Tibor Sekelj reached the summit of Aconcagua, the highest peak in South America at 6,962 meters, on 13 February 1944. This expedition, conducted during a severe snowstorm, resulted in the deaths of four teammates and became the subject of his first book, Storm Over Aconcagua, marking the beginning of a prolific career as a global explorer and writer.
Early Development and Education
Born in 1912 in Poprad, then part of Cisleithania, Sekelj spent his early years moving frequently due to his father's work as an army veterinarian. By 1922, the family settled in Kikinda within the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. He entered the University of Zagreb in 1929 and graduated from the school of law in 1933. During his academic years, he developed interests in filmmaking, painting, sculpture, and Esperanto, eventually deciding that the practice of law was not his primary interest.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →South American Expeditions
In 1939, Sekelj sailed to Buenos Aires to work as a journalist. He remained in South America for 15 years, during which he explored the Mato Grosso region and the Amazon rainforest. In 1946, alongside his partner Mary Reznik, he documented contact with indigenous groups such as the Xavantes, Karajá, and Javae. These journeys, characterized by extreme physical hardship, led to publications including Por Tierra De Indios and Donde La Civilizacion Termina.
Linguistic and Literary Legacy
Sekelj was a dedicated Esperantist who served as a member of the Academy of Esperanto. His literary output included essays, travel books, and novels. His children's novella, Kumeŭaŭa, la filo de la ĝangalo, was translated into seventeen languages and received recognition as the best children's book in Japan in 1987. Throughout his life, he was proficient in several languages, including Esperanto, French, German, Italian, Spanish, English, Hungarian, and Serbian.
Fast facts
- Born: 1912, Poprad
- Died: 1988, Subotica
- Education: University of Zagreb
- Languages: Esperanto, French, German, Italian, Spanish, English, Hungarian, Serbian
- Key Expedition: Aconcagua summit, 1944
- Notable Work: Kumeŭaŭa, la filo de la ĝangalo
- Citizenship: Yugoslavia, Cisleithania
Questions readers ask
Why did Tibor Sekelj decline honorary Argentine citizenship?
He identified as a citizen of the world and did not wish to be legally bound to any single nation.
What was the result of his 1944 Aconcagua expedition?
He reached the summit, but four of the six team members perished in a snowstorm.
Achievements
- Fine Arts Competitions of UEA
- Recorded as explorer, ethnologist and writer
