Vanchi Ranjani
Historiography is a Greek term, literally means the writing of history. In Greek
the word ‘Histrio’ indicates history and ‘graphia’ denotes writing. The thematic
connotation of the phrase historiography prefers not to the study of history but of
studying the method of writing history. Fundamentally it’s a study of how history gets
written by historians, based on their facts, interpretation, researching and conclusively
amalgamating the various sources. The central argument of E. H Carr’s book what is History? Corroborates his rational principles about historiography that intend of demonstrating the various
methodologies involved in history writing. Carr sustains a pre deterministic observation of history, undoubtedly trusting that everything has a cause and the event. As he commences, he says there is no objective truth in history rather conventional truth is presented in a pre-cooked style. He points out that the historians select their facts based on their discernment, nepotism,
ideologies, credo, dogma and etc. He specifically specifies that the ideas of a society are
the estimates of its ruling class (5). He minutely describes that all facts of the past did not
achieve the status of becoming a historical fact, which the bearing in mind, that there no objective truth in history.
The historian’s facts it is generally use governmental documents, oral testimonies, letters, diaries, and autobiographies to a certain extent. Our concern here is diaries, war diaries of children drag the priority of tracing historiography in Anne Frank’s Diary of a Young Girl and Zlata Filipovic’s Zlata’s Diary. Since the diaries belong to the category of war Geographical details of both the children play a vital role in tracking the historiography. Zlata lived in Sarajevo the capital of Bosnia, while it was under siege. Anne Frank a much-admired personality was in the Netherlands when the Second World War was at its peak. These diaries history, cultural history, economic history, and fundamentally on the war period history through the innocent eyes of children.
Politics is the most powerful structure in the universe dominates its part in
Children War Diaries. Mutually both the diaries are filled with sarcastic comments about
politics. The changes they undergo due to the war are explicitly elaborated. To start with the
younger one Zlata seems ample. In Zlata’s diary the initial entry with political sense
came as an order from the Bosnian government. Malik, Zlata’s father a government
lawyer was conditioned to serve in the police reserve. She heavy heatedly states that its
ten hours of continuing work. She also admits that she doesn’t understand politics. As a
young one in the family she can’t able to find the cause for every effect. It seems vague
for her but still manages to grab it and says “some reservists from Montenegro have entered Herzegovina” (22 October 1991). In Anne Frank ‘s diary, the very first politics shaded entry itself is packed with restrictions imposed on Jews. If a rule gets implemented by the government, then by no means it should be violated. By the time of Second World War many countries have
attained the status of democracy. But still limiting a person’s freedom on the basis of race
is no way acceptable. Jews should wear a gaudy yellow color six-sided star. This shows
the discriminating attitude of the people in power.
It can be viewed as a foreshowing sketch by the government to trace the location and the Jewish population accurately. The politicians do restrict many luxuries for Jews. They are forbidden to drive any vehicle, the government trams also prohibited. Every living being loves to entertain oneself at any chance. However, for the Jews cinema theatres, playground such as tennis courts, hockey fields, swimming baths are all banned. Altogether, no Jew is allowed to take part in any
public sports event. Nature offers its resources imperially to everyone still the power
structure tries to control nature, by means of not allowing Jews to inhale fresh air after
eight clocks at night. Anne further adds oil to the fire by stating and many more
restrictions of a similar kind (20 June1942). The policies of the politicians have already
killed the Jews psychologically, at last leaving the Jews to be alive physically.
Through the entry dated on 5th March 1992 we can sense the shivering in
Zlata’s inscription. She narrates an incident happened on 1 st March 1992. Where a small
group of armed civilians as Zlata specifically point out as they say on television have
killed the Serbian wedding guest and wounded the priest. The very next day 2nd of
March the government is in action. The whole city was surrounded by thousands of
barricades. That resulted in restriction of movement for the innocent public. At six o
clock in the evening, people burst out of the lane and the procession began, when the
public past the parliament building, several got wounded by the shots of army barracks.
Through this episode we can unquestionably understand the Marx ‘s philosophy that the
state itself is the first terrorist. The procession went ahead and people cried out saying
Bosnia Bosnia Sarajevo’,Sarajevo we’ll live together” (5th March 1992).
At eight o’clock the procession came to an end. Everything was normal still the noon of 3 rd, March. As the dawn approaches tension boost up. Since the Serbian nationalist arrives to attack
Sarajevo. Alas the kids have complimented each other with their agreements. So the
barricades were removed from Sarajevo and peace returns. Zlata paradoxically uses the
term ‘Kids’ for politicians. She acknowledges the fact that it is not her own idea rather
it’s a popular term for politicians. All over the world, the politicians play a puzzle game
with the lives of their people.
