Tibor Sekelj
Encyclopedia
Tibor Sekelj (14 February 1912 – 23 September 1988) was an explorer, esperantist
, writer and lawyer
of Jewish descent. He was born in Spišská Sobota (part of Poprad
), former-day Austria-Hungary, present-day Slovakia
, and died in Subotica, former Yugoslavia.
Tibor made expeditions across the whole of South America, Asia and Africa. Beside Hungarian and Serbo-Croatian, he spoke German, Spanish, English, French and Esperanto. He was a member of the Academy of Esperanto and an honorary member of the World Esperanto Association
, writing several books (essays and novels) in that language. His Kumeŭaŭa, la filo de la ĝangalo ("Kumeŭaŭa, the son of the jungle"), a children's book about the life of Brazilian Indians, has been translated into many languages.
Vojvodina
and in 1922 they moved to Kikinda
(Кикинда) in Vojvodina, Serbia. After he had finished elementary school there, the family moved to Nikšić
(Никшић), Montenegro
, where he finished high school (gymnasium
). He then went to Zagreb
where he studied law
.
Disinterested in practicing law, he began working as a journalist
in Zagreb. In 1939 he travelled to Argentina
to report on Yugoslavia
emigrants, and remained there for the next 15 years as a journalist and explorer. In 1944 he was part of a party that climbed mount Aconcagua, the highest summit of the South American continent. This experience inspired him to write his first work Storm on the Aconcagua. In 1946 he undertook the first of two expeditions into the Amazon jungle, the first of which produced a popular book, "Along Native Trails" (Por Tierra De Indios). He later married his companion from that trailblazing expedition, Mary Reznik. Together they returned to the Amazon in 1948, and after that expedition he penned "Where Civilization Ends" (Donde La Civilizacion Termina). The marriage produced a son, Diego. In 1954 Sekelj returned to Yugoslavia
and lived in Belgrade
, although he still traveled and wrote of his experiences constantly. He married Erzsébet Sekelj, a young woman whom he met on a journey through Hungary
. From 1972 on he lived in Subotica
, Vojvodina
. He became the curator a museum
in Subotica, where he spent the remaining years of his life. He died in Subotica, and is buried there.
His principal ethnographic work is:
where he presents translations of recordings he made during his travels.
, Dictionarium Museologicum, appearing in 1986. — ISBN 9635711743
Esperanto
is the most widely spoken constructed international auxiliary language. Its name derives from Doktoro Esperanto , the pseudonym under which L. L. Zamenhof published the first book detailing Esperanto, the Unua Libro, in 1887...
, writer and lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
of Jewish descent. He was born in Spišská Sobota (part of Poprad
Poprad
Poprad is a city in northern Slovakia at the foot of the High Tatra Mountains famous for its picturesque historic centre and as a holiday resort. It is the biggest town of the Spiš region and the tenth largest city in Slovakia with a population of approximately 55,000.The Poprad-Tatry Airport is...
), former-day Austria-Hungary, present-day Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, and died in Subotica, former Yugoslavia.
Tibor made expeditions across the whole of South America, Asia and Africa. Beside Hungarian and Serbo-Croatian, he spoke German, Spanish, English, French and Esperanto. He was a member of the Academy of Esperanto and an honorary member of the World Esperanto Association
World Esperanto Association
The World Esperanto Association is the largest international organization of Esperanto speakers, with members in 121 countries and in official relations with the United Nations and UNESCO. In addition to individual members, 70 national Esperanto organizations are affiliated to UEA...
, writing several books (essays and novels) in that language. His Kumeŭaŭa, la filo de la ĝangalo ("Kumeŭaŭa, the son of the jungle"), a children's book about the life of Brazilian Indians, has been translated into many languages.
Biography
Sekelj's father was a veterinarian and as a result the family moved around extensively. Several months after his birth the family moved to ČenejCenei
Cenei is a commune in Timiş County, Romania. It is composed of two villages, Bobda and Cenei. It also included Checea village until 2004, when it was split off to form a separate commune....
Vojvodina
Vojvodina
Vojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...
and in 1922 they moved to Kikinda
Kikinda
Kikinda is a town and a municipality located in Serbia, in the autonomous province of Vojvodina. It is the administrative centre of the North Banat District. The town has 42,000 inhabitants, while the municipality has approximately 67,000 inhabitants.The modern city was founded in 18th century...
(Кикинда) in Vojvodina, Serbia. After he had finished elementary school there, the family moved to Nikšić
Nikšic
Nikšić is a city in Montenegro . In 2003 the city had a total population about 75,000.Nikšić is located in Nikšić plain, at the foot of Mount Trebjesa. It is the center of the municipality , which is the largest in Montenegro by area...
(Никшић), Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
, where he finished high school (gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
). He then went to Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
where he studied law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
.
