PAKO SUDUPE.
Abstract:
The author of this article, Pako Sudupe, has recently published two books, one of them about political ideas and patriotic struggle of Txillardegi, Txillardegiren borroka abertzalea (“The Patriotic Struggle of Txillardegi”; Elkar, 2016), and the other on Telesforo Monzon, Telesforo Monzon. Aristokrata abertzalea (“Telesforo Monzon, The Patriotic Aristocrat”; XX, 2018). Both books provide a political biography of two major Basque nationalists and language activists. Two compelling works to get an insight into these two influential Basque nationalist figures of Basque contemporary history.
Both Txillardegi and Monzon made a huge contribution to Basque nation building, undertaking hard work to foster Basque language and blazing the trail to gain a Basque republic.
Monzon and Txillardegi first met in 1957, with their friendship and complicity lasting until death. While Txillardegi was a socialist and Monzon a Christian Democrat, their deep-rooted attachment to the Basque Country held both major figures of Basque nationalism together, persuaded that the freedom of the Basque homeland prevailed over disputes between left and right. So following the dictator Franco’s death, they joined in the same nationalist political plataform, Herri Batasuna, just after the expulsion of Monzon from his regular party, PNV.
Both Monzon and Txillardegi yearned for a free nation extending from the banks of the river Adour to the Ebro, a unified Basque Country, pivoting on territoriality, inclusive attitudes and Basque language. They considered necessary to bond its inhabitants together by means of Basque. They were adamant that no Basque Country would exist without Basque. These premises make up for the main teachings transmitted over by the two Basque nationalist figures.
