Memorial Day Honors Historian István Nemeskürty on 100th Anniversary of His Birth

A memorial day “István Nemeskürty 100” was held on Wednesday in the Parliament building to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of István Nemeskürty, writer, literary and film historian, and the first president of the Hungarian Corvin Chain Association. The event was addressed by E. Sylvester Vizi, President of the Hungarian Corvin Chain Association and Tamás Sulyok, President of Hungary.

We pay tribute to a Hungarian who was an example of how to think and how to act, said E. Sylvester Vizi at the event, adding that the thoughts and seeds that István Nemeskürty sowed have sprouted, and national self-esteem has come to life. “Hungary’s constitution, its national creed, states that after decades of moral disintegration in the 20th century, we are in dire need of spiritual and intellectual renewal. The teacher was the most outstanding representative of this renewal,” he stressed.

He emphasized that István Nemeskürty’s books, films, and public activities had raised ideas that had triggered cathartic processes for the Hungarian people and the Hungarian nation trying to survive the Second World War, Soviet occupation, and a communist dictatorship.

When it was proclaimed, inculcated, and even taught to all of us that we were a guilty people, he presented in his novels, short stories, and screenplays the events of our national past that made the new generation aware of the fact that we can be proud of our past and its beautiful aspects,”

recalled Vizi.

The Association President stressed that Nemeskürty considered it important to re-establish the Hungarian Corvin Chain award together with Viktor Orbán. “He was convinced that national culture plays an important role in reconciling individual and communal interests and in asserting national interests.

In doing so, he helped to shape the public thinking of the post-communist period, and also created the canon for the functioning of the Hungarian Corvin Chain in the 21st century,”

he said.

“His knowledge, education, and wisdom helped us to anticipate what our future would be like and what we needed to do to help our destiny move in the right direction,” he noted. He added that his rich and exemplary life’s work is a universally appreciated value of 20th century Hungarian culture, and his works have become a common Hungarian cultural treasure.

In a heartfelt speech, Harriet Nemeskürty, daughter of István Nemeskürty, remembered her father and his life’s work, and highlighted her mother’s role in István Nemeskürty’s oeuvre. “My mother was necessary for my father to have the opportunity to become what he became,” she stressed.

In his speech, President Tamás Sulyok stressed that we can learn from István Nemeskürty that the Hungarian people can only achieve prosperity if they preserve their identity and do not deny themselves. “István Nemeskürty fought an intellectual battle, he knew that we do not have to defeat each other,” he said. The Head of State pointed out that he wanted to preserve, pass on, and transmit the values that strengthen the community and national consciousness.

He added that his life was inextricably linked to his love of literature and culture, he taught in primary schools, and worked in the editorial office of Magvető. He wrote studies, at first mainly on old Hungarian literature, and then turned his attention to other periods. Fifty years after Antal Szerb, he wrote a comprehensive history of Hungarian literature, the Head of State recalled.

He added that it is clear from his works that he regarded literature not only as an expression of national consciousness, but also as an active shaper of it. He was attracted to the cinema, became a film historian, film aesthete, dramaturg of the Budapest Film Studio, and director of the film institute. He was a lecturer and professor of film history at the Academy of Drama and Film in Budapest.

Nemeskürty was awarded the Hungarian Corvin Chain for his outstanding achievements in the field of culture and education,

he became the first president of the Corvin Chain Association, and he was also awarded the highest honors, such as the Kossuth Prize and the Széchenyi Prize, which expressed the nation’s gratitude for his career.

Balázs Orbán, the Prime Minister’s Political Director, also spoke at the event. He stressed that the success of Hungary is not an attainable goal, but a permanent mission for which every generation must strive again and again. He added that to pass on this idea, a patriotic, good, and modern education is needed.

If we build on the values represented by István Nemeskürty, we will be able to build a truly timeless education system that makes love for the nation, self-respect, belonging, and independence alive and tangible,”

said Orbán.

Nemeskürty taught us to “dare to be great,” the politician recalled. “Our political community also believes in a strong Hungary, we believe that we do not always have to fall in line,” because “we are so strong that we can stand on our own two feet,” he noted.

Magyar Posta (Hungarian Post) commemorates Nemeskürty’s work with an occasional stamp issue. The stamp was unveiled at the commemorative event in the Parliament building.

The stamp, which has a face value of 270 forints, features a portrait of Nemeskürty and a picture of the Millennium Flag of Hungary, referring to the initiative of his government commissioner, thanks to which every Hungarian settlement was able to receive a Millennium Flag at the Millennium celebrations, thus strengthening the idea of national unity. The envelope shows Nemeskürty writing, with the logo of the Hungarian Corvin Chain in the background.

Via MTI, Featured image: Facebook/Dr Sulyok Tamás