Albanian emigrants in Sofia created the patriotic society “Dëshira”. In Article 2 of the Statute approved by it, it was stated: “The purpose of the “Dëshira” society is to spread knowledge and to teach the Albanian language, as well as to spread Albanian language textbooks in Albania.”. It created its branches where there were emigrants, such as in Varna and Plovdiv. In 1897, it founded the “Mbrothësia” printing house in Sofia; in the years 1897-1915 it published the magazine “Kalendari kombiar“; in 1902, it opened the Albanian night school with the Albanian language teacher Kosta Jani Trebicka. The “Dëshira” society gave musical (concerts) and theatrical performances, such as the drama “Besa” (“Faith”) by Sami Frashëri; developed propaganda against the anti-Albanian activity of the Patriarchate of Istanbul; was dedicated to the publication of Albanian works, among which the writings of the national poet Naim Frashëri have taken the main place. In its activity, it was not hindered by the Bulgarian government, also due to the fact that there were no controversial political issues between Albanians and Bulgarians. (In the photo: Members of the patriotic society “Dëshira”, Sofia.)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 3 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2009, page 2508.
Photo: © Albanian Central Archive
Graphic processing: AHCF