Disinterested in practicing law, he began working as a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
in Zagreb. In 1939 he travelled to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
to report on Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
emigrants, and remained there for the next 15 years as a journalist and explorer. In 1944 he was part of a party that climbed mount Aconcagua, the highest summit of the South American continent. This experience inspired him to write his first work Storm on the Aconcagua. In 1946 he undertook the first of two expeditions into the Amazon jungle, the first of which produced a popular book, "Along Native Trails" (Por Tierra De Indios). He later married his companion from that trailblazing expedition, Mary Reznik. Together they returned to the Amazon in 1948, and after that expedition he penned "Where Civilization Ends" (Donde La Civilizacion Termina). The marriage produced a son, Diego. In 1954 Sekelj returned to Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
and lived in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
, although he still traveled and wrote of his experiences constantly. He married Erzsébet Sekelj, a young woman whom he met on a journey through Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. From 1972 on he lived in Subotica
Subotica
Subotica is a city and municipality in northern Serbia, in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina...
, Vojvodina
Vojvodina
Vojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...
. He became the curator a museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
in Subotica, where he spent the remaining years of his life. He died in Subotica, and is buried there.
Works
The works of Tibor Sekelj, novels and recordings of his travels, contain interesting ethnographic observations. He also wrote guides and essays on Esperanto, the international language. The majority of his books were originally written in Esperanto, but were translated into many national languages. Tibor Sekelj is undoubtedly the most often translated Esperanto author.Descriptions of travels
- Tempestad sobre el Aconcagua, novel about his expedition in the Argentinian massif of the Aconcagua, originally written in Spanish, Buenos AiresBuenos AiresBuenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
: Ediciones Peuser, 1944, 274 pages.- Oluja na Aconcagui i godinu dana kasnije, Serbo-Croatian translation by Ivo Večeřina, ZagrebZagrebZagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
1955, 183 pages. - Burka na Aconcagui, Czech-Slovakian translation by Eduard V. Tvarožek, MartinMartin, SlovakiaMartin is a city in northern Slovakia, situated on the Turiec river, between the Malá Fatra and Veľká Fatra mountains, near the city of Žilina. The population numbers approximately 58,000, which makes it the eighth largest city in Slovakia...
: Osveta, 1958, 149 pages. - Tempesto super Akonkagvo, translation in Esperanto by Enio Hugo Garrote, BelgradeBelgradeBelgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
: Serbio Esperanto-Ligo, 1959, 227 pages.
- Oluja na Aconcagui i godinu dana kasnije, Serbo-Croatian translation by Ivo Večeřina, Zagreb
- Por tierras de Indios, about the experiences of the author under the Indians in BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, originally written in Spanish, 1946.- Durch Brasiliens Urwälder zu wilden Indianerstämmen, German translation by Rodolfo Simon, ZürichZürichZurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
: Orell Füssli, 1950, 210 pages. - Pralesmi Brazílie, tchec translation by Matilda V. Husárová, Martin: Osveta, 1956, 161 pages.
- V dezeli Indijancev po brazilskih rekah gozdovih, Slovenian translation by Peter Kovacic, MariborMariborMaribor is the second largest city in Slovenia with 157,947 inhabitants . Maribor is also the largest and the capital city of Slovenian region Lower Styria and the seat of the Municipality of Maribor....
: Zalozba obzorja Maribor, 1966, 252 pages. - Tra lando de indianoj, translation in Esperanto by Ernesto Sonnenfeld, MalmöMalmöMalmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
: Eldona Societo Esperanto, 1970, 186 pages.
- Durch Brasiliens Urwälder zu wilden Indianerstämmen, German translation by Rodolfo Simon, Zürich
- Excursión a los indios del Araguaia (Brasil), about the Indians Karajá and Javaé in Brazil, in Spanish, 1948.
- Nepalo malfermas la pordon, originally written in Esperanto, La Laguna: Régulo, 1959, 212 pages.
- Nepla otvara vrata, Serbian translation by Antonije Sekelj, Belgrad 1959, 212 pages.
- Window on Nepal, English translation by Marjorie BoultonMarjorie BoultonMarjorie Boulton is a British author and poet writing in both English and Esperanto.Author of Zamenhof: Creator of Esperanto — a biography of L. L...
, LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
: Robert Hale, 1959, 190 pages. - Nepal odpira vrata, Slovenian translation by Boris Grabnar, LjubljanaLjubljanaLjubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
: Mladinska knjiga, 1960, 212 pages.
- Ĝambo rafiki. La karavano de amikeco tra Afriko, originally written in Esperanto, Pise: Edistudio, 1991, 173 pages, ISBN 88-7036-041-5.
- Djambo rafiki. Pot karavane prijateljstva po Afriki, Slovenian translation by Tita Skerlj-Sojar, LjubljanaLjubljanaLjubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
: Mladinska knjiga, 1965, 184 pages.
