Radovan Svilengaćin (1926–1976) was a long-time director of the “Vojvodina” Cinema in Novi Bečej and one of the most important figures in the development of film culture in this town.

The Obznana was the response of the bourgeoisie to the growing strength and influence of the Communist Party. Its goal was to secure the position of the bourgeoisie and the monarchy while preventing any legal activity of communists and the working class in general.

Fifty years ago, Novi Bečej was the site of one of the terrible crimes of World War II. After five months of imprisonment, the Jewish community, which had existed in our town for more than one hundred and fifty years, disappeared in a single day and forever. Generations after the war could neither learn about nor experience the presence of these people, who were extremely important for the economic and cultural development of our community.

Morning Report

During the morning session, Ivana Eremić, the fifth player of Jedinstvo Novi Bečej, took to the lanes. The pressure of the occasion was evident, as nervousness affected both her performance and final score.

Open Competition for Solo Singers

The tenth edition of the Serbian Solo Vocal Music Festival, dedicated to the founder of Serbian art song Josif Marinković, was held from 23 to 25 May 2002 and centered on the Open Solo Singing Competition.

Sava Baračkov was born in 1929 in Kumane, Banat, where he completed elementary school. He attended construction and architectural secondary schools in Novi Bečej, Petrovgrad, and Novi Sad. In 1955, he graduated from the Department of Scenography at the Academy of Applied Arts in Belgrade, under the mentorship of Professor Milenko Šerban.

Alongside their strong performances in the league, the Jedinstvo women's bowling team also enjoyed a successful campaign in the Serbian Cup during the 2006/07 season.

At the Cup Final Tournament, held in Novi Sad on April 28 and 29, 2007, the Novi Bečej team defeated Hajduk from Kula 7–1 in the semifinal to secure a place in the final.

Drinking in front of stores in Serbia is not just a custom – it’s an institution! It dates back to the first store and the first bottle of rakija – essentially, since the dawn of time. Even the old craftsmen in the Ottoman period would take a “merak break,” drinking in front of shops while debating if it would rain.

In addition to the construction of the first embankments in the 18th century, the issue of navigation on the Tisza River, specifically its regulation, also arises.
In the first half of the 19th century, the regulation of the Tisza River becomes increasingly relevant for economic reasons, leading to the commencement of the first regular hydrological observations and surveys of its riverbed.

In the 1890s, Socialists were already participating in local elections. In some places, they took power. In Kuman, they achieved their greatest success in the municipal administration elections of 1898, when members of the Social Democratic Party were elected to the Municipal Board: Toša Stančić, the municipal prince, Boža Radišić-Bratko, the secretary, Živa Sekulić, and Laza Tubić, councilors.

The first parliamentary elections for the Constituent Assembly were called only two years after the unification, at a time when the bourgeoisie believed it had achieved a certain level of international and internal consolidation.

A large number of polluters have been registered across Vojvodina. Industrial pollution is the most dominant, followed by pollution from agriculture and livestock production, as well as pollution originating from settlements. Additional pressure comes from many smaller sources — villages without sewage systems, agricultural land, and small livestock farms.

The medieval settlement of Arača is located on the southern shore of Crna Bara, a watercourse within the alluvial plain of the Tisza River, about 13 kilometers east of its riverbed. The name of this settlement, also referred to in sources as Potiska Arača, is associated with the ruins of a basilica and monastery.

The stage — the “boards that mean the world” — has been a lifelong inspiration for Saša Milenković, an actor, director, and passionate theater devotee who has dedicated his life to the art of performance.
Born in 1963, Saša stepped onto the theatrical scene in 1978 and has remained actively involved ever since, contributing immensely to the cultural and artistic life of Novi Bečej and beyond.

Following the death of Laza Dunđerski, one of the wealthiest Serbs in the territory of present-day Vojvodina, his entire property was divided among his heirs according to his will. As the elder son, Đoka inherited the Kulpin and Kamendin estates, a property in Dobrinja in Bosnia, and smaller holdings in the agricultural districts of Srbobran and Turija — approximately four thousand cadastral jutra in total.

Altered economic conditions and the development of productive forces in agriculture are the main reasons for the disappearance of farmhouses. With the reduction of land ownership limits after World War II, first to 20, and then to 10 hectares, farmhouses lose their previous significance in production.

We have no data on how the social life of Jews in Novi Bečej and Vranjevo was organized. However, there remains a general impression among those who remembered that time that the main strength that united them was their religious community, which followed the development of the community and sought to organize assistance whenever a family faced difficulties.

