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Dr Ljubomir Pavlović: Physician, Public Figure, and Advocate for the Serbian Minority in Early 20th Century Hungary
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Dr Ljubomir Pavlović

Dr Ljubomir Pavlović was born in Novi Bečej on June 18, 1868, into the family of Nikita Pavlović, a gingerbread maker, and his wife Marica. He received his elementary education in his hometown and completed his secondary education in Sremski Karlovci and Hódmezővásárhely. He studied medicine in Vienna and Budapest, graduating in 1892.

Dr Ljubomir Pavlović: Physician, Public Figure, and Advocate for the Serbian Minority in Early 20th Century HungaryWith a medical degree in hand, he returned to Novi Bečej and began practicing medicine, treating the local population. At the end of the 19th century, he played a significant role in combating a cholera outbreak by initiating the drilling of several artesian wells in Novi Bečej and Vranjevo. In addition to his medical work, he also taught health education at the local school. At the turn of the 20th century, he worked at Rusanda Spa, where he also served as director.

Dr Pavlović also proved himself successful in business—he owned a large surface clay mine in Berek, used for brick and tile production. He held several important positions: director of the Serbian Arač Savings Bank, president of the Orthodox church municipality in Novi Bečej, secretary of the Diocese of Timișoara, member and recorder of the Serbian Assembly in Sremski Karlovci, and a member of the county council.

In the 1901 general elections in Hungary, he ran for Parliament as an independent candidate of Serbian nationality, representing the Novi Bečej district. He narrowly won the majority of votes over Rohonci Gedeon, who had represented the district for the previous 23 years. However, before he could officially take office, he had to await the outcome of a complaint filed by local nobles and landowners. They alleged that Dr Pavlović used nationalist rhetoric and disparaged the Hungarian state during his campaign.

The petition questioning the legality of the campaign was submitted to the court in Budapest by Peter Urban (Urbán Péter) on behalf of Novi Bečej's intelligentsia and gentry. Their legal Official Correspondence of Dr Ljubomir Pavlovićrepresentative was Dr Nándor Mittelmann, a lawyer from Novi Bečej, while Dr Pavlović was defended by Dr Ármin Tetélmi from Budapest. After hearing both sides, the court ruled that the petitioners had only quoted parts of Dr Pavlović’s speech, which were taken out of context. The court concluded that the speech did not contain class-based or anti-state agitation. The petition was dismissed, and Dr Pavlović was allowed to take his seat in the Hungarian Parliament.

It should be noted that throughout his long-term mandate, Dr Ljubomir Pavlović was frequently accused of various anti-state activities and even faced legal proceedings. However, the outcomes were always in his favor. Many public figures in Hungary praised him as a representative of the national minorities who chose to advocate for his people within the legal and parliamentary framework.

Sources:

  • Historical Archives of Zrenjanin
  • A Szláv áramlatok és hazánk – Count János Esterházy
  • Vasárnapi Ujság
  • Documents from the archive of Andre Karolj

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