Sulejman Zalla (1892–1966) was an Albanian teacher, patriot and activist of the Rilindja Kombëtare of the early 20th century. He was the founder of the first modern Albanian school in the County of Durrës.

Biography

Originally from the city of Krujë, where he was born in 1892, Sulejman Zalla pursued elementary studies in his home city and later pursued a degree in the ''Shkolla Normale'' of

Shkodër Shkodër ( , ; sq-definite, Shkodra) is the fifth-most-populous city of the Republic of Albania and the seat of Shkodër County and Shkodër Municipality. The city sprawls across the Plain of Mbishkodra between the southern part of Lake Sh ...

in order to become an Albanian teacher. On 4 March 1913, in

Ishëm Ishëm is a former municipality in the Durrës County, northwestern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality Durrës. The population at the 2011 census was 5,001.County of Durrës (which at that time included the cities of

Tirana Tirana ( , ; aln, Tirona) is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea ...

, Krujë,

Durrës Durrës ( , ; sq-definite, Durrësi) is the second most populous city of the Republic of Albania and seat of Durrës County and Durrës Municipality. It is located on a flat plain along the Albanian Adriatic Sea Coast between the mouths of the ...

and

Kavajë Kavajë ( , sq-definite, Kavaja) is a municipality centrally located in the Western Lowlands region of Albania, in Tirana County. It borders Durrës to the north , Tiranë to the east and Rrogozhinë to the south . To the west lies the A ...

). As recorded by contemporary sources, the opening of the school was met with opposition from the local authorities, which saw the teaching of Albanian in the

Latin alphabet The Latin alphabet or Roman alphabet is the collection of letters originally used by the ancient Romans to write the Latin language. Largely unaltered with the exception of extensions (such as diacritics), it used to write English and the ...

as a heresy, given the Muslim dominant culture of the area. As a result of this opposition, the student count was reduced within the first months from 40 pupils to only 10. In addition, the prefect decided to transfer away the local Muslim clergy, but the decision was reverted by governor

Esat Toptani Essad Pasha Toptani or Esad Pasha Toptani ( sq, Esad Pashë Toptani; 1863/4 or 1875 – 13 June 1920), mainly known as Essad Pasha, was an Ottoman army officer who served as the Albanian deputy in the Ottoman Parliament. He was a prominent ...

. In these conditions Muslim fanatics organized the killing of Sulejman Zalla, who was the teacher of the school, and who was declared by them as a heretic. This intention was countered by the local population of Ishëm, who took the teacher under their protection. Zalla's love for the Albanian language earned him the name of "Sulë Shqipja" (''Sulejman the Albanian language'').Sudar 2013 Esat Pasha had Zalla arrested in 1914 and kept him in prisons of Durrës and then Krujë. Rebels of the

Peasant Revolt in Albania The Peasant Revolt in Albania, also known as the Islamic Revolt or Muslim Uprising in Albania, was the uprising of peasants from central Albania, by mostly Muslims, against the regime of Prince Wilhelm of Wied during 1914. It was one of the reason ...

got him out of prison and Zalla had to become the secretary of

Haxhi Qamili Haxhi Qamili, born Qamil Zyber Xhameta, (1876 – 16 August 1915) was the leader of the 1914–15 revolt in Albania. He was popularly known by his religious name Haxhi Qamili, though he was also known as ''Baba Qamili'' (''Father Qamil''). Biogr ...

, leader of an

egalitarian Egalitarianism (), or equalitarianism, is a school of thought within political philosophy that builds from the concept of social equality, prioritizing it for all people. Egalitarian doctrines are generally characterized by the idea that all hu ...

and anti-feudal

in 1914–15. Later he managed to leave Qamili and to go to

Prênk Bibë Doda Prenk Bib Doda, also known as Prênk Pasha ( sq, Prenk Bibë Doda; 1860–1919), was an Albanian member of the Young Turks, prince of Mirdita, and politician in the Principality of Albania. Background Early years Doda was born in 1860 in Or ...

, the

bayrak Bayrak Radio and Television Corporation ( tr, Bayrak Radyo Televizyon Kurumu; BRT), is the official radio and television broadcasting corporation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. History The establishment of BRT dates back to the ...

tar of

Mirdita Mirdita is a region of northern Albania whose territory is synonymous with the historic Albanian tribe of the same name. Etymology The name Mirdita derives from a legendary ancestor named Mir Diti from whom the tribe claims descent. Other a ...

, where he obtained protection under the Albanian besa. At the end of the Peasant Revolt, Zalla returned in the municipalities of Krujë, Prezë, and Ishëm, to teach, and, eventually, in 1927, settled down in the town of

Shijak Shijak ( sq-definite, Shijaku) is a town and a municipality in Durrës County, west-central Albania. The municipality was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Gjepalaj, Maminas, Shijak and Xhafzo ...

, where he continued to teach Albanian. When Albania was under Italy during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

, Zalla put his house at the use of the resistance against fascist Italy. For this reason a decision was made that he be transferred to

Tuzi Tuzi ( cnr, Tuzi/Тузи, ; sq, Tuz or ''Tuzi'') is a small town in Montenegro and the seat of Tuzi Municipality, Montenegro. It is located along a main road between the city of Podgorica and the Albanian border crossing, just a few kilomete ...

Montenegro ) , image_map = Europe-Montenegro.svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Podgorica , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , official_languages = ...

, then part of Albania. The decision was never implemented. During

Communist Albania The People's Socialist Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika Popullore Socialiste e Shqipërisë, links=no) was the Marxist–Leninist one party state that existed in Albania from 1946 to 1992 (the official name of the country was the People's R ...

, Zalla and his brother were both arrested in 1947 for unknown reasons. He was released two years later with no right to teach. Some years later this right was granted back. At that point he went back to his teaching career and was recipient of several government medals for his educational endeavors, including the People's Teacher ( sq, Mësues i Popullit) which was granted in 1994.

References

Sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Zalla, Sulejman Date of birth missing Date of death missing Place of death missing 1892 births 1966 deaths 20th-century Albanian educators Activists of the Albanian National Awakening Albanian educators Education activists People from Krujë