaper name was POTEZ – in English: THE MOVE) attacked that we are Pro-Muslim, another issue Pro-Croat and another Pro-Serb. Again- Why? We were telling the truth which was sometimes supporting mentioned stands, but as soon as we talking against the stands which does not suit any of sides, we were enemies of the people. We were just enemies of the thieves. Last 20 years of “democracy” just proved that we were right. Also, there is another question: Who is worse than a communists? Answer is: The former communists. Sabahudin Hadžialić have never been either communist and/or chauvinist. He just tried to be simple human being.  I can talk for hours about my TV and Radio experience, but I would like kindly to ask you to visit: http://sabihadzi.weebly.com and you will find what Sabi was saying back in 1987 and 25 years later (on video, unitl 2012.). Do not trust me. Just check it out, please.

  1. You are translated in several languages; your poems appeared, in magazines from my town, Iasi, in Romania. Tell us about your writings.
Yes, I am translated in 15 languages of the World (for Magazines and Anthologies), published books in 5 languages, but my main language is language of writing (prose and poetry). Which, as DIOGEN pro culture magazine’s slogan is, unifies diversities?

On the moment when we finish writings, regardless is it poetry and/or prose, that does not belong to us anymore. It belongs to the readers. I think you should ask them. Me? I am just a small insect of civilization of lost hearts.

  1. I traveled almost everywhere in countries resulted from former Yugoslavia. Recent conflict which lead to this state of fact leaved deep wombs, visible in a way or other everywhere. Are there visible in your writings, too? And, generally speaking, which are themes of your poetry, of your writings?
As I mentioned before, the recent conflict left a scars not only on human bodies, but also on human souls in general within the area of former Yugoslavia. Yes, it is visible in my writing. How? In a sense of resurrection of the truth that the recent war was not only a conflict between the nations (what the fuck are nations if we are all human beings?) but the conflict between civilization and barbarians. Who are they? The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind. This was not a civil war. It was the war between beggars of the mind and civilized people. Who are they? It was the war for expanding territory for “my people” against “his/her people”. Who are they? Their names, finally was not generalized as Serbs, Croats and/or Bosniak Muslims…their names was bustards on all sides. Also, how to find, finally, who are they. Check out International court in Den Haag. After all, it is legitimized court. Any decision they made against war criminals from all three sides, I agree completely with it. Why? Because I am human being and not a Bosniak Muslim and/or Serb and/or Croat.

  1. You write aphorisms, poetry, essays … Is there any genre you can say it is your “favorite”, and why?
All depends. As mentioned, on certain weight of the certain faith and/or destiny given to me. Sometimes, it is one genre, and another day is another one. My only “favorite” genre is reflection of human soul on the paper. Sometimes it is aphorism, than poetry, than essays, than novel, than short stories, than plays…Why? I do not have this answer.

  1. Sarajevo is an interesting town, in my opinion yet untouched irreversible and totally by that side of what they say it is “progress”. Marathon of poetry, the way you lead your magazines showed me an other side of your personality. You like to create opportunities for others, for people you believe in their art, as far as I see…
Sarajevo used to be better city. Nowadays, Sarajevo is trying to recover. Still recovering. If the Poetry marathon (http://diogen.weebly.com/2132012---world-poetry-day.html) „DIOGENES is seeking for human being” have succeded in helping Sarajevo to recover in just a little way, I am more than satisfied.

Yes, I like to creat opportunities for others. What is in there for me? Nothing, but just a feeling that „good does good”. Not everybody can be supported by my side. Only real writers and real poets and real human beings: Three in one. For the civilisation of good.

  1.  Let us finish with thoughts about future, and thank you that you accepted to have this conversation. So, which are your projects?
First of all, thank you for the opportunity to present my thought within your precious magazine, and the future…? Well, I have finished the first part of my Trilogy CROSSROADS OF THE WORLDS (title of the first part novel is BOX OF LIFE) and hopefully will publish it until the end of this year. Working on the second part of the Trilogy now. Travelling a lot: Festivals of poetry and writing. Editing magazines: DIOGEN pro culture and MaxMinus magazine. Editing other writer’s books. Teaching at the University (Faculty of media and communication) in Travnik (BiH) and doing my PhD theses (on it until 2014). Preparing the THIRD poetry marathon for 2013 (a lot of new changes in it) in the World, as the longest, biggest and, hopefully, the best Poetry marathon so far. What else…? Writing essays, reviews, aphorisms, poetry, short stories…

And, of course, trying to be better human being, on the first place.

Above all.

Sarajevo, 27.6.2012.
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sabahudin Hadžialić

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Sabahudin Hadžialić, Grbavička 32, 71000 Sarajevo (i/ili Dr. Wagnera 18, 70230, Bugojno), Bosna i Hercegovina.  Kontakt +387 63 111 052 i/ili [email protected]