Serbia, hold on to Pupin's values, that is the only way forward
OCTOBER CONFERENCES
EVENTS IN PUPIN’S IDVOR
FROM 1979 TO 2017
To Pupin, Idvor is in the material world what St. Sava is in the spiritual
Today, in 2018, when one mentions IDVOR, we have two living saints,
Academician Nikola Hajdin and Dragiša Matić Uča.
On 6 October 1979, Mihajlo Pupin is proclaimed in Novi Sad the symbol of values of the Innovation Movement. On 23 November 1979 in Titovo Užice 12 October is decided to be the Day of Innovators of Yugoslavia. That is the day when in 1887 Nikola Tesla submitted his most important patent in the USA – rotating magnetic field. Merging of this date with 9 October when Pupin was born created the October Confernce.
Up until 1979 no one knew the exact date of birth of Mihajlo Pupin, his real name, nor origin. The Yugoslav Board formed commissions which established that Mihajlo Pupin was born on 9 October 1854, that his name was Mihajlo and that he came from the old Serbia, Vevčani-Moskopolja, the vicinity of Ohrid.
Organizers of the first October Conference in Idvor in 1979. Then, like now, we had one important Belić (third from the left Radivoje Belić, President of the Idvor Local Community). The photo shows employees of the “Mihajlo Pupin” Institute: Radivoje Davidović – Dača, Gradimir Topalović, Nikola Dragić, as well as Ljubinko Belić, Ljubomir Stankić and Vuletin Stojan from Idvor.
Stogodišnjica priključenja Vojvodine Srbiji
Idvor 2018.
With his research before the Yugoslav Board, Prof Dr. Pavle Mitrevski contributed the most to the exact establishment of the origin of Mihajlo Pupin who originates from the vicinity of Vevčane and Moskopolje. In the great migrations of Serbs led by Patriarch Čarnojević in 1690, Pupin’s ancestors headed from Vevčane towards today’s Idvor.
In Ohrid, 27 January 2005
Dear Milan and other esteemed persons,
First of all, let me send you my warm greetings.
With your help and enormous engagement on that unforgettable 9 October 2004 and
before, you really did a lot for me from Belgrade. Those days (2-3) were
unforgettable, because I visited Belgrade after 10 years. I tell everyone that besides
your hospitality, Belgrade has left me with one unforgettable impression: clean city,
both in the day and night, which it not used to be in the previous years. All praises
to city authorities.
You, with your team and nice ladies, have really done and achieved something
irresistible and unsurpassable with such an organized meeting in beautiful Pupin’s
Idvor, which could be envied by even the best world organizers-managers.
This time, I want in written form to tell you that you have done a lot on the
affirmation of your and our giant Mihajlo I. Pupin.
Aferim (bravo).
27 January 2005
Pavle Mitrevski
Milan Božić speaks on the occasion of 150 th anniversary of Pupin’s birth in Idvor, 2004
The basic topic of every October Conference in the past 41 years was related to Pupin’s role in solving large world problems which also referred to Yugoslavia. Upon the breakdown of the country, the Conference offers the solution to current problems of Serbia through the building of Pupin’s system of values based on the education system and creation of the cult of creative worker in the immediate production, Road to the Innovation Society.
100th Anniversary of Vojvodina’s Accession to Serbia –
Introductory speech by Milan Božić at the October Conference 2018 in Idvor
The Foundation has been preparing for a long time for the great anniversary – 40 years of the Conference. On that first Conference in 1979 began the fight for the affirmation of a world genius and largest Serbian lobbyist in the world, Mihajlo Idvorski Pupin. However, the events have overrun us, so today’s gathering is dedicated to 100 th anniversary of Vojvodina’s accession to Serbia, which is an even greater event. On 25 November 1918, the Assembly of the People of Vojvodina adopted a Decision on the Accession of Banat, Bačka and Baranja to the Kingdom of Serbia and formed the Provincial Government and Assembly.
Pupin’s contribution is priceless in establishing borders at the Peace Conference in Paris and returning of already lost territories to Vojvodina and other parts of Yugoslavia with a secret London Agreement. Today, when a long dreamt dream is being realized, Pupin is also reminding us of the great friendship between Serbia and the USA. Pupin was a symbol of value in the world, and whoever loved him loved Serbia as well. Let us remember some prominent Americans – Presidents of the USA: Wilson, Harding and Hoover; Military Attaché Hamilton Fish Armstrong; Dr Edward Ryan; Ambassadors Daile Prince and Lawrence Eagleburger, as well as many other Pupin’s friends who defended Serbia, and Yugoslavia later on. Serbia was also loved by European great men: German publicist and historian Herman Wender, Austrian academician and historian Felix Kanitz, French author Marc Ellis, historian Albert Malet, Italian poet and statesman Gabriel D’Annunzio, one of the most prominent Slavs Tomas Masarik, British economist John Keynes, author Rebecca West, and many others.
