Branko's Bridge to Kosovo

Writing for Kosovo Online: Muharem Bazdulj

Within the cultural wars, the concept of appropriation holds an important place. Some significant figure or symbol is taken, and it's declared exclusively as one's heritage. If the other side calmly agrees to it, no harm done.

There's a quasi-literary and quasi-activist organization in Belgrade. Everything belongs to them, from various "quasi-people", like that character from Andric's novel who's all about "exos". They delusionally convinced themselves that Copic supposedly belonged to them, so they turned a mural near their premises into almost Copic's cenotaph among their like-minded individuals.

However, Copic is a distinctly living figure in Serbian cultural memory. The literary award bearing his name is awarded by none other than the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts. Among its recent laureates are Vasa Pavkovic, Djordje Nesic, Dragan Stojanovic, Zlata Kocic, and Blagoje Bakovic, individuals who are by no means devoided of a "link" to the "national component".

Likewise, there's no doubt that Copic was a communist, a partisan, and a Yugoslav, but that by no means implies that he wasn't – a Serb. One could even say that Copic, in a sense, embodies the intertwining of these identities. There's a plethora of material in his bibliography and biography, within his oeuvre and the corpus of autobiographical anecdotes, suggesting his rootedness in Serbian tradition. However, alongside Danilo Kis, he is the Serbian writer most easily acceptable to neighboring nations. In generations before him, that was Branislav Nusic. Namely, among Serbs' neighboring nations in the Balkans, among, for example, Albanians, Bosniaks, and Bulgarians, Nusic is a figure famous enough to easily notice his presence on the streets of Sofia, from poor one-way alleys to grand avenues, as well as an author in whose work there's a clear lack of prejudice towards the Orient and Islam.

There are other common traits between Nusic and Copic, but that could be a topic for a separate text. Here, I'm actually interested in one specific story by Copic. It was published in the book titled "Adventures of Nikoletina Bursac" as one of a series of stories about the heroism and military life of Nikoletina Bursac. Although each story has its own theme and complete composition, and as such can stand alone, as stated in one pedagogical summary: "the stories can be read as chapters of a novel, because only together do they give us a complete picture of Nikoletina himself, his warfare, and partisan, military life in general. The character of Nikoletina is portrayed as an ideal national hero – brave, honest, intelligent, but not conceited. He is modest and aware of his ignorance, his position, and his background, but he is also extremely responsible and moral. His name alone tells us about the character of this figure. His real name is Nikola, but through his deeds, personality, and physical appearance, he has earned the nickname Nikoletina. Interestingly, Nikola was called Nikolica as a child, and when he grew up, he became Nikoletina. Although there is a dose of irony, perhaps even mockery, in that name, reading it, we understand that Nikola has truly earned his name".

The story I'm referring to is called "Farewell to Kosovo". In it, Nikoletina and his partisan battalion approach Kosovo. As they reach near Kosovo, fog prevents them from seeing it. Just as Moses was not destined to see the Promised Land, Nikoletina does not believe that Kosovo is practically in front of him. When the commissioner confirms their location and where they will go tomorrow, he decides to get a haircut and shave to look better for that festive occasion. Not only that, but he also puts on a clean white shirt, and he also warns his comrades to be aware that they will soon step on "sacred Kosovo soil". The next day, the partisan army triumphantly steps on the soil of Kosovo and achieves victory over the enemy in a fierce battle, capturing about fifty enemy soldiers. Nikoletina briefly hopes that the captives are Turks, but it turns out they are Chetniks, meaning Serbs. Nikoletina is disappointed, but at the same time aware that the enemy is the enemy, whatever they may be.

In just over a month, it will be four decades since the death of Branko Copic. He went to his death by his own will, jumping from a bridge colloquially called Branko's Bridge. The bridge leans on Brankova Street, and that Branko is Branko Radicevic. Because of this tragic coincidence, Branko's Bridge, by its name, evokes Branko Copic to many.

In a poem from 1945, Copic describes Bosnia with the words: "Kosovo's blood is on its sleeve". Kosovo was obviously very important to Copic. In that sense, we should not allow the kidnappers of Copic's heritage to brainwash the public by constructing some false Branko who has almost no connection with the real one.