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Tesla's formative years shaped his intellectual pursuits. His mother, Đuka Mandić, inspired his fascination with invention, while his father, a priest, envisioned a religious path for him. After nearly dying from cholera, Tesla’s father promised him an education in engineering—an offer that became his salvation. He moved to Graz, Austria, where he excelled in mathematics and physics, though his academic journey was ultimately derailed by gambling addiction.