Coming to the Anne’s situation, after a list of limitations pounded on Jews.
Things get harder for Jews to survive. The politicians are aware that the Jewish
community is basically a business community. The government ordered that Jews cannot
be an entrepreneur of their business. The laws are imposed voluntarily to shatter the
economy of the Jews, to scrutinize them initially. So, Anne’s father Otto Frank stays at
home, his colleagues help him by administrating his firm. Discriminating a person on the
basis of ‘Race’ is a criminal offense. Still the politicians are doing it legally by
identifying the Jews separate from the society and giving them call – notice to join the
concentration camps. By the time they receive the notice, the Franks family goes for
hiding. On the other hand, the politicians are keen on framing new laws according to their
notion. Here is the new law If a person carries suitcases, immediately the police will
arrest them and send them to the concentration camp, under the suspicion of Jew. So the
franks wear a pile of clothes and carry their belongings in small shopping bags.
In Zlata’s place Sarajevo everything was back to normal. But the other parts
such as Bosanski, Brod, Derventa, and Modrica ever the war is on. The apprehension of
War locks the mindset of people in Sarajevo. So, people were afraid of assembling in a
hall. This tendency is visible, when Zlata seeks permission from her parents to attend a
classical music concert at Skenderija Hall. It is proved beyond doubt that people are more
intelligent than the politicians, for the reason that half the population of the state was
leaving Sarajevo. Families get dismantled because of the war. The only policy that
politicians all over the world had unanimously adopted is the policy of dividing people
on the basis of religion, race, caste and etc. on the festival of barium (a Muslim
religious fiesta), it was announced that Sarajevo is being bombed. After a few days of
silence new sections of the town – Dobrinja, Mojmilo, Vojnicko polje are being badly
shelled. The whole place was burned. Suddenly people came out for a peace march.
People voiced their opinion who wants war when it’s the worst thing in the world?
(12th April1992). But the known secret is that as always it is the authoritative class that
wins the battle against the powerless.
Anne struggles hard to cope-up with the war battle. Life is the Annex has
forbidden them to live visibly. They remain alienated from the social and political
scenario. Even though in an invisible existence they have their means to stay connected
with the world outside the Annex. The Dutch protectors describe a shadowy account of a
cruel world. Anne does expose that she is aware of the Jewish imprisonments. She writes
about Westerbork, a Jewish camp where thousands of her races bring in large cattle
trucks by the Gestapo. She states, Westerbork sounds terrible Men, women and children
all sleep together. One hears of frightful immorality… and a lot of the women, and even
the girls who stay there any length of time, are expecting babies (9 October 1942). It
leads us to question whether the politicians belong to civilized society or not. People
were massacred in the confinements which are recurrently reported as fatal accidents (9
October 1942). Power does it actually carries any sense.
In Sarajevo shells are being poured constantly. Many were killed, the most precarious is
losing the limbs of the body, and many have lost their limbs as days pass by, shootings
become terrible. At one point of time Zlata questions the politicians who’s to blame? I
ask, I know, politics is to blame for it all. When it will pass????????” (18 th June 1992).
The words of Benjamin Disraeli are the perfect answer for Zlata’s question. “Finality is
not the language of politics”. The news bulletin is crammed with numerical details on
how many were killed, wounded, many children lost their parents. After all these
miseries the government does offer a community study center for children. What an idea
of the politicians for rehabilitation. On the other hand, there are people living in huger.
The highly qualified political thinkers cannot able to think about the basic necessities of a
living being, in particular food. Anne situation is worse than Zlata’s because the Nazis are hunting for Jews in Netherlands. The Germans ring at every front door to inquire if there are any Jews living in the house– exactly like a slave trade. (19 November 1942). The war caused
endless troubles to the Jews. Anne admits that it is Dutch who also suffers in the war. A
Million people lost their livelihood. So, poverty is at its crowning. The Franks were
expecting an invasion, Anne claims that the freedom loving Gandhi of India is holding
the umpteenth fast (23 February 1943). At night time bombs are poured as rain more
than the booms, the franks cannot express their fear loudly. Again, a ray of hope, that
turkey is at war, later it is stated that they are not at war. The German political
philosopher came with the new set of laws. If a person has 1000 guilders (money) they
must declare, and prove, exactly how you got it (19 th March 1943). In Anne’s words the
German big shots, has made a speech all Jews must be out of the German occupied
countries before July 1 st. They wait for an end, for the endless pain.
