Goce Delchev

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  • julie
    Senior Member
    • May 2009
    • 3869

    #46
    This is wonderful, more should be done for our brothers and sisters there, amazing how the Macedonian language and culture still continues , even amongst the most poverty stricken. Pleasing to see this aid, and hope it continues, they need our support.
    "The moral revolution - the revolution of the mind, heart and soul of an enslaved people, is our greatest task."__________________Gotse Delchev

    Comment

    • Prolet
      Senior Member
      • Sep 2009
      • 5241

      #47
      Macedonian Minister for Culture Elizabeta Kanceska Milevska is in Pustec.

      YouTube - Ministerkata Elizabeta Kanceska Milevska vo poseta na Pustec
      МАКЕДОНЕЦ си кога кавал ќе ти ја распара душата,зурла ќе ти го раскине срцето,кога секое влакно од кожата ќе ти се наежи кога ќе видиш шеснаесеткрако сонце,кога до коска ќе те заболи кога ќе слушнеш ПЈРМ,кога немаш ни за леб,а полн си во душата затоа што ја сакаш МАКЕДОНИЈА. МАКЕДОНИЈА во срце те носиме.

      Comment

      • Pelister
        Senior Member
        • Sep 2008
        • 2742

        #48
        Originally posted by Phoenix View Post
        Is it time for the diaspora to change tact, instead of spreading our limited resources between organizations in Egejska and Pirin, perhaps we need to really consolidate our 'gains' in Albania whilst the country remains a EU candidate.

        We've really struggled to galvanize a distinct Macedonian identity in both greece and bulgaria, neither country is willing to recognize cultural or political organizations under our name that will represent our minorities there but it seems some amazing achievements have materialized in Albania with very minor diaspora support.

        I think in the long run it will be wise to support and nurture the Macedonian movement in Albania and the rights of our minority in that country because the day will come when Albania is admitted into the EU and it will be before Macedonia and when that day comes its important that there's a solid 'history' of the Macedonian minority in Albania and not the way it has been negated by greece and bulgaria and their constant claims that there are no minorities (read Macedonian) in their countries...
        I agree entirely.

        Although our efforts in Greek occupied and Buglarian occupied Macedonia are very important, if more resources were focused on our efforts in Albania, we could do far better as far as achieving our rights, and a cultural presence is concerned. The Albanians need to be commended for allowing the Macedonians some basic rights. I think that closer cooperation, and more support for people like Edmond Temelko (who as far as I'm concerned is a Macedonian hero) should be forthcoming, and that while the Albanian government continues to favour Macedonian rights - our rights, and our organisations should be developed, and consolidated.

        Financial aid is important, but just as important is helping men like Edmond find human resources, who he help him build an organisation and develop it - or multiple organisations.
        Last edited by Pelister; 10-10-2010, 07:59 PM.

        Comment

        • Prolet
          Senior Member
          • Sep 2009
          • 5241

          #49
          139 years since the birth of Goce Delcev

          Neka mue Vecna Slavata na nashiot vechen Heroj!!



          МАКЕДОНЕЦ си кога кавал ќе ти ја распара душата,зурла ќе ти го раскине срцето,кога секое влакно од кожата ќе ти се наежи кога ќе видиш шеснаесеткрако сонце,кога до коска ќе те заболи кога ќе слушнеш ПЈРМ,кога немаш ни за леб,а полн си во душата затоа што ја сакаш МАКЕДОНИЈА. МАКЕДОНИЈА во срце те носиме.

          Comment

          • indigen
            Senior Member
            • May 2009
            • 1558

            #50
            Blaga Petreska - Majka rodi mashko chedo | Блага Петреска - Мајка роди машко чедо (Песна во чест на Гоце Делчев). Includes a slide show of Macedonian patriotic images and national symbols.

            А great tribute song to the Macedonian national hero Goce (Gotce) Delchev (4 February 1872 - 5 May 1903).

