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The monument of Nikola Tesla unveiled in Prague

Published by Dragica in Događanja · 18/9/2014 10:06:00
On the initiative of the Croatian-Czech Society in Zagreb, the world's biggest monument of Nikola Tesla was unveiled in Nikola Tesla Street in Prague at the beginning of September. It's two and a half meters high and four meters long.

The authors are the Czech sculptor Stefan Milkov and the Czech architect Jiri Trojan. The monument was set up by the City district Prague 6, and the City of Zagreb donated a part of funds. Among the others, Milan Bandić, Mayor of the City of Zagreb, Ines Troha Brdar, the Croatian Ambassador in the Czech Republic, the representatives of the Croatian-Czech Society and Češka beseda from Zagreb were persent at the unveiling ceremony. That was the first time the Croatian representatives attended the setting up of Tesla's monument outside Croatia.

The speech of Mr. Milan Bandić, Mayor of the City of Zagreb, during the ceremony of unveiling the monumenot of Nikola Tesla in Prague, September 2014

Dear Mayor Kousalikova, Ladies and Gentlemen, dear Czech friends

My warm-hearted and sincere greetings and brotherly greetings of the City of Zagreb. I would like to express my gratitude to the City of Prague and the Croatian-Czech Society giving me the honour to be present at the ceremony of unveiling the monument of Nikola Tesla, the inventor and world famous genius who was proud of his Serbian origin and Croatian homeland during his whole modest life.

It's a special honour to greet you as Zagreb Mayor and a member of the Croatian Nikola Tesla Association – Genis for the Future from Zagreb. Zagreb and Croatia have the additional reason always to glorify the genius from Lika. During his whole creative and fruitful life, even in periods when his inventions enlightened and warmed mankind, and when the name of Nikola Tesla became the planetary fact, Nikola Tesla never suppressed his native village of Smiljan.

With reason and pride, Nikola Tesla was elected the honorary member of the Yugoslav Academy of Science and Art in 1896, and in 1926 he was elected the honorary doctor at the Zagreb University. On the old Zagreb townhall wall there is a tablet reminding us that in 1892 Tesla had a lecture there bout alternating current and said : „I think it's my duty, as the son of this country, to help Zagreb in every respect by my advices and actions.“ Unfortunately, the historic fact is that Zagreb representatives didn't understand it. As Zagreb Mayor, it was my moral duty and political obligation to offer assistance in the effort to raise the monument of Nikola Tesla in Prague.

That’s why I’m here today sharing the joy of the Czech-Croatian friendship and cooperation. After all, Zagreb and Prague connections have a long and rich history. The history of Zagreb began with a Czech Duh – the first Zagreb bishop, 920 years ago. The Czech-Croatian connections have lasted since then.

It’s not by chance, as nothing happens by chance, that in the centre of Zagreb there is Prague Street, and not far from it, Masaryk Street. These two Czech streets in the heart of Zagreb are connected by Nikola Tesla Street.

It’s interesting to mention that in the period between two World Wars, Prague first lady, the wife of the legendary Mayor Karel Baxa, was the Croatian Amelija Jurković from Opatija. At the same time, Zagreb first lady was Berta Pickova from Prague, the wife of the well known Zagreb Mayor Vjekoslav Heinzel. And finally, the informal first lady in Croatia at that time was Marija Dvorakova from Prague, the wife of Stjepan Radić, Croatian politician and national leader and tribune.

In Croatia and worldwide Nikola Tesla is the symbol of the ingenious man, the everlasting idol. That’s why I express thanks to the Croatian-Czech Society for their initiative as well as many actions they have taken in order to promote the Croatian-Czech relations, the relations of two close and friendly nations.

In October I’ll be the patron at the celebration of the 140th oldest ethnic minority association in our capital, and I’m very proud of it. In the end I would like to invite all dear Czech friends, when they are on their way to the Adriatic Sea in summer, to visit Zagreb as well as Tesla’s native village of Smiljan and the Plitvice Lake where Tesla got the idea to use water for electric current generation.

Glory and honour to this great or the greatest genius. Cheers!


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