Ludwik Zamenhof was born on this date in 1859

Zamenhof was born in Białystok. While a student of the Philological Gymnasium in Warsaw, he began working on an international language. He presented the first results to his colleagues in 1878.

Ludwik Zamenhof - portait in black and white
fot. Stowarzyszenie Żydowski Instytut Historyczny

While practicing as an ophthalmologist in Veisiejai, Vienna, and Warsaw, he continued to work on the language. In 1887, he published Unua Libro (The First Book), which was the first international language textbook, under the pseudonym Dr. Esperanto.

Zamenhof believed that a universal language, by overcoming barriers to communication, would bring people together in the spirit of world peace. His proposal was well received and as early as 1888, the first Esperanto society was established in Nuremberg. The first world Esperanto Congress took place in 1905 in France. In 1907, during the Third Esperanto Congress in Cambridge, Zamenhof delivered a speech in which he stated: "Esperantism seeks mutual understanding and, consequently, respect and love between people and nations."
 

Lecture Video: Is it Possible for all People to Speak the Same Language? The Story of Ludwik Zamenhof and Esperanto While often presented as an utopic dream of the 19th century, Esperanto did survive two World Wars and it shows a new vitality...