Zlata speaks about the religious division in her society, but her describes are
vague. Lots of Croats and Muslims have been expelled from Grbavica. Normally
politicians do not want their people to think, for that they separate people using religion
as their trump cards. Again, to start with the head of the war puzzle game, the politicians
are drawing maps for people on the basis of Serbs, Croats and Muslims. Once again the
war puzzle got twisted. Then Zlata writes about the disappearance of buildings and
historical monuments are destroyed. In her words Sarajevo really has been wounded not
say destroyed (25 December 1992). Horrible shelling continues to blow. On 21 st of
September Zlata expects an end for this WAR OR PEACE historic game. usual the
results got postponed.
The Franks family is more optimistic, expecting an invasion anytime. But Anne
is more concerned in inscribing the event, on 19 th July 1943 she describes that north
Amsterdam was heavily bombed. Many were killed and countless were wounded. Anne
hears it on the radio that Mussolini has resigned, the king of Italy has taken over the
government (26 th July1943). They hope for peace, because the fascist party is banned in
Italy. Added to this Anne hears that, Italy has capitulated! (10 september1943) the fever
of invasion mounting daily, people in annex felt we shall be able to get out of the house
anyway (3 rd February 1944). At the same time the British had made their non- stop Air
business, by introducing new radio channels. 350 British planes have dropped half a
million kilos of bombs on Ijmuiden, because now the British is against the Dutch. The
Russian front is optimistic about their stand. Now Hungary is occupied by the Germans
(31March 1944). The whole west coast of Europe to Spain speaks about invasion. Anne
hopes that all countries will be liberated one day. By the end of it is clear that politicians
are the most idiotic personalities till now.
In the children war diaries, we find the normal everyday exchange of currencies in its
inflation due to the shortages of essential commodities. In Zlata’s diary the crisis of
petrol begins well before the war. The price of the petrol is not encrypted. Rather “daddy
often spends hours waiting in the queue for petrol. The war has begun in Dubrovnik,
Zlata’s family friend Srdjan has sold a bottle of whisky for five liters of drinking water.
They don’t have anything to eat. She adds to her emotion by saying. The people of
Dubrovnik can only dream of eggs, apples, potatoes…… (14 th November 1991). As the
war begins in Sarajevo; electricity becomes a huge problem. So, their food storages get
worse. More than food water has become a “precious liquid” (7 th July 1992). Slowly
hunger and poverty arrive together in Sarajevo.
In Anne’s era the war was against a community. The economic status of an
individual alone cannot help an individual to survive the war. More than currencies it is
the work of the Dutch protectors who saved the Franks family for twenty-five mouths. If
a person owns money along with good hearted friends, then huddles can be manageable
they have bought four ration cards illegally by paying an extra of thirty-three florins
amount. They have stored 150 tons of vegetables, 270 pounds of dried beans in reserve.
The shocking information comes from Mr. Dussel. The Nazis are hunting for Jews at the
doorstep of each house. If a Jew can pay a lump of money to the Nazis, then they will
leave them. In Anne’s words it seems like the slave hunts of olden times (19 th
November 1942). Anne emotionally states that the whole world is waging war against
one another. Millions of people are killed in Russia, Africa. There are children begging
for food. At one point of time there are no vegetables for the annex people.
Back to Zlata’s diary the conditions get worse. There is absolutely nothing to eat.
They don’t have enough wood for cooking. Now the essential food particulars are
available only on the black market. To manage the situation the family starts
transforming their flower garden into vegetable gardens. One egg cost five D M, a bar
of chocolate cost twenty D M, biscuits cost forty DM, a package of coffee one twenty
- There are shortages of food, gas, water, electricity. Telephone exchange of Sarajevo
was up in flames, it is the same with the post office. So, no letter correspondence neither
or telephone conversations. At last Zlata survived the war. Now we shift to Anne’s diary,
in extreme crisis morality does not play an important role in life. War has transformed
many people into the thieves. The thieves have taken two cash boxes containing forty
florins, postal orders and checkbooks and then, worst 150 kilos of sugar. (16 July 1943).
She adds a list of rates for fruits, Grapes of 5.00 per kilo, gooseberries f 0.70 per kilo, one
peach f.1.50 and finisher account on 23 rd July 1943. The Mr. Van Daan’s family faces a
financial crisis so they sold their coat made out of rabbit hair. It only now, that is after
one half years, a ray of poverty touches the annex residence. And their economy does not
help to survive the war.