- Djambo rafiki. Pot karavane prijateljstva po Afriki, Slovenian translation by Tita Skerlj-Sojar, Ljubljana
- Ridu per Esperanto, ZagrebZagrebZagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
1973, 55 pages. - Premiitaj kaj aliaj noveloj, seven short novels, originally written in Esperanto, ZagrebZagrebZagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
: Internacia Kultura Servo, 1974, 52 pages. - Kumeŭaŭa, la filo de la ĝangalo, children's book about the life of Indians in Brazil, originally written in Esperanto.
- 1st edition Antwerp 1979.
- 2nd edition RotterdamRotterdamRotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
: UEAUEAUEA may stand for:Universities:* University of East Africa, which in 1970 was split into University of Nairobi, Makerere University and University of Dar es Salaam*University of East Anglia, the university in Norwich, England...
, 1994, 94 pages. - Kumeuaua djungels son, Swedish translation by Leif Nordenstorm, BodenBoden, SwedenBoden is a locality and the seat of Boden Municipality in Norrbotten County, Sweden with 18,680 inhabitants in 2005.- History :The town of Boden started as a railway junction where the Northern Line met with the Ore Line from the rich iron ore fields in northern Sweden.The town experienced...
1987, 68 pages. - Kumevava, az őserdő fia, Hungarian translation by István Ertl, Budapest, 1988.
- Kumevava, syn ĝunhliv, Ukrainian translation by Nadija Hordijenko AndrianovaNadija Hordijenko AndrianovaNadia Hordijenko Andrianova was a Ukrainian writer and translator of the language Esperanto. She studied literature and journalism in Kiev and published articles and translations in Paco and Hungara Vivo. In 1987, the Hungara Esperanto-Asocio published her autobiography Vagante tra la mondo...
, Kijivo, Veselka, 1989. - Kumevava, sin prašume, Serbian translation, 2003.
- Mondo de travivaĵoj, autobiography and adventures throughout five continents. Pise: Edistudio, 1-a eldono 1981, 2-a eldono 1990, 284 pages, ISBN 8870360121.
- Neĝhomo, story about the life during an ascension Vienna: Pro Esperanto 1988, 20 pages.
- Kolektanto de ĉielarkoj, novels and poems, originally written in Esperanto, Pise: Edistudio, 1992, 117 pages, ISBN 88-7036-052-0.
- Temuĝino, la filo de la stepo, novel for the young, translated from Serbian by Tereza Kapista, BelgradeBelgradeBelgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
1993, 68 pages, ISBN 8690107347.
Books about Esperanto
- La importancia del idioma internacional en la educacion para un mundo mejor, MexicoMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
: Meksika Esperanto-Federacio, 1953, 13 pages. - The international language Esperanto, common language for Africa, common language for the world, translated from Esperanto to English by John Christopher Wells, Rotterdam: UEA, 1962, 11 pages.
- Le problème linguistique au sein du mouvement des pays non alignés et la possibilité de le resoudre, Rotterdam: UEA, 1981, 16 pages (= Esperanto-dokumentoj 10).
- La lingva problemo de la Movado de Nealiancitaj Landoj - kaj gia ebla solvo, Rotterdam: UEA, 1981, 12 pages (= Esperanto-dokumentoj 13).
Manuals of Esperanto
- La trovita feliĉo, novel for children, Buenos Aires: ProgresoProgresoProgreso or Progresso may refer to:Argentina* Progreso, Santa FeMexico* Progreso, Baja California* Progreso, Coahuila* Progreso, Chihuahua* Progreso, Puebla* Progreso, Sinaloa* Progreso, Sonora* Progreso, Veracruz* Progreso, Yucatán...
, 1945. - with Antonije Sekelj: Kurso de Esperanto, laŭ aŭdvida struktura metodo, 1960, 48 pages.
- with Antonije Sekelj: Dopisni tečaj Esperanta, Belgrad: Serba Esperanto-Ligo, 1960, 63 pages.
Works of ethnography
During his travels in South America, Africa, Asia and Oceania he collected important ethnographic information which he gave to the Ethnographic Museum of Zagreb.His principal ethnographic work is:
- Elpafu la sagon, el la buŝa poezio de la mondo (Pull out the arrow, about oral poetry of the world ), Roterdamo: UEA, 1983, 187 paĝoj, ISBN 92-9017-025-5 (= Serio Oriento-OkcidentoSerio Oriento-OkcidentoSerio Oriento-Okcidento is a publication series initiated by the World Esperanto Association, which aims to contribute to the "Program of UNESCO for the Study and mutual appreciation of cultures ". In the series, particularly important and representative works of world literature are translated...
18),
where he presents translations of recordings he made during his travels.
Dictionary
Tibor Sekelj collaborated on a dictionary in 20 languages about museologyMuseology
Museology is the diachronic study of museums and how they have established and developed in their role as an educational mechanism under social and political pressures.-Overview:...
, Dictionarium Museologicum, appearing in 1986. — ISBN 9635711743
External links
- Tibor Sekelj
- Works of and about Tibor Sekelj in Collections for Constructed Languages and Esperantomuzeum (de),
- Palm Tree Falls At Midnight (A short story by Tibor Sekelj, in Serbian language)