This bronze likeness before you is Germanus Gyula. He was a remarkable man. A professor of oriental studies a Hungarian writer and Islamologist. Germanus Gyula made significant contributions to the study of Arabic language history and culture. He was a follower of Armin Vambery a scholar of world repute.
Germanus Gyula was born in Budapest in 1884. His family was Jewish and middle class. His grandfathers fought in the 1848-49 Hungarian Revolution. His father was a leather merchant and shoemaker. His mother was of Zipser German origin.
As a young man Germanus Gyula didn’t excel in school. He received low marks early on. Yet he graduated with brilliant results in 1902. He learned many languages. His mother spoke German more than Hungarian. However Hungarian became his mother tongue.
His interest turned towards the East. He was captivated by a picture in Gartenlaube. It showed a magical eastern town. This sparked his lifelong fascination with Eastern culture and languages. He learned Turkish alone. He realised he needed to know Persian and Arabic. Armin Vambery helped him. Vambery gave him access to books. He became a renowned orientalist.
Germanus Gyula’s travels were extensive. He journeyed to Bosnia. He visited Turkey. He served with the Turkish Red Crescent during World War I. He was even involved in secret missions. He was accused of espionage and imprisoned. He narrowly escaped death.
He went to Constantinople and studied law at the University of Constantinople. He later earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree. He spent time in England working at the British Museum. He learned English. He edited English textbooks and dictionaries.
He went to India. He organized the Department of the History of Islam at Visva-Bharati University. He gave lectures. He met important figures like Zakir Husain and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. He studied Sanskrit. He converted to Islam taking the name Abdul-Karim.
He travelled through the Middle East and Saudi Arabia. He became the first Hungarian Muslim to perform the Hajj in Mecca. He investigated the Black Stone. He was received by King Abdul Aziz ibn Saud. He wrote about his experiences in Allah Akbar.
He returned to Hungary. He worked at universities. He was a member of parliament. He continued his studies. He revisited the East. He lectured at many universities. He met many important people. He even made a second Hajj.
His work was extensive. He wrote many books and articles. His knowledge spanned multiple languages and cultures. Germanus Gyula was a prolific writer and scholar. He died in Budapest in 1979. He is remembered for his contributions to oriental studies. This bust stands as a tribute to his life and work. It’s a fitting memorial for a remarkable man.