Viliam Pokorny, a leader in preserving Croatian identity in Slovakia, was buried on the 28th of November in Devinsko Novo Selo, Slovakia. He was the founder of the Croatian Culture Association in Devinsko Novo Selo and was also among the founders of the Croatian Culture Federation in Slovakia. He launched the magazine Hrvatska Rosa, wrote plays and poetry and collected aphorisms, which he carved into wooden spoons and boards.
Poet, journalist and a leader in preserving Croatian identity in Slovakia Viliam Pokorny (87) passed away on the 22nd of November. He wrote plays and poetry and founded Croatian language magazines. He was the founder of the Croatian Culture Association in Devinsko Novo Selo (Devínska Nová Ves) and served as its president for fifteen years. He was also among the founders of the Croatian Culture Federation in Slovakia. His funeral was held on the 28th of November in Devinsko Novo Selo.
Before he began writing in the Croatian language Pokorny worked as a journalist for a Slovakian culture magazine. He later founded and worked for the Novoseoski Glas magazine and launched Hrvatska Rosa, a magazine for all Croatian settlements and associations in Slovakia. Pokorny authored a book on the history and culture of the Gradišće Croats in Slovakia and wrote stage plays and poetry. He published a collection of poems titled Ča dan donesie (What the Day Brings) and a collection of humorous stories titled Novo selo se smije (Novo Selo Laughs). His writing has roots in Novo Selo aphorisms, which he began collecting in the 1960s. He used to carve them into wood, in wooden spoons and boards. Pokorny also wrote music for some of his poetry.
(ORF Croatian Desk)