Mihalj Mesaroš was born in Novi Bečej in 1935, in an era when dreams were shaped on dusty football pitches and the game itself was played more with the heart than for reward. His first steps toward the wider world were taken in Zrenjanin, from where, at only eighteen years of age, his exceptional talent carried him further than he could have imagined — straight into the ranks of FK Partizan.

Northeast of Novi Bečej, 18 km away, lies Novo Miloševo. This village is the second largest and most populous settlement in the municipality. It is built on a loess terrace, gently sloping towards the west, towards the alluvial plain of the Tisa River.

Since the great storm of 1931 toppled the slender tower of the Orthodox Church in Novi Bečej, only a few photographs and postcards remain as documents of that never-forgotten, much-talked-about ornament of our church. When a new tower with a wider structure and a considerably shorter height was erected later that same year, the citizens, especially the faithful, did not look upon it with much affection.

May 31 – June 1, 2001
Invitational Composers’ Competition

The jubilee marking the 150th anniversary of the birth and 70th anniversary of the death of composer Josif Marinković was celebrated throughout the year with numerous rich and diverse cultural events. The 9th “Horizons on the Tisa” festival centered around the third composers’ competition for art songs, held on May 31 and June 1, 2001.

After the Obznana proclamation of 1920, the authorities banned the activities of SKOJ, the revolutionary youth organization of the working class, which also gathered a significant number of rural young people. Despite frequent police raids and arrests, the organization was re-established in Kuman in 1923 and continued to operate illegally until the dictatorship of 1929.

May 14–15, 1993

After months of preparation and searching for the right concept and content, the first Days of Josif Marinković – “Horizons on the Tisa” were held on May 14 and 15, 1993, at the Workers’ Hall “Jovan Veselinov Žarko” in Novi Bečej.

Milorad “Mića” Josimović (born in 1949) is a versatile artist and designer, a man whose creativity and craftsmanship have left a lasting mark on the artistic life of Novi Bečej and beyond.

The Decline of the Dictatorship and Political Revival

By 1934, Party activities in Kumane had gradually begun to revive. The system of state dictatorship was entering a period of decline, and the attempt by its supporters to preserve power through the creation of the Yugoslav National Party (JNS) failed to achieve the desired results. Frequent changes of government further demonstrated the deep political crisis of the January 6 Dictatorship. Between April 1932 and December 1934, no fewer than seven governments were replaced, while the situation worsened significantly after the assassination of King Alexander in Marseille in October 1934.

Amid these circumstances, Svetislav Hođera established the pro-fascist Borbaš organization in Kumane. Using populist slogans promising the cancellation of peasant debts, he succeeded in attracting a number of politically inexperienced and uninformed villagers. The communists initially boycotted the organization, but by late 1934, following directives from the Communist Party of Yugoslavia (KPJ) and instructions from Lazar Milankov, they began joining its ranks in order to undermine it from within.

Thanks to their popularity among the local population, the communists quickly gathered around 800 supporters and assumed a leading role within the organization. Before the 1935 elections, they played a decisive role in weakening and ultimately dismantling it throughout the Novi Bečej district. The turning point came at Hođera’s political rally in Novi Bečej, where Žarko Milankov publicly exposed his demagoguery. Following this event, Hođera’s political influence rapidly declined, and his organization ceased to be a significant force in the district.

Youth Activism and the Spread of Communist Influence

In the early 1930s, the youth movement in Kumane developed under the direct influence of the KPJ. There was no separate SKOJ organization; instead, several youth groups operated under Party leadership. These groups were led by Ivan Vioglavin, Mita Trifunjagić-Mića, and Boža Stojanov.

Within a relatively short period, they succeeded in attracting a large number of young people, and their influence became visible in the cultural, social, and political life of the village. A particularly important role was played by the Reading Room, which became the central gathering place for local youth. Political brochures, progressive newspapers, journals, and books were available there, while meetings of youth groups and sports organizations were regularly held.

The “Jugoslavija” Football Club

Among the organizations in which young people were especially active was the “Jugoslavija” Sports Club, founded in early 1932. The club brought together a group of young football players who, despite a lack of equipment and financial resources, managed to sustain sporting activities.

The first club administration was elected in 1933, and the club soon received official permission to operate from the district authorities. Following Party directives in 1935 encouraging communist involvement in legal organizations, KPJ members and sympathizers systematically joined the club. At the next regular assembly, they succeeded in taking control of the administration, transforming the club into another important venue for political and social engagement.

