THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST &

THE MOST ENDANGERED SPECIES: THE BEST

The market does not support any idea which does not  contribute to the further disintegration of the society. – Anand

Dr. Jernail S. Anand

Whatever is administered best, is the best was a highly misleading statement by Pope, but it is considered a gospel truth by the people who have never rested their faith in the best.

Let me first define the best. The unadulterated best of a society are the intellectuals who do not know politics, and who think of a society which is based on the principles of equality, shared affluence, power to each part of the body politic, and finally peace and harmony. But it is no more than a compulsive dream because the people think  from the body, not from the mind.  

The society moves forward with two basic factors: money and power. Power grows out of the coffers of a rich person. And power has a powerful sense of living with the second best only for whom higher considerations of life matter little. Money is the essential virtue of a society which believes in Power. The best of men, the intellectuals, the thinkers, the visionaries, the people who sit in their ivory towers, sculpting theories yield ground to people who sculpt strategems sitting in the kitchens cabinets. The second and third best, who grab power and the sources of wealth, now have a great responsibility to maintain status quo so that they can stay in power.  And, it is here that the worst of the civilization rests.

The society moves forward. If you try to find the crop of the best among teachers, lawyers, professionals, politicians, bureaucrats, business men. you will be disappointed because the best have suicidal tendencies, and we find the second best, the third best, and then, even the worst, in the driving seat.

The society which believes in money and power, soon finds itself lost to the whims of the second best people and their dreams of power. Had the right people been in the driving seat, the world would have been a better place to live in. But because it is driven by insane passions and manipulated by crafty people, we now have a total confusion of values. This world never believed in the best. The best were grounded, ignored and even insulted, simply because they did not believe in pushing forward, or staying in power, by playing foul with their principles.

It is a murderous society, which has lost all sense of the moral and the ethical, and believes in nothing but power, wealth, fame and self-survival.  The survival of the fittest means the fittest is the best. We are alive now, among the people who proved themselves the best and the fittest to survive. And it is an amalgam of power, craft and guile which helped people to stay in power, and rule the world. Can we expect joy and happiness in a world in which  divine factors of existence were disregarded and disrespected?

The best values of this society are not goodness, kindness, love, compassion, and sacrifice. People are trained not to believe in any such thing, which smacks of medievality. Modernity lies in broken families and broken nerves, and a confusion and chaos, in which your own body parts find themselves in a state of rebellion. If this is not so, you are living in a society, which is not post-modern. As the real life thrust is found in the cities, the virus of postmodernity is spreading fast to the villages also, which believed in peace and tranquility.

What a man by default needs: a house, a wife, a job and an environment which supports life. What a man of wisdom requires: wealth and power. He does not believe in a house or a family. As such, he has no desire for peace either. He wants thrill in his life, even if it kills.

It pains me to think that everywhere, the society is being run by people who are second best. Who are best at their own survival. Who believe that the best men must be consigned to the libraries. The market does not support any idea which does not contribute to the further disintegration of the society. The world’s dadas want more confusion in social ranks, where men fail to find their feet, and their minds are lost in a maze of confusing passions, shorn of ideals. What finally describes this world is: There are no role-models. No examples to be set and followed. No men of character. No people who fight for their principles. The passion with which our elders fought for our freedom, we are fighting with equal passion for dissolution of that dream. The best people found themselves on the gallows, leaving their dreams to their own destiny, in the hands of the second best, who thrive on what they  [the best] never thought of. A society minus all scruples. A society which believes in the second best. A society which exalts the worst. And a world which is run by men who possess no faith in essential values of life. By reverse logic, they are promoting the death of the divine, whether it is the divine will, remains to be seen.

