Murat Toptani was born on July 14, 1867 in Aka, (Caucasus) during the exile of his father, Sait Toptani, by the Ottomans. He was a patriot, patriot, soldier, poet, publicist, painter, sculptor and a teacher, who worked hard to introduce the Albanian language in Turkish schools. He also mastered several foreign languages such as Turkish, French, Arabic, Persian, German and Italian. He started his studies at “Madam Fyrer” school, while he continued his higher studies at “Gallata Saraj” in Istanbul. During his studies at “Madam Fyres”, he had the opportunity to meet Asija, the daughter of the national poet Naim Frashëri and marry her.

 In 1912, Murat Toptani was a representative of Tirana in the Assembly of Vlora, where he signed the Act of Independence. Murat Toptani is known as one of the pioneers of Albanian sculpture, with Skanderbeg’s Bust. He passed away in Tirana in 1918.

In the Central State Archive, in Tirana, there is a pamphlet of 14 pages, which praises the patriotic work of Murat Toptani.

The document is in the Ottoman language, there is no translation in Albanian, for an explanation of the content: “The sheet has the character of a prose poem, where it praises the patriotic deeds of Murat Toptani. “…they told that they also killed you with treachery and torture, you will not die, you with the ideal of freedom in your heart and with the feelings of sacrifice and patriotism will remain immortal“.

The determination of this anonymous text appears to be correct. Patriotic activity, more than anything else, is likely to prove the longest-lived in history. The efforts for the issue of the Albanian nation cost him suffering and pain. He had to go through many trials and make sacrifices at a high price, but, in the end, with the signature on the Document of Independence, on November 28, 1912, opened the gates of eternity.

“I gave my life to Albania and my Albanian brothers. As long as I have a drop of blood, I will shed it for the beloved motherland, wherever I am, however it may be“, Murat Toptani – National Renaissance activist.

/a.p./