Malta Ionesov

Some months ago I corresponded in Esperanto with Anatoli Ionesov from the International Museum of Peace and Solidarity of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, who sent me a book with a poem originally written in Russian by poet Irina Aleksejeva, and translated into 62 languages, singing the glories of Uzbekistan.

Esperanto was the bridge language of the translations. I translated it into Maltese with the title: Għanja lil Samarkand.

Anatoli told me that his father Ivan Ionesov (1908-2001) born in Samarkand was a language teacher but in 1930 he served his country as a seaman in the Black Sea in Batum.

He told me that once, when his father’s ship passed by Malta, this island from afar so enchanted him that in his eyes it instantly became a symbol of romantic beauty.

Ivan Ionesov when he was a sailor in 1930.

So much so that Ivan decided that if he’ll ever have a daughter, he’ll surely name her ‘Malta’. Fifty years later in 1982, when Ivan’s son Anatoli, had a girl, he remembered his father’s wish which never materialised owing to a lack of daughters, and named his daughter ‘Malta’.

Today this girl ‘Malta’ has completed her economics degree at Samarkand State University.

Besides her native language, she also speaks English, French and Esperanto. Anatoli told me that some day his daughter may visit Malta. Who knows? Sometimes wishes come true.