June 07, 2007
Gereltogtokh Dagva
The Japanese Esperanto Institute is issuing a special invitation to 23 Asian Esperanto activists to take part in this year's World Esperanto Congress in Yokohama. In the April issue of the Japanese magazine La Revuo Orienta JEI has published statements by each of these people. I am reproducing them here, in English translation, one by one.
The next listed activist is Gereltogtokh Dagva of Mongolia. Gereltogtokh is a 40-year-old economist at the "Sun" center in Ulaan Bataar.
Esperanto and I
One day in November, 1987, the postman brought me new numbers of various magazines. At that time I was a subscriber to the magazine Ulaan Bataar News. On one page of the magazine there was an announcement about a two-year Esperanto course. I decided to go to the course. At that time I was a construction worker. I worked by day on the construction site and went to the Esperanto course in the evening for two years. Before the course, I already knew about Esperanto, but during my study I fully understood Esperanto's purpose. When I understood that Esperanto was a language of peace and an easiest perfectly created language, I respected and loved it. Even now I love Esperanto, and will love it for my whole life.
World Esperanto Congress and After
I want to see the miraculous spread of Esperanto in Japan and the activities of the Esperanto clubs. I think that Mongolian Esperanto speakers need to learn the experiences of Esperanto speakers from other countries. It is necessary not just to learn, but also to practice experience. When we Mongols inform about Esperanto and disseminate it in our country, undoubtedly that will be the fruit of what we find in Japan.
In Mongolia experienced and influential Esperanto speakers are few. I will work hard to cause that lack to vanish not only after the congress but during my lifetime.