October Conference, Idvor 2014
In his old age, already gravely ill, Pupin thought for the millionth time why various sufferings and calvaries must happen to us. How come that everything we win at war, we then lose in peace. He was no longer certain, like he was after the Peace Conference, that Serbian misfortunes are in the past. He remembered how Pašić had sent him to Belgrade after Paris.
When the work in Paris was completed, Pašić asked Pupin to go to Belgrade and help with the war orphans and talk to people from Vojvodina, Croatia and Slovenia for the purpose of quick accession of those parts to one state.
He arrived to Belgrade on 2 June 1919, and his host was the President of the Government, Dr Stojan Protić. The Crown Prince Aleksandar received Pupin in his residence and kept him for lunch. He visited Duke Mišić in Belgrade and Duke Stepa in Čačak in order to express his great admiration for the Serbian Army. He goes to Idvor, and then to Pančevo and Novi Sad where he was exceptionally welcomed. He leaves for Zagreb, Ljubljana and Bled, where Slovenians had organized him a great welcome and proclaimed him the Honorary Citizen of Bled. He arrived to his estate in Norfolk, USA, around 15 July.
Pupin first visited Pančevo, the town that celebrated Wilson’s principles from Paris by organizing an Academy on the American President. He arrived on a steamer on 5 June at 11:00 with his secretary Pavle Hadži-Pavlović, cousin Dr. Grgin and Hamilton Fish Armstrong. A large crowd headed by Mayor Dr. Jovan Bogdanov welcomed them on the pier. They first went to the City Hall where Pupin met with prominent men from Pančevo and members of the Circle of Serbian Sisters. The President of the Sisters, Draginja Ćurčin informed Pupin with the work of the Circle of Serbian Sisters in Pančevo and Serbia. At 17:00 there was the Academy on Woodrow Wilson at “Trubač”, at that time the most beautiful building in Pančevo.
In this building Pupin attended the Academy on Wilson
On that occasion Pupin himself gave a speech permeated by his personal great respect towards Wilson. He received a huge applause even though he contradicted those who claimed that Wilson alone is the oasis of idealism in America, full of materialism. Pupin defended America, thus incurring anger among Belgrade socialists and students who prevented him from talking at the Belgrade University. Pupin said that the fact that America stimulates applied science and improves production through innovations using its own strength, and awards workers especially those in production, makes America a strong and generous country. In that way it develops economy on healthy basis, which does not at all mean that America is obsessed with money, as often presented by Europe, but by the wish for
progress and prosperity.
From Pančevo he goes to Idvor where he spends time with Uroš Predić and family from Banat.
The next important visit was to Novi Sad on 17 June. He first visited the Dunđerski house who took him to the hotel “Srpski kralj” for a festive lunch.
The lunch was attended by 120 guests: Mayor Jovan Živojnović, representatives of the army, church and many other prominent people of that time. During the lunch Pupin gave a simple, honest and open speech. Several people spoke beside the Mayor. The best toast, reflecting Pupin’s speech, was given by Jaša Tomić, the most respectful and influential Serb of that time in Novi Sad. Jaša Tomić was the chief speaker at the large People’s Assembly and read its main Decision:
We join the Kingdom of Serbia, which with its former work and development guarantees freedom, equality, progress in all directions, not only to us, but to all Slav and non-Slav peoples who live with us. We ask the Government of the brotherly Serbia to represent our interests at the Peace Conference in Paris.
Novi Sad
Jasa Tomic reveals the huge role of Mihajlo Pupin for Vojvodina to join the Kingdom of Serbia
Jaša Tomić (1856-1922)
Despite serious problems which Jaša had with Pribićević brothers and Zagreb lobby, he had a crucial role in the adoption of such a Decision. He was inspired by Pupin’s old idea, which was present in Paris as well, that first Serbia’s borders are defined with sea access, and only then that Croatia and Slovenia join the new country.
You heard Pupin, Jaša Tomić says. He talked to us about the great work of Woodrow Wilson, but also about what America used to think of us and what it thinks now. He brought us America’s messages – to respect and fulfil the rights of all our compatriots. In order to live with them like brothers and in love, we must have a good will for everyone’s name, religion and customs. Then, we Serbs will also have the right to our name and patriotism. Today it is clear to all of us that we are brothers and we can be together out of general interest. It is normal that Serbs,
Croats and Slovenians want to remain what they are. They should develop their new homeland together, in line with their characteristics and abilities. That is how it is going to be large and strong. At the end Pupin expressed gratitude to everyone on the warm welcome, especially to Jaša Tomić who understands well what Pupin is doing. For the moment his thoughts take him to 1872 when Svetozar Miletić talked in Pančevo about the rights of Serbs in the Austria-Hungary. That was when Pupin and a group of boys stepped on the Austrian flag. Today, 47 years later, Pupin’s dream is made true by Miletić’s son in law Jaša Tomić, daughter Milica and son Slavko Miletić.