Mutually both the diaries involuntarily speak for their community. The
Bosnian community amuses me personally. Despite its unfiltered images of the Bosnian
War, the message of Zlata Diary is ultimately uplifting. It shows the strength of the
human spirit, and the never-say-die unbreakable will of Bosnian community. Zlata’s
friends and neighbors’ band together to provide the support they all need to get through
the war. One aspect of this support is practical. By pooling resources, combining food,
sharing water and electricity, etc., the community does what it needs to in order to
provide for its members. The Boars freely share their well-fortified cellar with their
neighbors and neighbor shares electricity with Zlata& family. On the other hand, Zlata &
family shares their wood-burning stove with the neighborhood so that cooking is possible
in times when electricity is out. This demonstrates the generosity in the citizens of
Sarajevo.
Zlata is a normal girl growing up in Sarajevo. She enjoys school and worries about grades, she likes American pop acts like Madonna and New Kids on the Block, she takes piano lessons, and she enjoys the company of her friends. Television has as impact over children Zlata is interested in watching shows on. She seems to enjoy the American pop culture. She often spends time with her friends namely Martina and Matea. Even if Zlata’s family goes to a shopping, then their friends Jaca and jahorina accompanies them. Half of entries speak about her friends, their birthday parties. Unlike Anne frank Zlata’s entries do not revolve around her family. Not much of Zlata’s parents' character is visible in the diary. The diary speaks for her people. The Sarajevo people offer help for the people in Dubrovnik. Zlata packs some sweets, chocolates, vitamin tablets, a doll, books, pencils, and notebooks. This shows the attitude of people in Sarajevo. The lines show their quality life. We bought presents for family and friends. (30 th December1991). Zlata claims that she is great fun of Micheal Jackson. And listens to many
musicians. All over the world music is loved by everyone.
Most of Zlata’s family friends leaves Sarajevo. Some of her friends got killed in war. Suddenly Zlata gets the information that her uncle got wounded in his leg. The circumstances do not allow her mother to visit the hospital. A doctor had suggested amputating his leg. Luckily one of friends came and treated his injury. This incident clearly shows that if know a person in any department, then work will be done at any cause. Still, there are people who wanted to show their
protest against the government. The people of Vaso Miskin Street assembled together,
and renamed their street as Anti- Fascist Resistance Street. And they got a book signed by
people and lay flowers on it.
Slate clearly lists up things with the sense of gratitude. She gets from the
UN packages. Inside the package we had six tons of beef, five tons of fish, two boxes of
cheese. Three kilos of detergent, five bars of soaps five liters of cooking oil. Being an
affluent class Zlata enjoys birthday parties. There are passes ready for Zlata and her
mother to leave Sarajevo. However, Zlata is not interested in leaving her father in
Sarajevo. Things get worse day by day. Nedo is a family friend, who keeps sending food
stuffs continuously. Ultimately with the help of media personalities she survived the war.
It is observable, that only if an incident gets the media attention, it solves the crisis.
Touching on culture of Jews, it is recognized that they are very religious,
conservatives, money minded people, maybe since Jews represented as a business
community. In Anne’s family, her father seems to be a rationalist; her mother appears to
be religious. One of Anne’s friends comes to Anne’s house to stay in the dark. In another
occasion, Anne’s father informs his plan to his daughter for hiding. Respecting a younger
one in the house. This event shows that he is ahead of his time. After passing the secret
annex, both her mother and sister go to sleep. It is Anne and her father Otto Frank who
arranged things better for the living conditions. Its good know that men too took part in
household works. Here the period is important. The more interesting fact is that Otto
Frank respects his daughters to a great extent. Otto Frank is highly futuristic in nature. He
makes the young ones preoccupied with books. Since, an ideal mind leads to depression
in minors.
In the annex the cookery works are done by the ladies, meanwhile the men
discuss politics. Anne has represented the act of potato peeling as a “community task” at
the same time the men in the family does not engage themselves in kitchen works. Anne
is not a person who got obsessed with her own troubles. She notes the condition of the
Jews seriously. I often see rows of good, innocent people accompanied by crying
children, walking on and on, in charge of a couple of these chaps, bullied and knocked
about until they almost drop. She says apart from the Jews the Dutch too suffer a lot
because of the war. The Dutch vacates from Holland to Germany for safety. She also
describes that their faces are very grim. Even in some cases families are torn apart.
Children coming home find that their parents have disappeared women return from
shopping to find their homes shut up and their families gone. (13 January 1943). The
Dutch protectors have risked their lives to save people, on the other hand a great number
of organizations, such as the free Netherlands which forge identity card supply money for
people. Koophuis one of the Dutch protectors says that ration books are being handed out
to the authoress. And one of the ration officials had given them a specific time to get their
part. It is quite clearly understandable that people are always together. In spite of all the
help from various sources, an unknown person has betrayed the family at the end for a
large sum of money. It is clear that both the diaries speak for their community respectively.
