Првите интелектуалци на Југот

The First Intellectuals in the South (Први интелектуалци на југу) by Kosta Grupče is a tribute to a prominent figure in the Serbian national struggle in the Ottoman Empire. The author describes Grupče's early life in Ohrid, a small, patriarchal town that was too restrictive for his intellectual aspirations. He was born into a well-known family in 1848 and received an education from the teacher Grigor Prlinčev, who taught in Greek. This foundational knowledge proved useful later in life when he moved to Constantinople.

Grupče's yearning for a more expansive life led him to travel to Vienna, but he quickly returned to Ohrid, where he started to engage in journalism by sending correspondence to Russian and Greek newspapers. His family's furrier shop became a gathering place for both Serbs and Turks to discuss political events. His strong pro-Slavic and pro-Russian views, combined with his cultural efforts for liberation, made him a target of the Turkish administration, and he was forced to leave his hometown in 1885, never to return.

In his youth, Grupče initially aligned with the Exarchist movement, which was a Bulgarian-led effort to establish national identity through the church and schools. However, he became disillusioned and ultimately chose to align with his Serbian national roots. His decision was never forgiven by the Exarchists. After a brief imprisonment in Bulgaria, he arrived in Belgrade in 1886 and met with the Prime Minister, M. Garašanin, who encouraged him to work for his people with the clear message that "Macedonia must not and cannot be Bulgarian". This moment solidified Grupče's commitment to the Serbian cause, a path he followed for the rest of his life.