The Elections of 1935

The political crisis of the regime led to parliamentary elections being called in February 1935. The United Opposition, composed of several opposition parties, entered the race.

A significant role in its formation was played by Dr. Dragoljub Jovanović, leader of the left wing of the Agrarian Party. Following KPJ directives, communists supported the United Opposition as a means of opposing the January 6 Dictatorship.

At a meeting held in Novi Bečej, representatives of Party organizations from northern Banat decided to support Milan Kovačev of Miloševo as the United Opposition’s candidate. Through intensive political work, communists succeeded in attracting a large number of voters to the opposition bloc.

Mass Political Gatherings

During the election campaign, numerous large rallies were held throughout the Novi Bečej district. At these events, communists publicly advocated worker-peasant unity, opposition to war and fascism, and the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union.

Particularly successful was the rally held in Kumane on April 3, 1935, where Milan Kovačev, Mirko Tomić, and Žarko Milankov addressed the crowd. The local KPJ committee also organized large-scale participation of Kumane residents at rallies in Taraš, Bečej, Melenci, and Čurug.

At the gathering in Taraš, several thousand people from Kumane, Melenci, Torda, and Miloševo assembled, demonstrating the strength of the opposition movement in this part of Banat.

Election Day

The elections were held on May 5, 1935. The campaign was marked by numerous forms of pressure from the authorities. Representatives of the JNS attempted to buy votes, some voters were removed from electoral lists, and public employees were threatened with dismissal if they failed to support the government candidate.

Police and gendarmerie forces were stationed at polling places, but despite these pressures, communists and their supporters displayed remarkable organization. They voted in groups and openly expressed their support for the opposition, encouraging other voters to do the same.

The results demonstrated a major victory for the United Opposition. Milan Kovačev won a majority of votes in the district, while in Kumane alone he received 1,214 of the 1,416 votes cast, representing 85.6 percent of the total vote. The government candidate received only 201 votes, while Dimitrije Ljotić’s list received a single vote.

Consequences of the Elections

The manner in which the government of Bogoljub Jevtić organized and conducted the elections further damaged its reputation. Only a month later, a new government was formed under Milan Stojadinović and the Yugoslav Radical Union (JRZ).

During the autumn of 1935, the United Opposition organized major political rallies in Kikinda and Zrenjanin. Residents of Kumane attended these gatherings in an organized manner, traveling in dozens and even hundreds of horse-drawn wagons while carrying banners with slogans such as:

• “Long Live the People's Front of Freedom”
• “Long Live the United Opposition”
• “Fight Against War and Fascism”
• “Long Live the Freedom of the People”
• “Amnesty for Political Prisoners”
• “We Demand an Alliance with the Soviet Union”

Speeches were delivered by Dr. Dragoljub Jovanović, Mirko Tomić, Žarko Milankov, and other opposition leaders. Milankov’s speeches, in particular, stood out for their strong criticism of fascism and their calls for political freedom and social change.

The massive rally held in Zrenjanin on November 10, 1935, marked the peak of opposition activity in the region. Thousands of people from the town and surrounding villages gathered at Žitni Square, demonstrating growing dissatisfaction with the existing regime and the strengthening of the opposition movement throughout Banat.

Photo Caption

Milica Blažić, a member of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia (KPJ) since 1927. She was brought before the court for spreading communist propaganda and for establishing an illegal KPJ organization in Velike Livade.

19–21 May 2004
Open Competition for Solo Singers

The biennial alternation between the solo singers’ competition and the invitational composers’ competition for solo songs found its rhythm, so the 12th edition of “Horizons on the Tisa” was marked by the fifth open competition for solo singers.

Dragiša Bunjevački, a painter from Novi Bečej and the founder of the group “Selo,” was born in 1925 in Pančevo.
He was an artist who lived to paint, but never lived from painting nor painted merely to survive.

I do not consider myself an expert qualified to critically evaluate the literary work of Bogdan Čiplić. However, out of respect for him and from the memories of our friendship during the last ten years of his life, I will attempt to present—in the broadest terms—what I observed of his literary output.

The competition began in the morning at 10 o’clock with a ceremonial parade of all participants in front of the stands by the Tisa River, which were filled to the last seat. After the presentation of plaques and commemorative awards, the start of the event was officially announced. The jury consisted of the leader of the Belgrade club Bob, Đorđe Paljić, and the event organizers Brana Kiselički and Vasa Nićin.

On August 2, 1921, the Assembly adopted the Law on the Protection of Public Security and Order in the State, tightening measures against communists. This law prescribed harsh punishments for any communist activity, including the death penalty.