Sándor Lezsák, the Vice-President of the Parliament, and singer Kamilla Dévai Nagy received the 2020 awards of Vasvári Vasvári awards were received by Miklós Kásler, Minister of Human Resources, and István Bajkai (Fidesz) representative received.

The spirit of the National Museum building is inseparable from the freedom struggle of 1848-49 and Hungarian freedom, said László L. Simon, director general of the institution, at the award ceremony.

He recalled that Vasvári died at the age of 22, but, as he said, a lot of things fit into this short life, many decades were not enough for such a large oeuvre.

László Péntek, the honorary president of the Vasvári Pál Civic Association, added that Vasvári received a statue in the garden of the National Museum only this year, 172 years after his death. However, from now on the residents of Budapest can also commemorate the hero who died young and the approximately four hundred members of the Rákóczi free team he organized who were killed together with him, he noted.

Ferenc Bauer, the association's co-president, reminded that due to the pandemic, the 2020 recipients of Vasvári Praising Sándor Lezsák, he said that the awardee's name was associated with the Hungarian regime change and the establishment of Hungarian democracy.


Sándor Lezsák is one of the founders of the Hungarian Democratic Forum, the organization was formed at a meeting held in the garden of his house. Since 2006, he has been the vice-president of the Parliament, and the foundation of the Lakitelek Foundation and People's College is also linked to his name.

Ferenc Bauer pointed out: Sándor Lezsák had a decisive role in the realization of one of the main goals of the association, in the construction of the Hegyközszentimre chapel in Partium.

In his short speech, Sándor Lezsák talked about how he meets many, many young people at Lakitelk, the folk college, among whom are "the young people of today's March".

László Péntek praised Kamilla Nagy Dévai and reminded us that for 53 years, the singer has been visiting the settlements of the scattered Hungarians, reaching even the smallest villages. He has performed on all five continents, singing everywhere in the local language, so his repertoire includes 34 different languages, which is a world record, he pointed out.

Kamilla Dévai Nagy recites both poetry and prose authentically and sensitively, but she also came forward with a book of poems, said László Péntek.

Kamilla Nagy Dévai expressed her gratitude for the award and promised to continue to serve Hungarian culture with the strength derived from it.

was delivered by Kálmán Tóth, co-chairman of the Vasvári

He recalled: the association fought for ten years to erect a Vasvári statue in Budapest, and in 2021 help came from an unexpected place, from the Ministry of Human Resources, thanks to Miklós Kásler.

In his speech, Miklós Kásler emphasized that every nation has eras that create such exceptional personalities as the greats of the reform era. II. After József's Germanization efforts, the aim of the reform period was to renew the Hungarian national identity, at the same time to expand the concept of the nation and uplift all people living in the Carpathian Basin, he said.

At the time, politicians such as Kölcsey, Deák, Széchenyi or Kossuth worked for the country; Vasvári showed the most beautiful traditions of the Hungarian nation in his personality, thoughts and actions, the minister reminded.

Zoltán Lomnici, the president of the Human Dignity Council, praised István Bajkai and emphasized: " Vasvári when we fight for the rights of Transylvanian Hungarians".

István Bajkai has been busy all his life with the fight for the rights of the disenfranchised, Hungarians across the border - he added, mentioning that the representative translated, for example, the vast material of the trial of political prisoners in Transylvania at his own expense.

The award goes to a dedicated person who loves his country and is able to make sacrifices - he praised István Bajkai, who could not receive the Vasvári award in person due to his urgent commitments.

After the award ceremony, the participants of the ceremony laid a wreath Vasvári in the Museum Garden.

MTI

Photo: MTI/Lajos Soós