Academician Filipović: For a life worthy of a man, one should work, create and write, teach people and learn from people

The symposium "The Life and Opus of Academician Muhamed Filipović" celebrating his 90th birthday was held on Saturday, 12 October 2019, in the packed University of Sarajevo Ceremonial Hall, organized by the Bosniak Academy of Sciences and Arts and the University of Sarajevo.

Academician Filipović’s colleagues, friends, academicians, professors and scientists: University of Sarajevo Rector, Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj, academicians: Muamer Zukorlić, Asim Kurjak, Mehmed A. Akšamija, Enver Halilović, Miro Jakovljević, Galib Šljivo, and Refik Šećibović and lecturers from the Young Scientists Club at BAN spoke about his life and opus and mentioned academician Muhamed Filipović’s contribution at the Symposium.

A monograph dedicated to the life and work of academician Muhamed Filipović, edited by full members of BANU - academicians Mehmed A. Akšamija and Asim Kurjak, was also published.

University of Sarajevo Rector, Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj emphasized that "the Bosnian society and science’s past and present has in academician Muhamed Filipović an extremely valuable example of an authentic Bosnian scientific leader and contemporary thinker, persistent and courageous in critical thinking of society and its development, and, at the same time, an unwavering advocate of political and civic actions. The proceedings devoted to the life and opus of academician Filipović by distinguished fellow scholars vividly testify that 70 years of his scientific work are inextricably linked to the 70 years of our University."

Academician Muamer Zukorlić, whose contribution in the Monograph is entitled: “Academician Filipović - the colossality of one mind”, emphasized that his every speech about Academician Filipović was actually a speech about freedom and dignity.

It was a great responsibility to edit the Monograph on Academician Filipović because it is about a man of sumptuous minds, erudite and a true scientific leader, said Academician Asim Kurjak. "It was not easy to round up that rich opus and not even pick out the essential notes from such a rich biography" said Academician Kurjak, adding that what was written and what will be said today at the gathering is by no means all that the great mind can tell.

Speaking about the life and work of Academician Filipović, academician Mehmed A. Akšamija pointed out that there are few people who have such a significant oeuvre, as well as presence in the public, as academician Filipović has. He also emphasized: "The core of the Monograph is related to the 'exploitation of the Bosnian spirit', and the content is essentially about respecting the other and the different. That is the basis and that is what Academician Filipović propagated, and I think we should all be grateful to him for that."

Academician Muhamed Filipović said that he was proof that one should try hard and disregard anything. “One should perform his function in society:  working, creating and writing. Teaching people and learning from people. This is what is necessary to live a life worthy of man, as demonstrated by me” said Filipović, adding that he has been friend with the book for 80 years and trying to learn about life and man.

In addition to symposium presenters, the contributions to the Monograph were also provided by academicians Abdulah Sidran and Ferid Muhić, and lecturers from the Young Scientists Club at BAN: Aida Kulo Ćesić, Jahja Fehratović and Selma Porović.

The University of Sarajevo is proud of the richness of life and scientific achievement of Academician Filipović - an unrivaled teacher of Bosnia and Herzegovina and of the Bosnian spirit. The impressive social and academic results of his work, as well as the peculiar method of his social and scientific engagement, will serve as a guide to the present and future generations of scientists.