Well-known departed Moldovan writer would have turned 73 years

Chisinau, 15 July /MOLDPRES/ - Poet, prose writer and publicist, laureate of the National Prize and of more international prizes Nicolae Dabija would have turned 73 years today.   

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.

Two years ago, Nicolae Dabija was awarded the Medal and Prize Pjetër Bogdani, the most important literary prize awarded by the Writers' Union of Kosovo, for the volume Psalms of Dachuria (Psalms of Love), translated into Albanian by Baki Ymeri. The collection of poetry appeared in the series Bibliothéque Internationale Bruxelles under the patronage of the Council of Europe, with the subtitle Poezie românească din Basarabia. Poezie românească din Moldova (Romanian poetry in Bessarabia. Romanian poetry in Moldova).     

Nicolae Dabija died on 12 March 2021 and was buried at the Central Cemetery from Chisinau.