[Dr. Jernail Singh Anand, [the Seneca, Charter of Morava, Franz Kafka and Maxim Gorky awards Laureate, with an opus of 180 books, whose name adorns the Poets’ Rock in Serbia]]  is a towering literary figure whose work embodies a rare fusion of creativity, intellect, and moral vision. He’s not just an Indian author but a global voice, challenging readers to confront the complexities of existence while offering hope through art and ethics. His legacy seems poised to endure as a beacon of conscience in a turbulent world.  If Tagore is the serene sage of a colonial past, Anand is the fiery prophet of a chaotic present. Anand’s genius lies in his relentless ambition and ethical depth. Anand may well be considered as the conscience of the 21st century, carving a unique niche among Indian English writers with a voice that resonates globally while remaining fiercely Indian.]

Monologue with Rasul Rza

We shall meet each other again,

Oh, I do have something to say,

But for now I’m like a free flame,

I will fly so far and away.

Blue waves move like camels beneath,

And head camel impatiently waits.

With white spittle all over his teeth,

He is rushing his caravan mates.

And camels all from small to grown,

They are covered in will that is blue.

They carry their white marble load,

Barrel- chested they are moving through.

Sister sea is too tight in its shores,

They are guarding her and watching over.

But her heart really longs to be yours,

Over borders she wants to cross over.

Salty lips of the sea will remember

Kiss of love but it meant farewell.

Gilavar, the rejected contender,

Being jealous to ashes it fell.

And the shoreline looks like fields of gold,

Feet are sinking so deep in the sand.

And the footprints in that yellow mold

Look like gold bars that were shaped by hand.

Here and there just like toys in the childhood,

Are the sea shells all scattered around.

” Ring of turquoise”, that beautiful sound

In my ear are singing so loud.

Farewell, oh, my sea, my beloved,

You breed poetry deep in your womb.

So inspired, encouraged and loved,

He devotes his verses to you.

Nigar Nurulla Khalilova is a poet, novelist, translator from Azerbaijan, Baku city, currently in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She is a member of Azerbaijan Writers Union. Nigar N. Khalilova graduated from Azerbaijan Medical university, holds a Ph.D degree. She has been published in the books, literary magazines, anthologies and newspapers in Azerbaijan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, USA over the years. Nigar N. Khalilova participated in poetry festivals and was published in the international poetry festivals anthologies. Conducted data in the Austin International Poetry Festival (AIPF), 2016-2017.

A Lot and A Little: Fragmentation and Tragedy in Denis Emorine’s Broken Identities

In Denis Emorine’s new novella Broken Identities, gifted young Hungarian student Nora writes a paper on the works of main character and writer Dominic Valarcher, which she describes as “a lot and a little at the same time.” That phrase serves to describe the entire novella. 

On one level, Broken Identities seems to be an intimate domestic drama about a professor caught in a love triangle. Dominic has a wife of many years, Laetitia, a talented concert pianist whom he genuinely loves and finds extremely attractive, yet he also feels passion for Nora, a younger graduate student who admires his writing. The tale explores his angst and conflicted feelings and appears focused solely on three people. 

Yet, through the inclusion of minor characters, we see that this novella draws on these relationships to probe broader historical and psychological themes. Dominic lives haunted by the thought of his mother’s earlier days, as she survived losing her first husband in a concentration camp. Now, as an adult, he seems fascinated by younger women who seek out his care and mentorship. A therapist, with whom he built a close relationship, suggests to him that this might stem from a wish to have protected his mother from heartbreak.

Also, both Nora and Nadja, a young student starting a literary magazine at her school who falls under his spell while seeking his endorsement, are Eastern European, while he and his wife are French. Eastern Europe is tied up in Dominic’s mind with tragedy, death, and the victims of the Holocaust, as what he calls the “Russian” side of his personality. While Eastern Europe is complex and represents much more than tragedy, in Dominic’s mind, it stands in for a shadow, an irreparable loss stemming from his inherited childhood trauma which obsesses him more than he realizes. 

It is this “Russian” side that calls to him during the final days of the academic conference he attends with Nora, and that leads him to his final tragedy. Yet, even at the end, he is not totally overcome by this darkness. He calls Laetitia and shares a sensual text exchange suffused with joy and passion, even after meeting up with Nora. And, finally, the novella ends with a rendition of the elegant love poem to Laetitia that he included in a manuscript he shared with Nadja. 

