Miklós Duray is often referred to as a politician and public writer, but he played a much bigger role than that. Since János Esterházy, he was the last statesman who could fundamentally examine, understand and define the spirit of the Hungarian people in the highlands.

Although he was undoubtedly a politician and a public writer, his personality grew beyond these two concepts, because few people are capable of always doing and doing what is necessary and necessary. Perhaps only the largest format individuals are capable of this.

Miklós Duray was like that. When he had to, he was an activist, and when duty called for it, he wrote samizdats, books, drafted manifestos, taught at universities, organized movements, acted as a defender of rights, changed the regime, or organized a rally in Komárom as a fighter for autonomy. He was not afraid of power, threats, blackmail, impossibility, or even prison.

He was a convinced anti-communist, one of the most decisive philosophical thinkers of our time, a constant dissector of social issues, a social psychologist, a citizen in the classical sense, an eternal organizer and activist, a true perpetuum mobile.

After 1989, he founded a party and shaped political life, but he always dedicated his activities to the goal and not the other way around. For him, the Prague and Bratislava parliaments were really just a tool among others and not a goal. He always thought in terms of perspectives, long term and strategy.

Many times his train of thought was not completely clear to his listeners - I have to admit, I was the same way when I lost the thread during one of our personal or telephone conversations - but this is just my proof of poverty.

In fact, Miklós Duray raised the representation of community interests, the community and political strategy to a philosophical level, and placed it in a dimension whose system of connections exceeded mediocrity.

This is what made him truly great. This made him truly immortal. As well as the fact that, unlike most politicians, especially those of today, he knew that it is not enough to think about strategy, it is not enough to plan for the long term, if they do not deal with young people and train their replacements.

Miklós Duray was not only the caring father of the youth organization of the Coexistence Movement, the Hungarian Youth Association, and the spiritual compass of that political community, but also of the Via Nova Youth Group, which gathered a generation later. Not least of the youngest generation, the Esterházy Academy, of which he was a co-founder, teacher, and brain trust.

Of course, Miklós Duray was also young and of course he lived an active life even at a young age. In addition to his epoch-making activities, it is definitely worth highlighting that he adored nature, since he was a geologist after all. He traveled all over the Highlands and knew every square centimeter and vibration of it. At the same time, its cross-section and the mood and spirit of the people living here. Already at a young age, he was an active organizer of the fondly remembered camps in Gombaszö. He is also a key figure in the opposition youth club movement.

However, he loved to joke about serious, serious topics. His unique sense of humor accompanied his public and political career throughout his life.

He was a wine drinker, he liked elegant, characterful wines, with which he could exchange ideas long into the night with his friends, colleagues and good conversational partners. Many times with us, young people.

He could really come to his full potential on such social evenings, when real debates unfolded, full of valuable, forward-thinking ideas, from which both he and his interlocutors, eventual discussion partners, could come out as "eureka-like" winners, but even the silent observer could draw abundantly from them.

He always put a lot of emphasis on talking to young people, which is why he participated in so many of our forums at Via Nova, such as Kapocs Tábors, conferences, workshops, trainings, round table symposiums, etc. It is no coincidence that the Association for Common Goals , the umbrella organization of which he was the founding president, nominated and trained László Gubík as his successor, who, as the president of Via Nova ICS, connected hundreds of young people with the help of Duray to public life in the highlands.

And this is key to Miklós Duray's legacy, because dealing with young people is important not only to have young intellectuals in a minority community, to have a Hungarian presence in the Highlands, but also to have a future.

And Miklós Duray always kept in mind that we should not only remember our glorious past, not only look back, but also have a future in the northern ends, and that he, we, and those who come after us should always build and not just lay wreaths. With diligent work, committed faith, uncompromising, rebellious blood and inexhaustible patriotism.

The young people from the highlands are of course indispensable for this. Talented, willing and committed young people who are concerned about their homeland, who know and respect our national traditions and look at themselves with a Christian-conservative perspective. And those who were not infected by the carefree spirit of Czechoslovakia and liberalism.

It is no coincidence that Miklós Duray was a regular lecturer at the Esterházy Academy and even acted as a mentor for graduate students, so he left a huge void with his premature departure.

What did Miklós Duray leave us as a legacy, we can ask. Many books, manifestos, institutions, memories. It is not necessary to list many other things. But the most important thing is to set a good example and role model. An example that future generations have something to follow, something to compare to, something to cling to.

In my opinion, this is the greatest significance of the Duray heritage, that it left behind something that will become a defining feature of Hungarians in the highlands for many decades, perhaps centuries.

It was the most defining lighthouse of the Hungarians in the highlands, whose light continues to show the way to sailors caught in a storm for a long time after it has died out. We thank him for this. That is why we thank the Creator for appointing him as our leader.

We trust in him and hope with faith that the good God will also help the Hungarians of the highlands and the universal Hungarian nation.

And we, who stayed here and are trying to be active in public life, should draw from his legacy, never forget his thoughts, guidelines, admonitions and smile. Keeping it in our memory, feeding on his spiritual greatness, and following his strategic ideas, let us try to remain loyal to our homeland and lead the cause of the Hungarian nation to glory.

God help us!

Held in Veszprém, on November 16, 2023, at the National Politics and Sovereignty - Miklós Duray memorial conference .

Ákos Csonka, Felvidék.ma

Photo: Zsolt Szigetváry / MTI