            YouTube - Blaga Petreska - Majka rodi masko cedo


            ----------------

            Originally posted by aleksandrov View Post
            I am starting this thread at the suggestion of fellow forum members who thought that it worthwhile to have a thread dedicated to Goce Delchev quotes. Apart from quotes, I invite people to post any other material that might encourage a deeper understanding of what Goce Delchev was about than the relatively superficial perceptions generated by official state institutions and their conformists.

            To give the thread a sense of direction and make it more than a history thread, I think we should focus on material that is indicative of how Delchev might address the trials and tribulations facing the Macedonian people today. I also suggest sticking to the Latin alphabet, for the benefit of those Macedonians (particularly those originating from the Aegean region) who have not had the opportunity to study and become accustomed to the Cyrillic alphabet.

            I'll start with a quote that I think best summarizes what he viewed as his most fundamental cause:

            "Moralnata revolucija – revolucijata vo umot, srceto i dushata na eden ropski narod, e najgolemata zadacha." Goce Delchev vo okruzhno pismo od 8-14 Mart 1901. (Hristo Andonov Poljanski, Goce Delchev - Kon osumdesetgodishninata od zaginuvanjeto na Goce Delchev, Istarska Naklada, Pula 1985, p. 206)

            "The moral revolution - the revolution of the mind, heart and soul of an enslaved people, is our greatest task."
            http://www.macedoniantruth.org/forum...ead.php?t=3568

            Comment

            • makedonche
              Senior Member
              • Oct 2008
              • 3242

              #51
              Bog da go prosti!
              On Delchev's sarcophagus you can read the following inscription: "We swear the future generations to bury these sacred bones in the capital of Independent Macedonia. August 1923 Illinden"

              Comment

              • Daskalot
                Senior Member
                • Sep 2008
                • 4345

                #52
                The original grave of Goce Delchev, 1903!

                I do not think this has been posted on the forum, but it is available on our front page.
                Here: http://www.macedoniantruth.org/2008/...-goce-delchev/
                Macedonian Truth Organisation

                Comment

                • Daskalot
                  Senior Member
                  • Sep 2008
                  • 4345

                  #53
                  On the cross it is written:
                  TUKA POCHIVA GOCE DELCHEV LEGENDARNIAT BOREC ZA SVOBODATA NA MAKEDONIJA 1903
                  Translation into English:
                  HERE LIES GOTSE DELCHEV THE LEGENDARY WARRIOR FOR THE FREEDOM OF MACEDONIA 1903
                  For the FREEDOM OF MACEDONIA not Bulgaria, Greece or Serbia. MACEDONIA ONLY!
                  Macedonian Truth Organisation

                  Comment

                  • Mikail
                    Senior Member
                    • Sep 2008
                    • 1338

                    #54
                    Very nice Daskale

                    The very nice thing about this photo is that it was taken in Pirin, the site of Gotse Delchevs original resting place.

                    So did Bulgaria then claim the Macedonian nation did not exist?
                    From the village of P’pezhani, Tashko Popov, Dimitar Popov-Skenderov and Todor Trpenov were beaten and sentenced to 12 years prison. Pavle Mevchev and Atanas Popov from Vrbeni and Boreshnica joined them in early 1927, they were soon after transferred to Kozhani and executed. As they were leaving Lerin they were heard to shout "With our death, Macedonia will not be lost. Our blood will run, but other Macedonians will rise from it"

                    Comment

                    • George S.
                      Senior Member
                      • Aug 2009
                      • 10116

                      #55
                      good point mikhail the bulgarians can claim what they want to claim,the reality is real history cannot be hidden the facts speak for themselves as you say the macedonian nation exists.The bulgarians like to deny that because it's their propaganda..Gotse Delcev fought for the freedom of macedonia from oppression.He wanted macedonia to be for the macedonians.I suppose in a propaganda you can lie and say anything & ignore hard evidence.Daskalot i was meaning to say for a long time about the final resting place of gotse delcev but thanks for bringing it up.
                      Last edited by George S.; 07-30-2011, 08:02 AM. Reason: edit
                      "Ido not want an uprising of people that would leave me at the first failure, I want revolution with citizens able to bear all the temptations to a prolonged struggle, what, because of the fierce political conditions, will be our guide or cattle to the slaughterhouse"
                      GOTSE DELCEV

