Departed Moldovan writer led to final resting place

Chisinau, 15 March /MOLDPRES/ - The poet, prose writer, publicist, laureate of the National Prize and more international prizes Nicolae Dabija was led to his final resting place today. The writer died of Covid-19 at the age of 72 on 12 March morning.   

Under a decree signed by President Maia Sandu, the day of 15 March 2021 was declared Day of National Mourning, given the funerals of writer of Nicolae Dabija. The national mourning was established ‘’as a token of deep sorrow triggered by the departure of the well-known writer, leading supporter of the national revival movement, signatory of Moldova’s Independence Declaration, academician and literary historian,’’ the decree reads.    

At the mourning rally, acting Prime Minister Aureliu Ciocoi said that he was proud by the fact that generations would learn Nicolae Dabija’s works, included in school syllabi. ‘’We must study him, convey the works of Nicolae Dabija from generation to generation,’’ the acting PM said.   

In the context, Education, Culture and Research Minister Lilia Pogolsa said that Nicolae Dabija, one of the titans of the national literature, had passed away, but gave us a homework, which we must assimilate with much dignity and responsibility. ‘’He left an unparalleled literary legacy. His works represent a part of the national literature’s treasure,’’ Lilia Pogolsa stressed.       

For his part, the head of the Moldovan Writers’ Union, Arcadie Suceveanu, noted that Nicolae Dabija had been a member of the generation which made history. A the same time, academician Mihai Cimpoi said that the departed writer had been a pyramidal personality; he was editor-in-chief of the Literatura si Arta (Literature and Art) newspaper, which became a national publication, where he wrote articles on the journalistic line of poet Mihai Eminescu.

The president of Moldova’s Academy of Sciences, Ion Tighineanu, MPs Monica Babuc, Iurie Renita and Octavian Ticu, the Chisinau deputy mayor, Angela Cutasevici, Romanian lawmaker Boris Volosatii, etc. also took the floor at the rally, paying homage to the departed writer.   

Nicolae Dabija was born in the Codreni village, southern Cimislia district, on 15 July 1948. In 1972, he graduated from the Philology Faculty of the Moldovan State University (USM). In 1975, Dabija debuted with his first book, Ochiul al treilea (The Third Eye), followed by other books of poems. His novel Tema pentru acasă (The Homework) has reached its eighth edition, with more than 60,000 copies sold; it was translated in more languages, which is a record for a book of Romanian prose and was appreciated in France with the prestigious prize, Prix de l’ Autre Edition, and which appeared in the Unites States. Dabija wrote over 80 volumes of poetry, prose and essays.    

Starting from 1986, Nicolae Dabija has been editor-in-chief of the weekly newspaper Literatura si Arta – a publication which had more than 260,000 copies in its glory period. Dabija was lawmaker in Moldova’s parliament (1990-1994, 1998-2001). He contributed to the promotion of historical laws, such the Moldova’s Declaration of Independence, laws on the Tricolour as the State Flag, on the Coat of Arms and National Anthem of Moldova. He was head of the Association of the People of Science, Culture and Art, titular member of Moldova’s Academy of Sciences, honorary member of the Romanian Academy, member of L’Académie Européenne des Sciences, des Arts et des Lettres – (ALESAL), headquartered in Paris, laureate of the National Prize.

Nicolae Dabija was awarded the Order of the Republic, Order Star of Romanian in Rank of Commander, Order Cultural Merit in rank of Grand Officer, Grand Prize of the International Poetry Festival from Trieste, Giacommo Leopardi Prize of the World Poetry Centre from Recanati, Umberto Mastroiani International Poetry Prize, the Grand Prize Dulce Maria Loynaz of the International Poetry Festival from Havana, etc.

Nicolae Dabija was buried at the Central Orthodox Cemetery on the Armeneasca Street from Chisinau.