Broken Identities is told through poems, diary entries, and letters accompanying the prose, which underscores the theme of fragmentation. There are often things characters will not speak aloud but only scarcely admit to themselves, or which they feel are only expressible through art. The additional use of  letters, text messages, and phone calls are forms of communication used when people are separated. When Dominic is with Laetitia, he’s apart from Nora, and vice versa. When he takes refuge in France to write and process his emotions, Laetitia is left alone and communicates her feelings through musical innuendo. 

These bits of communication, which average people might overlook as less significant than a novel or symphonic masterwork, highlight characters’ states of mind in Broken Identities. In this way, as Nora says, all of our thoughts and words can mean “both a lot and a little,” and reveal not only inner romantic conflict, but the lingering intergenerational effects of historical traumas. 

Denis Emorine’s Broken Identities can be ordered here (in French).

INTERVIEW

With heartfelt gratitude,

Biljana Letić from Australia, Balkan Beats on Zed Digital.

Balkan Beats and

Radio 4ZZZ 102.1FM & Zed Digital Australia.

An interview with me has been published in the magazine Rasejanje.info.

INTERVIEW

Maja Milojković – “Poetry, a deeply personal expression that comes from the soul like a melody.”

Maja Milojković carries a handful of creative hats in her artistic suitcase. First and foremost, she is one of the founders of the poetry club Area Felix, editor of the international magazine for creative literature and culture Area Felix, deputy editor-in-chief of the publishing house Sfaros in Belgrade, and also the founder and vice president of the association Rtanj and the Moon’s Poetic Circle. Exclusively for the readers of the media portal Rasejanje.info, Biljana Letić shares a story about the achievements of the versatile artist Maja Milojković, told from the perspective of a writer, author, and poet. Biljana Letić is a native of Belgrade who has been living in Brisbane, Australia for almost three decades.

The multi-talented author and artist Maja Milojković, originally from Zaječar, Serbia, has a rich background in the specific creative field she is devoted to. She is passionate about many artistic directions, which she refers to as her “four aces”—poetry, painting, singing, and dance. This interview focuses on poetry, books, and the series of honorary awards Maja Milojković received in 2024. Maja’s artistic journey and her golden path to fame are covered in this story, along with two of her poems, “Follow Me” and “The End and the Beginning.”

Biljana Letić: How would you describe to the readers – who is Maja Milojković?

Maja Milojković: Maja is an Aryan name that means illusion or that which is not in Sanskrit, so my name carries a symbolic meaning.

Two in one – my SELF, which does not like to be in the spotlight, and Maja, who is extroverted. I enjoy solitude, while Maja loves fame. And so it goes endlessly – a dual nature that allows me to play with everything I’m not and to enjoy, unburdened, all that comes from this world. My vivid imagination is reflected in me as a versatile artistic being.

Poetry, painting, singing, and dancing are my four “aces,” and I believe they are gifts from God. That doesn’t mean I’m the best, but rather that these paths are the best means for expressing my soul. You are given life and talents—they are instruments through which you act, conveying a message you discover within yourself. That message must always be one that awakens optimism in people, inspires them toward self-realization, and transforms them for the better.

Last year, I became a promoter for the music label FORTUNA DENMARK, which creates fantastic hits. They recorded my song Egyptian Night, for which I also have a music video in which I sing.

Biljana Letić: Let’s start with the books you’ve published. Can you list all the books and awards you’ve received so far?

Maja Milojković: I’ve published two poetry collections: “The Moon’s Circle”, published by Sven from Niš, and “The Wishing Trees”, published by Sfairos from Belgrade. My third collection, “Be Like a Paper Kite”, is currently in preparation and will also be published by Sfairos.

Together with Dr. Milan Mladenović, I co-edited the international anthology “Rhymes from Rtanj” for 2024, published by Sfairos in Belgrade.