                      Comment

                      • Daskalot
                        Senior Member
                        • Sep 2008
                        • 4345

                        #56
                        bump for Gotseta!
                        Macedonian Truth Organisation

                        Comment

                        • George S.
                          Senior Member
                          • Aug 2009
                          • 10116

                          #57
                          Happy 140th Birthday Gotse Delchev



                          February 4th, 2012



                          One hundred and forty years have passed since our beloved hero Gotse Delchev was born on February 4th, 1872.



                          Who was Gotse Delchev (1872-1903) and what did he do for Macedonia and the Macedonian people?



                          Let us for a moment look back and reflect on Gotse’s life, a young Macedonian revolutionary who died for the Macedonian cause.





                          GOTSE DELCHEV AND HIS VIEWS



                          By Dr. HRISTO ANDONOV-POLJANSKI



                          Gotse Delchev's ideological views were formed by the adoption of the most progressive ideas in the spheres of science, literature, particularly revolutionary literature, philosophy and socialism. While still a pupil of Solun high school, he showed a keen interest in the discoveries of Darwin and in the popular scientific works of Flammarion and other scientists. This provided him with the foundations for further exploration of the realm of social ideas and movements. In the first place he read and studied the works and ideas of Russian revolutionary democrats: Chernyshevski, Dobrolyubov, Pissarev and Herzen. He paid equal attention to the ideas of socialist streams. The knowledge he had acquired was tested and clarified in a revolutionary discussion circle, which served as a kind of school for revolutionary training. Revolutionary literature and ideas were likewise examined, and there are indications that the circle also discussed some works by Karl Marx. Moreover, the circle also considered practical examples from actual revolutionary activity, the experiences of other liberation movements, for example, the feats of Garibaldi, Washington, Lafayette, as well as some Balkan leaders.



                          Delchev's basic ideological leanings were further accentuated and developed in Military College. Apart from the military training, he found time to delve deeper into the sphere of revolutionary and socialist ideas. Here, too, he showed special interest in the experience of other revolutionary and liberation movements, in Russian nihilism, Bakuninism and other anarchist currents, in Balkanism and other revolutionary socialist ideas, as well as scientific socialism. He followed socialist literature and the socialist press, and paid particular attention to the works of Marx and Engels, Bakunin, Prudhonne, Stepniak, Kropotkin, Dimitar Blagoev, Spiro Gulapchev and, for a time, Vassil Glavinov.



                          Like other Macedonian revolutionaries, Gotse Delchev was strongly influenced by the 18th century ideas of the Age of Enlightenment, the ideas of the French Revolution, the ideas of the revolutions between 1830 and 1848, the lessons and experience of the Paris Commune, and Russian revolutionary literature. This was closely linked at the same time with the influence of revolutions and revolutionary movements and of their leaders, such as: the American War of Independence and Washington; the French Revolution and its leaders; the Italian national liberation movement and the leaders of the Risorgimento -Garibaldi and Mazzini; the Bulgarian revolutionary movement with its leaders, Botev, Levski and others.



                          In the course of time, all this helped to form Gotse Delchev as a revolutionary democrat and national leader. He was a typical revolutionary, emphasizing, in the first place, his revolutionary democratic convictions, and then his socialist views. Todor Pavlov in one place states that the "trio of revolutionary democrats, Svetozar Markovich of Serbia, Hristo Botev of Bulgaria and Gotse Delchev of Macedonia, were formed and worked not only as great revolutionary democrats and fighters for national liberation, but at the same time as socialists. Delchev was a socialist when he was in Military College and till the end of his life was linked with Macedonian socialists."



