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Mikiel Anton Vassalli lived during one of the most turbulent periods of Maltese history: the final years of the Knights of St. John, the French period and the first Mikiel Anton Vassalliyears of British rule. Besides the social disorder that was an outcome of political upheaval, there was also a deeply felt division between the social classes: the privileged class on one hand and on the other the vast majority that ha Mikiel Anton was born in Haz-Zebbug in 1764 to a peasant family, so his childhood was probably similar to that of most other children, even more so after having lost his father at the tender age of two. His learning capabilities soon became evident however and promised a future of extraordinary achievements. Consequently, in 1785, at the age of 21, he started studies of oriental languages in the 'La Sapienza' University of Rome. It was a time of great turmoil when Europe was beset with revolutionary ideas which would come to a head with the French Revolution having as its ideals liberty and power to the people. As any other active and intelligent youth would, Vassalli closely followed all the developments that were taking place and absorbed the social ideas, besides doing very well in his academic studies.
The well known introduction to this dictionary has a strong social and political flavour which makes it very clear that Vassalli's primary aim was not the Maltese language in itself, but the civil and moral education of the Maltese people which could only be attained through their native language. One can easily point out Vassalli's Discorso Preliminare as second only to the Constitution of the Republic in that it is a beautiful and precious document for the Maltese Nation to whom it was dedicated with the words: "Alla Nazione Maltese", a phrase which in those days could only be the fruits of a very fertile imagination. Vassalli's call is above everything else a political one favouring the education of the Maltese masses and the development of Maltese potential in all possible areas and the accessibility to the realms of wisdom and law so that the Maltese nation could arrive at a full consciousness of itself, its duties and identify itself as a nation in its own right. This is therefore a movement in favour of democratic power. The Maltese language was to be the primary instrument for this process. Vassalli was the first to study Maltese scientifically and according to its Semitic roots. He proposed it as an alternative to foreign languages which up to that time had always been employed in all areas involving intellect and culture. Thus for the first time the Maltese language appeared as an instrument for popular education and made a claim for power. It was inevitable that Vassalli's revolutionary call would have many obstacles to overcome in the process of its realization. In the meantime Vassalli returned to Malta and to a new phase of political involvement. We can picture this young man bursting with revolutionary ideas, returning to Malta and witnessing the disorder of the final years of the Order of St. John, overwhelmed by financial problems, by divisions running deeply within it and, worst of all, by the backwardness. Shocked by the precarious situation Malta was to be found in, and particularly his fellow Maltese, Vassalli listed some suggestions for the Grandmaster. Amongst other things he asked:
Wise suggestions which were aimed at improving the financial condition of our country on one hand, and on the other of adjusting the state of affairs which was hitherto despotic. The Maltese were deprived of any right to make their voices heard and to develop intellectually.
After such bitter experiences, however, his spirit wasn't broken and his ideals found fertile ground whereby he reaped fresh results from this renewed vigour. With the help of John Hookham Frere, Vassalli began to teach at the University as the first Professor of the Maltese language, the highest seat of learning as was befitting the national language. He also produced other works: a new Maltese grammar in Italian (1827) and a book of Maltese Proverbs (1828), besides a translation of the Scriptures. He died in 1829 and was buried in a cemetery for the British. History sometimes deals an unlucky hand to some individuals, as is the case with Vassalli, for we do not know where this father of the Maltese is buried and have absolutely no idea of what he might have looked like. Moreover, his name was for many decades kept hidden and, if mentioned at all, was whispered under one's breath as though it were an object of shame. However the ideals and ambitions that Vassalli had for his nation were not to remain hidden forever. In its quest for political freedom and national identity, denied it for so many centuries, our nation could not but realise that there once had lived a Maltese, long ago but ahead of his time, who had dreamt all that was yet to happen to it. And his people loved him for it and brought his name out of the darkness and wrote it on the streets, in schools, in our literature and set it up as a monument for all Maltese to admire. This is just what we are doing today: recommending Vassalli as a model for our young people. Commending him for his integrity and altruism, for his love of study and learning. We cannot but note the symbolic significance of the particular circumstance of today's occasion. A school which for so many years served to educate the children of the residing officials of the ruling nation is also the school that bears his name. Vassalli's dream has indeed come true! This image of Mikiel Anton Vassalli will remind us of the lessons taught and the high ideals expressed in his writings and which he strove to achieve during his lifetime:
This was Vassalli's dream. |
The
suggestions made by this presumptious youth did not go down well at
all with the Order and Vassalli was left with no other option but to
enter into league with the Jacobites in the hope that the Maltese