THE MALLOW-COLORED GARDEN BLOOMS AGAIN: A TRIBUTE TO BRANKO ĆOPIĆ IN HIS HOMETOWN

In Hašani, near Krupa na Uni, the birthplace of renowned writer Branko Ćopić, the event "Ćopić’s Childhood Trails" was held alongside the opening of a newly built children’s theatre, "Jež’s Home" (Ježeva kućica).

PHOTO: SRNA

During the celebration, students and writers recited verses by one of the most prolific authors in the region’s literary history.

The most successful literary piece on the theme "Ježeva kućica" was written by Iva Pančić, a student at Branko Ćopić Elementary School in Banja Luka.

This year, the Blagodarje Award, presented by the Branko Ćopić Foundation, was awarded to the Branko Ćopić Public Library in Velika Popina, Gračac, Croatia.

The Branko Ćopić Foundation and the Municipality of Krupa na Uni are actively working on the ongoing project titled "The Mallow-Colored Garden – Hašani", named after Ćopić’s iconic short story collection.

The commemoration began with a wreath-laying ceremony at the writer’s bust, located near the memorial school "Branko Ćopić".

Branko Ćopić was born on January 1, 1915, in Hašani. He received his first literary award in 1938 from the Academy of Seven Arts for a short story. He won the Rakić Award in 1939, followed by the Serbian Royal Academy Award in 1940.

His anthology "The Mallow-Colored Garden" (Bašta sljezove boje) received the Njegoš Award in 1972. He also won the prestigious NIN Award in 1958 for his novel "Do Not Mourn, Bronze Guard" (Ne tuguj, bronzana stražo). In 1968, he became a member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SANU).

Branko Ćopić tragically ended his life on March 26, 1984, by jumping from a bridge over the Sava River in Belgrade.