Hrvatski Radiša and Podravina, 1903 - 1945

Hrvatski radiša osnovan je 1903. godine kao reakcija hrvatskoga građanskoga društva na nebrigu državnih organa za siromašne mladiće hrvatske nacionalnosti. Ideja je potekla iz kruga braće Radić koji su bili nezadovoljni radom križevačke ratarnice i nedostatkom školovanja mladih ljudi. No, ideju su realizirali zagrebački trgovci i obrtnici, koji su imali potrebu za pametnim i zdravim mladićima iz pasivnih i prenapučenih krajeva. Akcija se proširila na cijelu Hrvatsku i u njezinu su provedbu bili uključeni učitelji, obrtnici, trgovci, svećenici i činovnici. Organizacije Hrvatskog radiše su osnovane i u Podravini gdje su imale znatan utjecaj na stvaranje kvalitetnih obrtnika. Društvo je naglašavalo apolitičnost, ali tako ipak nije bilo, naročito nakon 1941. godine. U početnom je razdoblju Hrvatski radiša važan za društveni život u brojnim mjestima i u njegovu je radu najjača bila Hrvatska seljačka stranka, a u Koprivnici pravaška.Hrvatski Radiša (Croatian Workman) was established in Zagreb in 1903, and was active until 1945. The Podravina branch of Hrvatski Radiša was established in 1904 and also operated until 1945. Over this half-century, this humanitarian association deftly adapted to changing political and social circumstances and, with the assistance of Croatian Americans, became the most powerful humanitarian organisation in Croatia, with large endowment halls and a boarding-house in Radišina and Zvonimirova streets in Zagreb. Using the Radiša press as a source, the work of this association in the Podravina region has been reconstructed. The association’s materials and documentation have otherwise been destroyed, because the socialist authorities considered it an Ustasha (pro-fascist) organisation, even though it only served under the Ustasha state from 1941 to 1945, through the Hrvatski Radiša Savings, Credit and Insurance Co-operative, which was established in 1929. Its primary activity, the employment of impoverished children from poor regions in handicraft and trade shops and, in the final phase, in agriculture, has been entirely forgotten. The names of Hrvatski Radiša’s wards were obtained using the association’s press. This is no small number, if one takes into account that there are no quantitative data for two and a half decades. What there is shows that Podravina was not a rich region, yet it had such an association that took care of intelligent and healthy, but poor, young boys and made sure they had could secure solid means for living. In this sense, Hrvatski Radiša played a major role in Podravina, i.e. in the district of Ludbreg, Koprivnica and Đurđevac. Radiša’s activities were very diverse: it saw to the social life in towns and cities, and above all it made sure that every one of its wards was given the opportunity to acquire an education, to be able to procure high-quality, good and educational books through the Radiša press and publications, and, through its pocket almanacs, to get advice that they could always carry with them. Hrvatski Radiša was that link between the older guilds and modern trades and crafts, all the while relying on its own initiative, ideas and resources, so that the Croatian economy could stay in Croatian hands, based on the principles of competition and the ability of Croatia’s artisans and skilled workers