YORDAN HADZI KONSTANTINOV - DZINOT (1821-1882)
Dzinot belonged to the group of Macedonian educators and reforms from the middle 19 century. He was most vigorous Macedonian reformer, versatile cultural activist and collectors of the folk art and one of the first playwrights in Macedonia.
Finishing education, he engaged himself in the literary activities opening a school where he gave lectures in Macedonian language. Having no understanding about his activities, the authorities kept banishing and arresting him. However, he stayed consistent to his ideas and managed to open a private school in Veles where he worked for the rest of his life.
Besides the educational activity, he also translated and prepared various educational literature - for the needs of the school he translated "Izica" writen by Dositej Obradovic and prepared the first elementary text book titled "Tablica pervaja".
He collected and wrote several folk songs and prepared two collections of aphorisms. His name has been connected with the first plays in Macedonia. They are not original, some of them have didactic characteristics or translated from Greek and represent his attempt to write a play.
