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The Trieste-based publishing house Mladika has released a new book titled Slovenska Istra in moj rojstni kraj Dekani (Slovenian Istria and My Birthplace Dekani), authored by publicist Milan Gregoric. This work marks the author’s fifth book published by Mladika in the last decade.
In the book, Gregoric addresses the post-World War II history of Dekani, noting that while specific aspects of village life have been documented in publications by local organizations—such as the hunting society, the Jadran Dekani football club, the fire department, and the local primary school—a comprehensive historical overview has been lacking. The author argues that without a consolidated record, significant events and the contributions of local figures risk being forgotten.
Gregoric highlights several key developments in Dekani, including the 1978 self-contribution initiative that facilitated village infrastructure improvements, such as road paving, water supply expansion, and the creation of a park near the church. He also documents the community’s successful opposition to highway construction plans that threatened the village’s landscape, as well as a long-term campaign against health-hazardous emissions from the Kemiplas factory.
The book further explores the cultural and social evolution of the area, including the establishment of various local associations and the creation of a park featuring stone sculptures. Gregoric also draws attention to the park of ancient Slavic gods in the hamlet of Robida, created by Vekoslav Batista, which he describes as a unique cultural asset that warrants greater institutional support and preservation.
Reflecting on the broader regional context, Gregoric discusses the post-war development of the Slovenian Istria region, noting the significant economic and cultural growth that followed the Osimo Treaty. He emphasizes the importance of documenting the contributions of educators and professionals who moved to the region to help rebuild its social and educational infrastructure, including the establishment of the university in Koper.
According to Gregoric, he initially proposed a collaborative book project to the Dekani Local Community in 2020, offering his services for free. After the local community declined due to a lack of funding, Gregoric decided to undertake the project independently to ensure the history was preserved. The resulting book was compiled with the assistance of his granddaughter, Jasna Jug, who helped organize and digitize his extensive collection of records and previous publications.
Article source: www.druzina.si | Image credit: www.druzina.si
