DO YOU KNOW WHICH TWO GREAT MEN ARE BURIED IN MALI RAZBOJ?

Mali Razboj, a small village in the fertile region of Lijevče Polje near Srbac, preserves stories of heroes, artists and intellectuals whose legacy continues to inspire new generations.

PHOTO: Aloinline.ba

Writer and professor of Serbian language and literature Miloš Milinčić often returns to the courtyard of the local elementary school in Razboj, where history and art intertwine in a unique way. According to him, this small village has produced numerous heroes and artists whose stories deserve to be remembered.

For generations, local residents have passed down stories about the bravery of Vidak Novković, a local hero who stood against the Ottoman Empire in 1830 and took part in the famous Mašić Rebellion.

Milinčić wrote lasting records about Novković, believing that only the written word can truly survive through time.

“Vidak Novković from Razboj opposed the powerful Turks in 1830 and participated in the well-known Mašić Rebellion. He was not alone, his people stood with him. However, the Turks deceived and executed him at this very place, as written on the memorial plaque. A century later, the people of this region erected a monument in his honor,” Milinčić explained.

Only about fifty meters east of Novković’s grave stands the resting place of another prominent figure from the village – renowned actor Uglješa Kojadinović. Kojadinović was a leading figure of Zagreb’s dramatic theatre scene, remembered for his masterful performances in numerous theatre and television roles before eventually returning to his homeland to be buried in Razboj.

Milinčić says Kojadinović’s grave carries a deeply emotional message. The actor personally wrote the epitaph engraved on his tombstone:

“Tired of touches, of lips, of the constant presence of death, tired of mankind, I went toward my destiny, toward my fragment.”

According to Milinčić, Kojadinović’s funeral transformed the small village cemetery into something resembling an ancient Greek arena, as famous actors Fabijan Šovagović, Rade Šerbedžija and Milan Štrljić stood side by side, reciting verses in honor of their late colleague.

Milinčić himself is the author of several important literary works, including the novel Raspeće. The wider region is known for its rich literary tradition, with writers and publicists continuously documenting local history and stories.

Among them are Dragan Đurđević, who wrote about Razboj, university professor Rodoljub Oljača, who documented nearby Kladari, and Goran Babić, who is currently preparing his first collection of homeland stories.

Today, Razboj remains a place where history and literature can be experienced at any time of the year — thanks to the legacy of its remarkable people.