Kosta Apostolov Solev (1908-43), popularly known as Kocho Racin, was a Macedonian revolutionary, poet and pioneer of modern Macedonian literature. His poem collection “White Dawns” (Zagreb, 1939) is one of the most important 20th century Macedonian masterpieces.
Racin was born into a very poor family in Veles. His father was a potter who earned barely enough money to provide food for his family and could not manage the financial burden of education. So Kocho finished only one year in the local gymnasium before starting work in his father’s pottery workshop at the age of thirteen. Although he had to work hard, his thirst for knowledge drove him to study at night on his own. Through sheer determination he transformed himself into one of the most remarkable Macedonian intellectuals of his time.
Racin wrote both poetry and prose. In his prose, he expounded on the Bogomils, Hegelian philosophy and feminism. In his writing, he was a cut above the typical communist abstract style that was popular in those days.
Not only was he intellectually active, creating some of the most inspiring and revealing social poetry, he was also active politically as a member of the leading communist party.
In 1933, he became the editor of the monthly magazine Spark but published only two issues, since he was soon arrested and sentenced to four years forced labor. After a year, though, a new law of amnesty was passed and he was released without having served his full sentence.
In 1940, Racin’s relationship with the leadership of the Communist party fell apart, leading to his exclusion from the party and banning of his most famous works. At the start of 1942, however, relations with the party improved once again. Racin joined the Korab partisan detachment and became the editor of the partisan newspaper The Ilinden Way.
Racin was tragically killed by a guard protecting the entrance to the partisan printing house. There are two versions of his death. The first one says Racin, who was deaf, did not hear the guard asking for a password, so he was shot as he approached.The second version has it that he was assassinated. Whether by one reason or the other, Macedonia lost an extraordinary man who greatly enriched the nation with his collection White Dawns. His premature death also left his first novel “Opium” unfinished.
In honor of his name and work, the country presents a Racin Award for literary achievement, which is held in high esteem in literary circles and sponsors special Racin literary meetings. His life-size wax figure can be seen in the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle in Skopje.
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