FAMOUS CROATS - IVAN SUPEK

IVAN SUPEK Ivan Supek (1915 – 2007), whose 100th birth anniversary we celebrate this year is considered the founder of the modern natural sciences in Croatia – among his merits are the founding of the Institute “Ruđer Bošković”, initiation of postgraduate study of natural sciences, reorganisation of the University of Zagreb and the founding of the Inter-University Centre of Dubrovnik. Through such activities during whole his life he significantly contributed to our community and as humanist, peacemaker and philosopher he was active and thought at global level and was unremittingly engaged in disarmament, protection of nature and social justice. (Citoyens du Monde, Pugwash Conference, World without the Bomb, Dubrovnik-Philadelphia Statement). In his last, posthumously published book “Trinitas” he sends us the following message: “Never before has the western world to such a high degree been haunted by only one ideology - liberal capitalism and never before has the opposing of different ideas in the western world been silenced to such a degree as in today's globalisation to which the scientific and technical evolution gave tremendous power - equally for good and for evil. And, if there still exist some murmuring discussions going on on the truth and sense of life in intellectual „“boondocks“, they have no influence on the public dominated by mass media, mainly occupied with money, parties fighting to come to power, sports spectacles, performances by media stars, scandals , violence, sex and criminal activities. The most important thing is to amuse the public and transfer them into a fictitious world so that they don t start thinking about the direction our civilisation has taken and toward which it is galloping.” Important and extensive is also the literary work by Ivan Supek; let us just mention his plays “Heretik” (The Heretic) and “Proces stoljća” The Process of the Century and the novels “Opstati usprkos” (Surviving despite) “Extraordinarius”, “Krivovjernik na ljevici” (Heretic on the Left) and “Krunski svjedok protiv Hebranga” (Crown Witness against Hebrang) in which he more or less directly treated the problems of duplicity of the society, which during his life (too)often caused him problems and led him to isolation and many years of political persecution. Ivan Supek (son)