Mak Dizdar and Borislav Mihajlović Mihiz: Literary anniversaries

October 17 marks the birthdays of two significant figures in Balkan literature: Mak Dizdar and Borislav Mihajlović Mihiz.

Mak Dizdar, born in 1917 in Stolac, was a prominent Bosnian-Herzegovinian poet and journalist. His seminal work, ‘Kameni spavač’ (The Stone Sleeper), published in 1966, is considered a cornerstone of Bosnian historical and spiritual identity. Despite facing state censorship and political pressure throughout his career, his poetry, including the collection ‘Modra rijeka’, achieved lasting cultural and European significance. His legacy is honored through various streets and schools named in his memory.

Borislav Mihajlović Mihiz, born in 1922 in Irig, was a Serbian literary critic, dramatist, and writer. Known for his sharp intellect and humor, he made significant contributions to Serbian theater and criticism, notably through his play ‘Banović Strahinja’, which earned him the Sterija Award. Throughout his career at institutions such as NIN and Matica srpska, Mihiz was recognized for prioritizing literary value over ideological conformity. He passed away in Belgrade in 1997.