Ivan Goran Kovacic
Encyclopedia
Ivan Goran Kovačić was a prominent Croatian
poet
and writer of the 20th century.
(part of Vrbovsko
), a town in Gorski Kotar
, to Croatian father Ivan and Jewish mother Ruža (née Klein). His middle name Goran stems from that ("goran" meaning "hill-man"). During World War II
, he joined the Partisan
forces.
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
. The poem was written out of intellectual and ethical responsibility that condemns fascist atrocities committed by the Ustaše
. Ivan Goran Kovačić was killed by Serbian Chetnik troops in an east-Bosnian village of Vrbica near Foča
on July 13, 1943.
His work is an example of anti-war
poetry with messages against torture, mass murders and war crimes. Jama was studied in elementary schools throughout the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
. Many schools in the successor states still bear his name. Kovačić attended the Gymnasium Karlovac
in the city of Karlovac
in Croatia
. In his honour, the Karlovac city library — the city's oldest cultural institution founded in 1838 — was re-named after him.
as the "place from which light comes". Controversy is that the use of Zion is probably a Biblical metaphor, but the poem was still supported and taught by Communist regime throughout four decades in schools.
The poem starts with a striking metaphor of blood replacing both light and darkness as victim's eyes were plucked out with a knife. That common torture was probably a mere sadism, since the victims were mass-murdered after that anyway:
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and writer of the 20th century.
Early life and background
He was born in LukovdolLukovdol
Lukovdol is a small village located in the Gorski Kotar region of Croatia, about one mile south of the Slovenian border. Lukovdol is part of Vrbovsko. Lukovdol has an area of 5.91 km2. As of 2001, there were approximately 157 people living in Lukovdol; the population consists of about 60...
(part of Vrbovsko
Vrbovsko
Vrbovsko is a town in western Croatia, situated at the far east of the mountainous region of Gorski kotar in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar county; on its 280 square kilometers area, Vrbovsko features 60 settlements and a total of 5,019 inhabitants...
), a town in Gorski Kotar
Gorski kotar
Gorski kotar is the mountainous region in Croatia between Karlovac and Rijeka. Together with Lika and the Ogulin-Plaški valley it forms Mountainous Croatia. Because 63% of its surface is forested it is popularly called the green lungs of Croatia or Croatian Switzerland...
, to Croatian father Ivan and Jewish mother Ruža (née Klein). His middle name Goran stems from that ("goran" meaning "hill-man"). During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he joined the Partisan
Partisans (Yugoslavia)
The Yugoslav Partisans, or simply the Partisans were a Communist-led World War II anti-fascist resistance movement in Yugoslavia...
forces.
Works
His best known work is "Jama" (The Pit), which ranks among the most celebrated Croatian poems ever written. He penned it during the war, while in service near the city of LivnoLivno
Livno is a town in western Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Canton 10 of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, located between Tomislavgrad, Glamoč, Bosansko Grahovo, Kupres and the Croatian border.- Position :...
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
. The poem was written out of intellectual and ethical responsibility that condemns fascist atrocities committed by the Ustaše
Ustaše
The Ustaša - Croatian Revolutionary Movement was a Croatian fascist anti-Yugoslav separatist movement. The ideology of the movement was a blend of fascism, Nazism, and Croatian nationalism. The Ustaše supported the creation of a Greater Croatia that would span to the River Drina and to the border...
. Ivan Goran Kovačić was killed by Serbian Chetnik troops in an east-Bosnian village of Vrbica near Foča
Foca
Foča is a town and municipality in southeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina on the Drina river, in the Foča Region of the Republika Srpska entity.-Early history:...
on July 13, 1943.
His work is an example of anti-war
Anti-war
An anti-war movement is a social movement, usually in opposition to a particular nation's decision to start or carry on an armed conflict, unconditional of a maybe-existing just cause. The term can also refer to pacifism, which is the opposition to all use of military force during conflicts. Many...
poetry with messages against torture, mass murders and war crimes. Jama was studied in elementary schools throughout the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
. Many schools in the successor states still bear his name. Kovačić attended the Gymnasium Karlovac
Gymnasium Karlovac
Gymnasium Karlovac , sometimes historically referred to as Higher Real Gymnasium, is a gymnasium in the city of Karlovac in Croatia. Housed in a dedicated building constructed in 1863, the school considers itself to have been founded as early as 1766. At that time, Karlovac was part of the Croatian...
in the city of Karlovac
Karlovac
Karlovac is a city and municipality in central Croatia. The city proper has a population of 49,082, while the municipality has a population of 59,395 inhabitants .Karlovac is the administrative centre of Karlovac County...
in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. In his honour, the Karlovac city library — the city's oldest cultural institution founded in 1838 — was re-named after him.
"Jama"
The poem Jama praises ZionZion
Zion is a place name often used as a synonym for Jerusalem. The word is first found in Samuel II, 5:7 dating to c.630-540 BCE...
as the "place from which light comes". Controversy is that the use of Zion is probably a Biblical metaphor, but the poem was still supported and taught by Communist regime throughout four decades in schools.
The poem starts with a striking metaphor of blood replacing both light and darkness as victim's eyes were plucked out with a knife. That common torture was probably a mere sadism, since the victims were mass-murdered after that anyway:
- Blood is my daylight and darkness too.
- Blessing of night has been gouged from my cheeks
- Bearing with it my more lucky sight.
- Within those holes, for tears, fierce fire inflamed
- The bleeding socket as if for brain a balm –
- While my bright eyes died on my own palm
In culture
- Paul Éluard wrote a poem called The grave of Goran Kovačić.
- There is a YugoslaviaYugoslaviaYugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
n film Ivan Goran Kovačić, made in 1979. It was written and directed by Ljubiša Ristić. Rade ŠerbedžijaRade ŠerbedžijaRade Šerbedžija , occasionally credited as Rade Sherbedgia in some English-language productions, is a Croatian actor, director and musician of Serb origin. He was one of the most popular Yugoslav actors in the 1970s and 1980s. He is now internationally known mainly for his supporting roles in...
portrayed Kovačić. - The band Warnament recorded a song titled "Hollow Of The Innocent Victims" inspired by the poem "Jama".