HOW BORO (RE)TURNED THE WHEEL OF HISTORY

Boro Jokanić from the village of Drijen, near Derventa, has fulfilled a childhood dream of building his own watermill, not only to grind grain but also to create a place for enjoyment with his family and friends.

PHOTO: SRNA

“I’ve been working with water since I was little; it was my first toy and my first love,” says 69-year-old Jokanić, whose watermill is located along the Derventa–Kalenderovci road.

Jokanić’s watermill, operational since 2019, can grind up to 500 kilograms of grain in seven days, but Boro admits that he can’t meet all the needs and demands of the people who come to him.

“I didn’t focus on economics; it was more about fulfilling a youthful dream or desire,” says Jokanić.

The pensioner recalls that there used to be many more watermills along the Ukrina River.

“Life used to be unimaginable without watermills. For many, it was a main source of income, a place for gatherings, and socializing. Back then, the work was profitable, but now, it’s just a hobby,” Jokanić shares.

He points out that many generations now visit his watermill, which fills his heart with joy, and he has the full support of his family.

“The flour comes out cold. Everything has to be clean and protected from rodents. I offer white corn for food, old varieties of yellow corn that are now extinct, and red corn for diabetics, along with wheat, buckwheat, and rye,” Jokanić explains.

Due to the depopulation of the village, nearly all the watermills along the Ukrina River have shut down.

“My grandfather had a watermill, and traces of it remain. I remember that, and my uncle also had one. I spent more than 30 years abroad, but here, it’s paradise. You relax, meet people, and time passes quickly,” says Boro.

His wife, Milanka, emphasizes that she tries to support him and help maintain the watermill.

“My husband used to visit a lot of watermills. At first, I wasn’t fully on board, but now that’s in the past. It’s our little paradise, and we’re happy. We each have our own tasks and help maintain it. Many people say the flour from the watermill tastes better and smells fresh when ground, like popcorn being made,” Milanka adds.

Watermills have always been associated with various stories or legends, such as the appearance of fairies or the prohibition of visiting the mill at midnight or late hours.

“There have always been different stories, and everyone believes in their own way. I never had the need to stay overnight at the mill because it’s just three kilometers from my home, but back in the day, that was normal. It was said that fairies visited the watermill, that the wheel would stop by itself at night, or the mill would start grinding grain on its own, with strange sounds,” Jokanić laughs, adding that during the day, the sounds he hears come from frogs in the stream and birds in the nearby trees.