Gordana - For You

"It all started with my greatgreat-grandfather
Dervish
who passed on his trade to
his son, my great grandfather
Tahir, who then passed
it on to my grandfather
Sadri, who passed it on to
his son, my father Meta,
from whom I then willingly
took it over and it seems
likely now that my son
Rexha will continue our
family trade. In this way, for
more than 300 years, this
mill has been the property
of my family's, generation
after generation."
This is how Mr. Rrustem
Berisha begins telling
the story about his family's
unique relation with the
water mill situated at the
entrance of Isniq village in
Decani municipality. The good
condition of the stone building
proves that despite its age,
and with thanks to the dedication
and care of the members
of the family, this mill has survived
through the years and remains to this day functional.
Mr. Berisha attributes his spiritual bond with the mill to several
reasons. The first is the fact that this is one of the oldest buildings
in this area, and it has been so well preserved that it still looks as it
did centuries ago. Secondly, for generations his family have
worked in the mill and have earned their daily bread from this
activity, and lastly, is the social significance of the mill.
In the past, a mill was not only the place where people would
grind their wheat or corn. As there were very few mills, sometimes
people had to wait for days until they could make use of the mill. "If
only these walls could talk, they could tell us all sorts of stories - both
happy and sad. I say this because in this very mill, many relations
and friendships were founded. People would learn what was going
on in other villages and regions. There were also cases where
needy people came to ask for some flour if they had no bread at
home for their families. Every time this happened, my family would
never refuse to help," explains Mr. Berisha. He also emphasised that
the mill doors have always been open to everybody, regardless of
their ethnic background. What is more important is that during the
time people waited for their turn to grind, the Berisha family prepared
food for all of them. This is why it is inconceivable to Mr. Berisha and
his son to simply close the door on a tradition of over 300 years old
let it become a part of history. They therefore continue to maintain
the building, the mill mechanisms and the water flow, which, sometimes
becomes blocked by garbage.
Mr. Berisha tells us that until today, his family carry on the traditions
passed down from their ancestors. This means that they do not
charge money for their services but that the payment is made in flour:
for every hundred kilograms of flour ground, ten are taken as payment.
This practice is known as "Ujem". Mr. Berisha tells us that even
his measuring bowl is inherited from his grandfather. From one hundred
kilograms of flour ground, ten such bowls are taken, although
when measured, this equals just around 8,5 kilos, and not ten, as is
the deal. "After I take these 10 bowls, my father has always urged me
to return a handful of flour from my share to the client, to make sure
that there is no loss on behalf of the client."
At the end of our conversation, Mr. Berisha told us how happy he
was that one of his sons is dedicated to carry on the family tradition.
His greatest wish is that in the future, one of his nephews will decide
to continue the family tradition, and ensure the preservation of this
pearl in Kosovo's cultural heritage, known simply as "The Tahir
Sadriaj Mill" of Isniq village.