Adulla Zendeli-Daja, a life for the culture, lexicography and national question

Abstract

Sadulla Zendeli-Daja is a well-known Albanian-Swedish lexicographer, author of more than 5 Albanian-Swedish and Swedish-Albanian dictionaries, the largest with 35 thousand words, but also the author of many diverse works in prose and poetry, which reflect a mind full of love for culture, Albanian language, traditions, and art, for the homeland, his birthplace, Gostivar, for the history of the Albanian lands... Interestingly, Sadulla Zendeli-Daja, this outstanding patriot, is the most frequent, even permanent, resident of book fairs in Tirana. He has participated in all the book fairs; he was absent only once when he had an operation in Sweden, but even then, his mind and heart were there at the fair, at the books, at the letters, and at the beautiful Albanian language. No other Albanian, not even in Albania, Kosovo, or other Albanian territories and elsewhere, has participated in all the book fairs held in Tirana. This man with a golden and beautiful heart has also represented himself with works, books, poetry, prose, and well-known dictionaries. As the well- known albanologist and Great Friend of Albanians, the Swede Ullmar Qvick, rightly says: "Daja's work will live on for the benefit of Albanians, wherever they are. His honor and good name will long remain in the history of Albanian culture". The dictionaries of S.Z. Daja gets the attention of academic institutions in Albania, Kosovo, and Sweden; well-known Albanian professors have also engaged with them: Xhevat Lloshi, Rahmi Memushaj, Shefik Osmani (Tirana); Shefkije Islamaj (Kosova), the Swedish albanologist Ullmar Qvick, etc. The contribution of Sadulla Zendeli-Daja as a creator, intellectual, and citizen was and is not only an ornament but an extraordinary value and benefit to the nation.