A scholar, a full-time worker, a husband and a father: Dimal Basha races to meet his dreams

By: Kosovo Diaspora    March 3, 2013

Basha says: ”I recall the great Gjergj Fishta who said soon after Albania’s independence. “Shqipnia u ba, tash duhen ba shqiptaret [Albania is created. Now we need to create Albanians].” In this case, Kosova accomplished it’s dream to be an independent country by breaking its chains from an outside oppressor. Now it is time to focus on domestic issues and set our priorities straight. Albanians were there to sacrifice their lives in war, but I strongly believe it is just as important that they continue to “sacrifice” in peace. In other words, the collective energy of our people should be invested in channeling new opportunities and build the country that faces many challenges ahead. It will be a long bumpy road ahead, but if we are honest and promote people who have a vision and care about their country, Kosova has a bright future ahead”.

Dimal Basha express the importance of attending at a school ”… where conventional thinking is challenged and there is a new approach to issues that the world faces everyday”, thus The New School is the one.  Mr. Basha talks about his thesis and why he chose that topic: ”I am currently working on how Islamic movements are presenting a challenge to the countries in transition like Kosova. I have been studying Conflict & Security and this subject has been of a great interest to me since new religious movements have taken root in the Balkans after the early nineties. ”

Mr. Basha tells Kosovo Diaspora, that working and attending school full-time while being a husband and a father at the same time is a challenge. He also emphasizes the importance of his family, that without them this would not be possible. ”I have three roles that it is often hard to find the balance without the support of others ”.  Due to his heavy schedule, Dimal Basha, would only see his wife and son during the weekends.”…I left early when they were asleep and came back after midnight and find them asleep”

Mr. Basha therefore tries to spend as much time as possible with his family whenever he get some freetime, while at the same time trying to study for his exams. He tells Kosovo Diaspora that he hopes to finish his studies and then settle into a more ‘normal’ schedule.

Mr. Basha continues with expressing how grateful he and his wife is for the help they got from his parents from day one, with everything from settling to supporting his education. ” We lived with them for 4 years and found indispensible encouragement and love that helped us to accelerate in our lives”.

While talking about the future he hopes to finish his studies and become an american citizen. Basha aslo plans to continue his freelancing, he has been actively writing for some Intelligence Magazines in the US and also published a few articles in Kosovo. Mr. Basha finds it hard to make long-term plans, but says that there is a responsibility in us educated men and women that are living overseas, to give back and contribute to our society and means that it would all be worthless if we dont give back. He continues with saying that”… we have a responsibility to leave a better world than the one we found”.

When asked about Kosovos future, he says ”I will recall the great Gjergj Fishta who said soon after Albania’s independence. “Shqipnia u ba, tash duhen ba shqiptaret [Albania is created. Now we need to create Albanians].” In this case, Kosova accomplished it’s dream to be an independent country by breaking its chains from an outside oppressor. Now it is time to focus on domestic issues and set our priorities straight. Albanians were there to sacrifice their lives in war, but I strongly believe it is just as important that they continue to “sacrifice” in peace. In other words, the collective energy of our people should be invested in channeling new opportunities and build the country that faces many challenges ahead. It will be a long bumpy road ahead, but if we are honest and promote people who have a vision and care about their country, Kosova has a bright future ahead”.

He also adds that it is important that we recognize the problems within the country and means that people needs to raise their voice, because silence in Mr. Bashas opinion, is dangerous in a democratic soceity.

Mr. Basha talks about how the diaspora is a powerful asset and should not be ignored. It is cruical that the government pays more attention and implements projects to mobilize the 1/3 of people that is living overseas, says Basha. He continues with telling about an idea of his own, ” I recently proposed an idea that would link our homeland and the students working overseas. With the help of our government, I think we can have educated students with little incentives go teach summer courses and at the same time get to know their country more. This can be a major benefit to our country in the future and the project will serve as the bridge that will bring them together”.

Read Dimal Basha’s blog at http://www.dimalbasha.com/
Follow Dimal on Twitter @dimalbasha