Mihajlo's mother Olimpijada (photograph from 1880.)
Mihajlo Pupin was born on 9.10.1854 in a village in Banat - Idvor, which was a part of the habsburgh monarchy then, as a son of a border guard Konstantin Pupin and his wife Olimpijada.
Olimpijada lost all her children while she was young.
Only when she was in her 30s, gave birth to two daughters
who survived, and she born Mihajlo when she was 40.
The only male
descendant in Pupin family became the most loved one and,
as it turned out later, the smartest child. in his biography
„From emigrant to inventor“ Pupin says only a few words
about his father, sometimes indirectly, identifying him
with certain people who reminded him of this person.
So, we don't know much about Konstantin.
Only that he was "blackhaired", "serious",
"reserved" peasant with "broad shoulders",
that he was choosed in the village administration for
several times and that there weren't many things which
could upset him.
Reading this, we can give a conclusion that father didn't
have a significant influence on Mihajlo's bringing up
and education.
The house of Mihajlo pupin
Detail from the inside
The picture of the mother is completely
different. Mihajlo saw pure goodness and tenderness in
her. In her, he could find parent-love, generosity and
sense. She always gave him a support, and even in the
moments of doubtening. For the rest of her life she was
his source of optimism, happiness and hope.
With her help, he brought
some serious life-desisions. Listening to her advice ,
he could easier bear all those difficulties in the big
world he went to.
