HISTORY OF SEMBERIJA THROUGH THE CENTURIES: A COLLECTION OF PAPERS PUBLISHED

In Bijeljina, the first collection of papers thoroughly researching the socio-political circumstances in Semberija over the past hundred years has been published, shedding light on a little-known part of this region's history.

PHOTO: Info Bijeljina

The collection of works titled "Bijeljina in the 20th Century" is the result of a scientific research project by the Faculty of Law of the University of East Sarajevo and the Zvornik-Tuzla Diocese. It is an invaluable work for future generations.

The Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of East Sarajevo, Prof. Dr. Goran Marković, reminds us that there has been very little scientific research on the development of Bijeljina during the last century, and it was necessary to illuminate the history of Semberija from all aspects during this period.

- We covered various aspects of the legal and political history of Bijeljina. We researched historical material in various archives, analyzed statutes and other legal acts, and reviewed press writings. This is an original scientific endeavor, said Dr. Marković for the InfoBijeljina portal.

The 20th century was very tumultuous for the Serbian people in this area. It is essential to highlight the significance of events that marked the past hundred years and preceded the creation of the Republic of Srpska, emphasized the editor of the collection, Prof. Dr. Dimitrije Ćeranić.

- Much of this was unknown to the professional and academic community, let alone the general public. For instance, Bijeljina was the hub of the Serbian world, a place where Serbian libertarian thought developed. Serbs on both sides of the Drina had the most points of contact precisely in Bijeljina. Bijeljina was also a focal point of significant events during the Homeland War. The Republic of Srpska received its name on September 14, 1992, during a session held in the amphitheater of the Agricultural School in Bijeljina, notes the editor of this work.

Significant historical material for the scientific papers published in this collection is also preserved in the archives of the Zvornik-Tuzla Diocese. The editor of the publishing house "Sinaj" of the Zvornik-Tuzla Diocese, Bojan Čečar, emphasized the importance of nurturing a culture of remembrance as the only way to preserve and protect the Serbian, Orthodox national identity that has existed in these areas since time immemorial.

The immense significance of this unique collection for the region was also highlighted by the prominent Bijeljina lawyer Miodrag Stojanović.

- This city and the people who live here deserve to have a written record of what happened in the last century concerning our city. If we do not leave this written for future generations, we risk history being rewritten once again, Stojanović told InfoBijeljina.

The collection "Bijeljina in the 20th Century" has been published in both Serbian and English and is available to the public at the Museum of Semberija, which is also the publisher of this important historiographical material.