Borash Paloka

**Borash Paloka** (7 November 1935 – 12 August 2015) was a Notoshan politician. A member of the Democratic People's Party, Paloka served as a member of the State Assembly from 2000 until 2004.

## Early life and education

Paloka was born on 7 November 1935 in Astina to parents Qemal Paloka (1910–1989) and Apollina Mëshkalla (1912–2006). His father was a Notoshan mechanic, while his mother was an Asbanian homemaker from Gjigjin. Paloka was raised as one of six children; his siblings included Rrezag (1931–2003), Zajrika (born 1934), Mirdrit (1938–2018), Vistarë (born 1940), and Roza (born 1943). Paloka's father was a Eurean Muslim while his mother was a Eastern Eurean Orthodox Christian, and Paloka was "primarily" raised in the latter religion.

Paloka began his education in 1941, attending a local, public primary school in Astina. While in school, Paloka was a poor academic achiever and a troublemaker, frequently needing to be disciplined by teachers. He graduated from primary school in 1949, and opted not to attend secondary school.

## Career

After completing his primary education in 1949, Paloka began working with his father as a mechanic at a local shop. In 1958, Paloka, his father, his brothers, and his brothers-in-law, purchased a local mechanics shop in Astina, where they developed a family-run business.

Paloka retired from his work as a mechanic in 1996, and passed his stake in the business on to his four children. The family later sold the business in 2001.

### State Assembly

In the 1980s, Paloka became involved in Asbanian nationalist causes, later joining an Asbanian nationalist group along with his brothers and brothers-in-law. Following the outbreak of the Notosha War (1997–2000), Paloka had initially opted to fight, but was dissuaded by his wife due to his age. Both of his sons later joined the Notosha Liberation Army (NLA) and fought in the war. Paloka spent the duration of the war in Gjigjin, where he resided with maternal relatives. After the conclusion of the war, Paloka joined the Democratic People's Party (PPD) due to his admiration of Ngazëllor Qosja during the war. He campaigned with the party ahead of the 2000 general election, and was included as a candidate on the party's list in Astina District. He was ultimately elected to the State Assembly, and took his seat on 14 November 2000.

As a legislator, Paloka focused on cultural issues, yet voted with the party platform 100% of the time. He was listed as a candidate in Astina District in the 2004 general election, but after the party lost seats, he was not reelected. Paloka left parliament on 19 October 2004.

## Personal life

Paloka began a relationship with Notoshan embroideress Lumjeta Bajku in 1953, when he was 17 and she was 15. They became engaged later that year, and married in 1954. Paloka and Bajku had four children together: Ladona (born 1956), Engjëllushë (born 1959), Halit (born 1961), and Kasim (born 1963).

Paloka considered himself a Eastern Eurean Orthodox Christian for most of his early life, but converted to Eurean Islam prior to his marriage to Bajku.

## Death

Paloka was diagnosed with aggressive pancreatic cancer in December 2014. He began chemotherapy treatments, but they proved to be ineffective. After being cared for by his wife and children at their home, he was transferred to hospice care in Astina in July 2015, and died the following month, aged 79.

 **Children** | 4