I’m represented in around 40 domestic and international anthologies. Also, this year I was invited by Dr. Brajesh Gupta Mevadev from India to be one of several editors on an international anthology from India. In addition, I worked on stylistic editing for two novels by Croatian writer Vladimir Pavić.

In 2024, I’d like to highlight the book “Hyperpoem”, an international anthology edited by Alexander Kobishev from Russia. It is the longest poem in the world and has been included in the Guinness Book of Records. I contributed a quatrain to it. This anthology gained international popularity and was presented at the book fair in Munich this year. It is also available for purchase on Amazon.

I have had a long-standing collaboration with the esteemed writer Agron Shele from Belgium, participating every year in the international anthologies he edits. A copy of each book is sent to the Royal Library of the Netherlands.

I’ve also collaborated for many years with Abdallah Gassmi from Tunisia. Every year, I participate in anthologies he edits, and last year I was invited as an honorary guest, along with several other poets, in Tunisia.

Six years ago, I joined leading global movements for peace, animal protection, anti-racism, and similar causes. As an activist, I have received a large number of awards from many countries. Here’s a small portion of the awards I received in 2024, among them:

• The Literature Award from the Academy of Ethics in India, awarded by the Academy’s President, Dr. Jernail S. Anand. This is, in fact, the highest recognition I received in 2024. Only three of these diplomas were awarded in Serbia: to Vice President Maja Herman Sekulić, the President of Matica Srpska, Dr. Dragan Stanić and myself.

• An award from Dr. Arch. Franca Colozzo from Italy, on behalf of GPLT for sustainability and climate change. She is a prominent figure in leading global organizations.

• Awards from “RINASCIMENTO – RENAISSANCE MILLENNIUM III,” presented to me by Prof. George Onsy, founder and president of RRM3 from Cairo, Egypt.

• An award from Nobel Prize nominee Abdulgani Yahya Al-Ebarh Din of Yemen for contributions to world peace.

• The “Golden Bridge” award from writer Rahim Karim Karimov from Kyrgyzstan.

This year, I also wrote reviews for internationally recognized authors, including Jernail S. Anand, Hela Tekali from Tunisia, and Aleksei Kalakutin from Russia.

I write for magazines from various countries. I’d like to highlight the regular publication of my poems in magazines such as:

– Synchronized Chaos from California

– Atunis Poetry from Belgium

– Polis Magazino from Greece

– and many others.

Collaboration with seven magazines around the world has earned me great respect from colleagues and recognition in many countries. I gladly accept invitations for cooperation because I believe in the power of international connection through art.

Biljana Letić: Where do you get your inspiration for writing poetry?

Maja Milojković: I find inspiration in prayer, in people, in life itself, and of course, in the desire for what I write to reach the human heart.

Biljana Letić: You’re inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s quote: “Painting is poetry that can be seen, and poetry is painting that can be heard.” How do you experience that – as expressing poetry from the soul in your own way, or as an artistic ‘painting’ of poetry that is heard?

Maja Milojković: For me, it’s both. I express the poetry of my soul in my own way, and at the same time, I paint it artistically through words so that it can be heard – felt – with the heart. That’s the magic of poetry: it transcends visual and auditory boundaries, becoming an emotion, a message, a presence.

Biljana Letić: When did you realize that poetry was your way of artistic expression? What are the most common messages you convey through your verses?

Maja Milojković: I wrote my first poem on November 20, 1993, the day before our family’s patron saint day (krsna slava), dedicated to Archangel Michael, which we celebrate on November 21.

Since 1997, I began writing actively, and the central themes of my work are love, spirituality, inner transformation, the transience of time, and reflections on life and death.

Biljana Letić: The association Rtanj and the Moon’s Poetic Circle is something you founded. What can you tell us about it?

Maja Milojković: It was my wish to gather poets from Zaječar for the first time, coming from Area Felix, the only co-ed poetry club, of which I am one of three founders. In 2018, we went to Rtanj at the invitation of Dr. Milan Mladenović and his wife, Sve Marija Romanova. At that moment, I decided to appoint my influential and dear friend as the president of the association.