                          He once said: "I have the soul of an anarchist, the convictions of a social democrat, and I act like a revolutionary", thereby giving a personal statement of his ideological persuasion and the high vocation he had chosen. He remained unchanged in this throughout his life. In this connection he found it necessary to stress the importance of socialism and socialist propaganda in educating the young. On one occasion he described the activity of Macedonian socialists as follows:



                          "These people are engaged in real revolutionary activity, distributing socialist literature so that socialist thought can spread throughout our ranks. They can bring about a renaissance, not cause harm."



                          Having aligned himself ideologically with the most progressive, Delchev tried to put his beliefs into practice, to devote himself to the liberation of his nation. While he was still attending Solun high school, the idea of the possibility of forming a national resistance movement was already ripening in his mind. His views took even clearer shape at Military College. As a progressive activist, he was in agreement with those who called for the national and social liberation of the Macedonian people based on the principle of self-determination. For this reason he was in close touch with the Macedonist, Konstantin Shahov, publisher of the famous paper Makedonski glas (Voice of Macedonia), as well as with some other papers. This Macedonian public figure played an important role in directing liberation activity on independent, Macedonian lines. Besides this, Delchev was in contact with the Macedonian students' group and literary society at Sofia University, which put out a magazine, Loza (Vine). This spread Macedonian ideas and strongly advocated that the ground for a revolutionary movement in Macedonia should be prepared, in view of the local conditions. Krste Missirkov states that leading revolutionaries such as Gotse Delchev were pupils of this first generation of Macedonians.



                          It was precisely this environment, which provided a favourable climate for a progressive Macedonian movement free of all foreign influence and based on specific local conditions, that powerfully influenced Gotse Delchev to choose the correct aims of the Macedonian cause. This confirms the fact that Delchev had clarified his views in this respect, basing them fair and square on the progressive principles of the Macedonian revolution.



                          In reaching his revolutionary credo, he took a realistic approach, realizing and stressing the right of the Macedonian nation to independent existence. It is precisely this which shows his greatness. Thereby Delchev managed to raise himself above his contemporaries and formulate a precise, substantial concept of the essence of revolution. In his grasp of what is essential in revolution and the possibilities of transposing it to Macedonia, this "Jacobin on Macedonian and Balkan soil", as some have called him, went beyond the narrow bounds of national liberation and displayed his humanism and broad cosmopolitan outlook. The leitmotif of his ideas can be summed up in his often quoted words:



                          "I conceive of the world only as a field for cultural competition among nations." This bold sentence contains a deep humanistic note which is rarely encountered even in great men of larger stature.



                          These principles were likewise his starting point when drawing up the basic postulates of Macedonian liberation activity. What he considered to be its fundamental principle he expressed as follows:



                          "The liberation of a nation should be, first and foremost, its own work, the work of its own hands."



                          On this he developed the thesis that a nations' own struggle is the vital factor for the success of revolution. He said:



                          "Macedonia cannot count on outside help... It will be a misfortune for Macedonia if we leave others to worry about her." He went even further: "It would be unforgivable for us, of higher understanding, to suffer and bear our burden while waiting for others to liberate us."



                          Delchev considered it necessary for the revolution to pass through several stages, related to the level of education of its participants. The entire population would rise in revolt only when it felt itself free in spirit, when the armed conflict with the oppressor reflected a relatively higher level of civil awareness. He was even more concrete when he stated that "Moral revolution -revolution of the mind, heart and soul of an enslaved people - is the greatest task." This basic principle of his was further elaborated by Gjorche Petrov, another leader of Macedonian 1iberation activity, who says, speaking of Delchev's attitude:



                          "Delchev was a fanatic supporter of the maxim that slavery emanates from the slave himself, sustained more by him than by his oppressor, and that it will vanish by itself when the slave ceases to be a slave in his soul.



                          The idea of his activity," Petrov goes on to say, "was to prepare the slave spiritually for this; his hope being that he would one day see Macedonia engulfed in the fires of revolt."



