A year after its publication in Serb, the book “Gumjera-Mój polski dom” by Danijel Kovč has been released in its first Polish edition and had a ceremonial promotion in Poland.
This book has garnered positive reactions both in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Poland, serving as an important source of information about a Polish colony in BiH, contributing to contemporary relations between the two countries, and exemplifying the author’s search for his own identity and heritage.
Kovč, who is the president of the Banja Luka Association of Poles, emphasized that the promotion was not just a cultural event but an emotional gathering of descendants of Polish settlers who relived memories of their ancestors’ lives through the pages of the book.
- It was very important to me that the book be published in Polish because it preserves the memory of Poles about the lives of their ancestors in BiH in the first half of the 20th century, said Kovč.
The promotion was attended by descendants of Poles from Gumjera, now residing in the villages of the Bolesławiec district. Kovč added that the book will be available in 15 major Polish libraries, making it an important archival source on the historical migrations of the Polish population.
In addition to Danijel Kovč, the book was discussed by Dr. Gordana Đurđev-Malkiewicz from the University of Wrocław and the editor of the Serbian edition, the president of the Association of Lecturers of Republika Srpska, Aleksandra Savić.
Reviews were written by Professor Milica Semkov, the founder of the Department of Serbian Language at the University of Wrocław, a highly esteemed and award-winning researcher of Slavic folklore, the history of Serbian literature, and Polish-Yugoslav relations.
In 2021, Danijel Kovč was awarded the Bronze Cross of Merit by the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda. The decoration was presented by the Polish Ambassador to BiH, Jarosław Lindenberg, highlighting the significance of his work and efforts. Kovč was nominated by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in BiH for his contributions to the cooperation between the Republic of Poland and BiH, and for promoting Polish culture and tradition in Banja Luka and BiH.
The promotion of the book in Polish was supported by the City of Banja Luka and the Ministry of Education and Culture of Republika Srpska.
Source: RTRS