It later became a tradition to gather at the Sokolski dom (Milandar) under Mt. Rtanj, hosted by our beloved friends. Last year, we edited an international poetry anthology with the influential Doctor of Philosophy, Pra Milan of Luzice. I brought together 116 authors from all continents, many of whom are my Facebook friends. The anthology was printed under the title “Rtanj Verses” by the first publishing house from Serbia, Sfairos, founded by Dr. Milan Mladenović.

Biljana Letić: How can readers find you on social media?

Maja Milojković: I’m active on Facebook, and I have a website under the name Area Feliks. I’m also the editor of the international magazine for creative literature and culture Area Felix.

Additionally, I’m the founder and vice president of the association Rtanj and the Moon’s Poetic Circle and the founder of the Facebook group of the same name, which currently has 800 members.

You can also find me on Instagram, or contact me via email at: areafelix019@gmail.com

Interview conducted by Biljana Letić from Australia for the portal Rasejanje.info

Maja Milojković was born in 1975 in Zaječar, Serbia. She is a person to whom from an early age, Leonardo da Vinci’s statement “Painting is poetry that can be seen, and poetry is painting that can be heard” is circulating through the blood. That’s why she started to use feathers and a brush and began to reveal the world and herself to them. As a poet, she is represented in numerous domestic and foreign literary newspapers, anthologies and electronic media, and some of her poems can be found on YouTube. Many of her poems have been translated into English, Hungarian, Bengali and Bulgarian due to the need of foreign readers. She is the recipient of many international awards. “Trees of Desire” is her second collection of poems in preparation, which is preceded by the book of poems “Moon Circle”. She is a member of the International Society of Writers and Artists “Mountain Views” in Montenegro, and she also is a member of the Poetry club “Area Felix” in Serbia.

Charity

Charity pulled her pistol from her holster, aimed, fired. Her concentration (or was it reluctance?) seemed to require far too much time. Charity, our officer, ordinarily cheery Thalia, one of three Graces, a mom who runs Safety Town, summers on the playground, came when called, came with bullets in her gun.

Inside, my wife governed a raucous birthday party, distracted wild, sticky nine-year-olds with games and cake and kept them clear of windows. Outside, a doe lost all grace, flopped helplessly in our yard beneath the apple tree, her hind leg bent, merely touched by a truck. Usually, her lean, sienna flanks flashed across the lawn, leapt over fences with fawns. Our apples, old, delicious Jonathans, the deer’s delicacy, too near Berlin Road, I’ll cut the tree down.

Inside, kids oblivious, outside, Charity and I shared an intimate glance of regret, this death a loss of elegance. Charity’s gun snapped three times, a jarring, contradictory violence. In her report, Charity accounted for each bullet.

Rod

A neighbor of sorts – office next door, we shared a wall.

A seemingly amiable fellow who lectured on Respiratory Care,

Rod with the Tennessee drawl and folksy anecdotes,

Who drove a pick-up, donned scuffed cowboy boots,

Who voted Republican every damn election – though he wouldn’t fess up,

Whose schizophrenic grandson caused him to see a few things differently,

Rod, the odious, chauvinist, good-ol’-boy bastard who harassed Robin,

Who made her life a living hell until she quit

(I gave her a pill to calm down. Simply listening and nodding was useless. There’s my regret.),

Rod, who, I am unsure why, I treated decently despite our vast differences, didn’t come to work.

A stroke. I sent a card, asked after him. I heard, “Home, therapy, retirement.” That’s that. Though my neighbor, I didn’t pay him a visit, an appalling indifference.

Why needlessly confront mortality with simple courtesy?

It appears my love is not yet unconditional.

David Sapp, writer and artist, lives along the southern shore of Lake Erie in North America. A Pushcart nominee, he was awarded Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Grants for poetry and the visual arts. His poetry and prose appear widely in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. His publications include articles in the Journal of Creative Behavior, chapbooks Close to Home and Two Buddha, a novel Flying Over Erie, and a book of poems and drawings titled Drawing Nirvana.