                          Delchev considered that in the preparatory period a major role should be assigned to the individual, to individual struggle as the basis for collective, though he conceived this as merely a stage, a transition to a mass uprising. This is why he put such emphasis on revolutionary forces, as a means of saving the masses from unnecessary bloodshed. After this stage came the nation-wide uprising. Such an approach, he argued, was designed to ensure the success of the work. He said:



                          "I don't ask for an uprising with people who would leave me at the first setback; I want a revolution with citizens capable of withstanding all the trials of a lengthy struggle such as ours will be, owing to the political conditions - otherwise we shall be leading cattle to slaughter."



                          It was from this standpoint that he laid down the basic elements of the revolutionary movement. He proclaimed these principles, together with Gjorche Petrov, in the fundamental documents and acts of the Internal Organization (VMRO). A broad platform was set forth, acceptable to all dissatisfied elements regardless of nationality, for gaining full political autonomy as a stage leading towards Macedonian independence. The obligations and membership of each Macedonian revolutionary were strictly determined, this constituting a big qualitative step forward compared with the early acts, which were not very precisely formulated.



                          In determining the substance of liberation activity, Gotse Delchev took a more profound social attitude as his starting point. As a humanist and as a revolutionary he rejected all racial animosity. On this subject he said:



                          "I do not hate the Osmanlis (Ottomans) as a people; I fight against Osmanli tyranny as a ruling system." This democratic standpoint helped to bring about the inclusion of representatives of other nationalities in Macedonia in the revolutionary activity - the Turks, Albanians, Aromanians, Jews, Armenians and others. Yavorov made an interesting comment in this connection:



                          "National animosity vanished in the face of his persuasive preaching on behalf of a self-governing Macedonia."



                          Delchev was firmly convinced of the need for unity in the liberation struggle. Moreover, he was a strong advocate of the preservation of Macedonian territorial integrity and opposed to all plans to divide up Macedonia. Precisely for this reason he accepted the idea of a Balkan federation. His ideal was a federal Balkan republic. Thus, he endeavoured to unite all Macedonian forces to achieve success.



                          In his propaganda activity, Delchev contributed "very much to the formation and growth of Macedonian national awareness (Macedonian, not Bulgarian and not Serbian); but he did not find it necessary to come to grips with this extremely important question", as Todor Pavlov remarked in 1946. Delchev was acquainted with and took an interest in the standpoints of Teodosie Skopski, Partenija Zografski, Petar Pop Arsov, "Lozaris", Gjorche Petrov, Missirkov and others.



                          Delchev showed great concern for and endeavoured to spread revolutionary literature. On one occasion he commented:



                          "The acceptance of revolutionary ideas by the masses will be easier if Macedonian literature for mass consumption is created." And in a letter he asked:



                          "Is there no one to write at least one book in Macedonian?"



                          His concern for and efforts on behalf of Macedonian national independence, although not as developed and deep-rooted as Misirkov's, were closely and naturally linked with and derived from his entire conception of the Macedonian liberation cause. Consequently, some hypothetical views put forward in some recent publications on Delchev, which completely distort his ideas and his attitude towards the cause of Macedonian independence, are simply absurd and out of place.



                          Gotse Delchev's ideological conception of the liberation struggle of the Macedonian people was not restricted merely to the liquidation of the Ottoman system of rule, of political and despotic tyranny; on the contrary, it included a consistent struggle against the endeavours of the Balkan monarchies and their agents to establish and extend their influence in Macedonia. He was particularly active against the Bulgarian monarchy and its agents, the vrhovists, who were attempting to make use of the Macedonian liberation movement to further their own aims and interests. Delchev was categorical in his view that:



                          "The liberation of Macedonia lies in internal revolt. Whoever thinks that Macedonia can be otherwise freed is deceiving both himself and others."



