IU discusses Hungary’s past

Ivan Bertenyi, György Ránki Hungarian chair for Central Eurasian Studies,  spoke about his mother’s role during the Hungarian Revolution demonstration at a commemoration of the movement away from Communist Rule on Tuesday.

Bertenyi’s mother was  one of thousands of participants in peaceful demonstrations.

Then, shots were fired.

The commemoration of the demonstration, which occurred Tuesday Oct. 23, 1956, was sponsored by the Hungarian Cultural Association.

Bertenyi said his mother was not present when the shots broke out.

“My mother went home to prepare for a geography test-paper, which was to be written the next day...well as you can guess, this test-paper was never written,” he said.

Bertenyi said his mother did not want to miss any demonstration because she and her friends were full of joy that tyranny seemed to be abolished.

“She decided to join the demonstration in front of the parliament building at Kossuth Square on the 25 of October,” Bertenyi said. “Her decision was a vital one, as the peaceful demonstration turned into a massacre.”

Bertenyi said they are not sure who was responsible for the mass murder, either the Soviets or the people of the ÁVH, the hated Hungarian secret police.

“She might have been shot there,” he said. “And, then, I would not stand before you.”

Bertenyi said the real heroes of 1956 were those young and older Hungarians who made even greater sacrifices.

“It is they who fought to end the inhuman communist dictatorship and for a free Hungary, who are the greatest heroes of 1956,” he said.

Senior Lucas Torok, president of the Hungarian Cultural Association, also spoke about the perseverance of the Hungarian people.  

“The Hungarian people have a strong will to fight and a strong will for independence and that’s exactly what they fought for,” Torok said.

The commemoration featured an address by Bertenyi, readings written during the revolution, Hungarian music and a wide array of Hungarian foods.

Senior Jessica Bostic, a member of the IU Student Association funding board, which funded the commemoration, said the event was very well-organized, the music was a nice touch and the food was great.

“I found it very informative,” Bostic said. “It’s something that’s not really in my line of study so it’s something that I would have never learned on my own.”

Torok said he hopes students learn more about the history of Hungary.

“We want them to know the cultural aspect of it, know who Hungary is and what role they played in part of the revolution,” Torok said. “We’re having this which basically brings all of the Hungarian members of the community together and gives us a chance to practice our language and experience things that happened in the history of Hungary that changed the world.”