                          Delchev had crystal-clear views on the aims of the Macedonian struggle and Macedonian interests. His views on this were even quoted by Dimitar Talev. Delchev said:



                          "Macedonia has her interests and policy; she belongs to all Macedonians; whoever hankers after, and works for the unification with Bulgaria and Greece may consider himself a good Bulgar or Greek, but not a good Macedonian." It was for this reason that he insisted on the preservation of the unity, independence and integrity of the Internal Organization, and thereby Macedonia, for, as he said: "If we don't do so, Macedonia will fall under one of the Balkan states or will be divided among them."



                          Delchev worked very actively, both ideologically and practically, against the harmful activity of the vrhovists aimed at penetrating into Macedonia and gaining control of VMRO. At the end of the Solun congress of VMRO in the summer of 1896, Gotse Delchev and Gjorche Petrov were elected as so-called "border representatives" of the Organization in Sofia, where they remained until 1901. This step by the Central Committee of VMRO was a very wise move, striking a blow against the vrhovists, and their anti-Macedonian movement in their own capital, at the source which inspired and directed their activities. Delchev and Petrov achieved the maximum possible success in frustrating the activity and aims of the vrhovists in their own centers, being helped in this by some progressive Bulgarian workers. Delchev was most outspoken against accepting financial assistance which screened ulterior motives. He was quite categorical on this, saying:



                          "To preserve the purity of the liberation movement and Organization - this is the primary condition for our success! To accept money from the government means, under present political conditions and in the present atmosphere, to commit oneself, to place oneself under an obligation... And the moral blow", Delchev stressed, "to the population would be very terrible: people would cease to help themselves, would always wait for outside aid, would lose their self-confidence - this would lead to the loss of the Organization's independence... The Bulgarian government", Delchev went on, "which often has aggressive aims against Macedonia, will not be slow, when it begins to give money, to take advantage of the situation created in internal affairs by the extension of this aid; it will not be satisfied with some sort of Platonic feeling, but will seek real privileges."



                          In his logical and realistic appraisal of the situation, Delchev also considered the other consequences of taking aid from the Bulgarian government:



                          "There would be other undesirable consequences. Even without this, the rest of the Balkan and European governments suspect that the Organization is inspired by Bulgarian government circles; they would like this to be true, for in that case they could put a stop to our efforts more easily and would be free to barter over and divide our country."



                          Gotse Delchev was strongly opposed to the large number of provocative acts by the vrhovists that were intended to achieve their aims in Macedonia and undermine the activities of the Organization. He spoke out particularly against premature uprisings, such as that at Melnik in 1895 and Gorna Dzhumaja in 1902, considering them the greatest evil. He said:



                          "The greatest crime one of our activists could commit before the people and before history would be to raise a premature and ill-prepared revolt. This would be tantamount to suicide for us. Many revolutions have come to a stop half way and failed to achieve their aims for these reasons. Why should we allow a similar misfortune here?"



                          In this defense of independent liberation activity, Delchev displayed all the lucidity which was at the same time the source of his farsightedness. He knew the actual situation in Macedonia and with his firm revolutionary concepts as his starting point, he took his stand on the reckless undertakings of the vrhovists. He said:



                          "If a revolt could be raised with forty men, Macedonia would have been an independent small state long ago." He was even more categorical when he stated: "It would be wonderful if the liberation of this tormented country could be attained by one puff of breath. But where is the magic power?"



                          With penetrating lucidity, Delchev expressed the realism and certainty with regard to Macedonian liberation activity which gave him the right to leadership. With his arguments and later with arms he fought for the Macedonian cause and defended the interests of the Macedonian people from all coercion.



                          Together with Gjorche Petrov, he protected the interests of Macedonia and the VMRO in confrontation with the vrhovists leaders, whose goal was to penetrate into Macedonia and direct the Macedonian movement from their centre. Delchev had a lengthy discussion on this question with General Nikolajev, then chairman of the Supreme Committee (Vrhoven komitet), who openly revealed a desire to direct Macedonian affairs. Delchev was surprised by this. Krum Hristov stated that Delchev "looked and couldn't believe his eyes... How dared he (Nikolajev) talk in that way? Did he know what sort of nation the Macedonians were?" Delchev was outraged by this approach and answered in a sharp tone:



                          "You know who we are: peasants, the inhabitants of Macedonia, the people. We cannot play at politics, nor can we allow others to play at politics with Macedonia. Ours is a life or death struggle. We shall not allow others to decide whether we shall live or die, and when. When we raise a rebellion, the people will decide... The blood of the people is precious, and we do not wish to liberate corpses but to free a living nation so that it can live on and develop."



                          This openness of Delchev with regard to the Macedonian situation was typical of the man, and was a quality shared by Gjorche Petrov.



                          Delchev was thus opposed to all infiltration from outside. On one occasion he said:



                          "While my shoulder carries a gun, Macedonia is beyond the reach of the Bulgarian officer."



                          This was linked in his mind with the role; that had been played by traitors and their harmful activity against the cause. In 1897 he had this to say:



                          "I don't believe there is any other nation that has suffered as much from its renegade sons as the Macedonian."



                          Gotse Delchev carried on the struggle against the harmful activity of counter-revolutionary elements by means of concrete practical action in Macedonia too, where, in accordance with the specific local conditions, he spread the idea of revolution, and defended the independence of the Macedonian cause.



                          * * *



                          Gotse Delchev lived only 31 years, and was active on the Macedonian revolutionary stage for about one decade all told, yet he exerted a very profound influence on the Macedonian national liberation movement; creating a unified national organism in the form of the VMRO, revealing the idea of liberty to the Macedonian nation, and tracing the path of national and social emancipation for the working masses of Macedonia. The Soviet historian V.I. Zuev states that his many-sided activity was directed towards the liberation of the Macedonian people from the oppression and exploitation of Turkish feudalism:



                          "Delchev fought for the national independence and freedom of the Macedonian people."



                          This is precisely why Gotse Delchev's role in the Macedonian national-liberation movement was so great. By his tireless activity he gave his whole being for the Macedonian people, showing confidence in its strength. Delchev led a great struggle against foreign pressure, particularly against the vrhovists, and strove to preserve the independence of Macedonian revolutionary activity. He united the Macedonian nation, and, indeed, the other nationalities in Macedonia, in the fight against Turkish tyranny and other would-be conquerors. It was for this reason that even during his lifetime, and especially after his death, he achieved great renown and authority among the Macedonian people. Giorgio Nurigiani asserted that Macedonians speak of Gotse Delchev with exalted feeling and pride, for he was "a will, a mind, and a fearless spirit."



                          The Macedonian nation values highly the role played by Gotse Delchev and his contribution to the struggle for national liberation. Referring to this national recognition, one of Delchev's biographers writes:



                          "This nation will never forget what Gotse Delchev did for it that no one before had done... showed it the way to achieve its great aim, revealed the nation's capabilities, inspired it with faith in its own forces... And the nation has always remained grateful to him."



                          Few personalities of the period of Macedonia's liberation movement have left such an indelible impression on the mind of the people as Gotse Delchev. Anton Strashimjrov commented on this:



                          "Delchev never dreamed, awake or asleep, that the whole nation, entire generations over the centuries, would pronounce his name, would relive his life in their thoughts, and keep his figure before them as an ideal." And, indeed, Gotse Delchev became, to quote Dimo Hadzhi Dimov, the flaming banner of the Macedonian people, of which Rogdaev said that "the future of the bold and energetic Macedonian nation is still to come." The ideological views and organizational activity of Gotse Delchev showed the path the future struggle of the Macedonian people should take. This was particularly apparent during the Ilinden and post-Ilinden struggles, in the desire of progressive Macedonians to carry out Delchev's ideas. The real possibility of putting these ideas into practice and going beyond them presented itself in a different historical situation that arose with the Liberation War and National Revolution of the Macedonian people, which they fought, together with the other Yugoslav peoples, during the Second World War. This struggle of the Macedonian people was "simply a continuation, in new and more difficult conditions, of its long national-liberation fight against its oppressors".



                          Happy 140th Birthday Gotse Delchev
                          Last edited by George S.; 02-03-2012, 03:53 PM.
                          "Ido not want an uprising of people that would leave me at the first failure, I want revolution with citizens able to bear all the temptations to a prolonged struggle, what, because of the fierce political conditions, will be our guide or cattle to the slaughterhouse"
                          GOTSE DELCEV

                          Comment

                          • Soldier of Macedon
                            Senior Member
                            • Sep 2008
                            • 13670

                            #58
                            Not sure if this has been posted before, but I found this old quote about Delchev as I was cleaning up some of my files:

                            Todor Pavlov (1890-1976), Bulgarian philosopher and social worker, for many years President of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, thinks that: "we can not be unjust to the memory of the great Macedonian son and therefore, all the same, we must note precisely here that Goce* had written in one of his letters: "So is there no-one to write even one book in Macedonian?" This exclamation of Goce's shows that if he had remained alive he would in no case have remained indifferent to the fact that today in Macedonia there is a volume of books, and not only poetic and publicistic ones, written in this very Macedonian language which has been formed to a significant degree and is continuously being improved upon and perfected exactly as a new Macedonian literary language. (T. Pavlov, "Goce Delchev", Makedonska mis'l, II, 1-2, Sofia, 1946, p.7)
                            In the name of the blood and the sun, the dagger and the gun, Christ protect this soldier, a lion and a Macedonian.

                            Comment

                            • George S.
                              Senior Member
                              • Aug 2009
                              • 10116

                              #60
                              Gotse Delchev – 109th Anniversary from his death

                              Gotse Delchev – 109th Anniversary from his death



                              Skopje, 4 May 2012 (MIA) - The 109 anniversary of Gotse Delchev’s death will be observed this Friday with a religious service in front of his grave in Skopje, in the "St. Spas" Church. Gotse Delchev was a Macedonian revolutionary who participated in the 1903 Macedonian struggle for freedom and independence.



                              Flower-laying ceremonies will be held at Delchev's monuments at "Macedonia" square and City Park, as well as throughout the country.



                              Moreover, the state award "Gotse Delchev" will be presented to Ivan Mikulcic, Marko Kitevski, and Toni Janevski for outstanding achievements in the field of science.



                              Visionary Delchev, who saw the world one century ago as a field for cultural contest among nations, was murdered by the Ottoman army in the village Banitsa on May 4th, 1893, while on his way to Seres.



                              The purpose of his last journey was to prevent or postpone the 1903 Ilinden uprising, which was being prepared at the Smilevo congress (May 2-7). Delchev believed political conditions were still not ripe for an uprising, which however occurred anyway three months later.



                              Gotse Delchev was born on 4 February 1872 in Kukus. He finished high school in Solun and graduated from the Sofia Military Academy. Delchev worked as a teacher in Stip, but at the same time established a network of bases, committees and units of the secret Macedonian revolutionary organization (TMORO). He took part in the 1896 VMRO Congress in Solun and served as VMRO's representative in Sofia until 1901.



                              Delchev, in his letters, which have been preserved until today, wrote about the struggle to free the Macedonian people and create an independent Macedonian state, including vast rights for the poor population.



                              "Our struggle's success will come through hard work, convincing all Turks, Greeks, Vlachs, Arnauts that we are fighting for a progressive-cultural state, based on radical and social principles, which call for extending a hand to our brothers in arms and continuing our struggle together. This is how I see the world - a field for cultural contest among nations," writes Delchev.
                              "Ido not want an uprising of people that would leave me at the first failure, I want revolution with citizens able to bear all the temptations to a prolonged struggle, what, because of the fierce political conditions, will be our guide or cattle to the slaughterhouse"
                              GOTSE DELCEV

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