First of all, let me congratulate you on behalf of the Csányi Foundation. Your success is our pride as well, as we owe so much to you.
Thank you very much for the congratulations, it is truly an honor.
Did you expect to receive such recognition one day?
A month ago, the mayor called me and informed me that the Budapest City Assembly had elected me as one of the 2024 honorary citizens, and he read the rationale. My multifaceted work in preserving and promoting Budapest’s cultural and architectural heritage, my passion for the city, and my distinctive writing style were the reasons for my selection. Although it wasn’t mentioned in the reasoning, I also do enjoy teaching students from the Csányi Foundation, and I hope to continue this work for a long time.
What feelings arise when you think about the award?
According to the regulations, six honorary citizens can be selected at the same time, along with two posthumous honorary citizens. I feel that I have joined a wonderful company, as I was awarded alongside Judit Pogány, an actress, Péter Korniss, a photographer, János Bródy, a composer, Gábor Zoboki, an architect, and Ágnes Daróczi, a sociologist.
Did you ever think that one day you would be called an honorary citizen of Budapest?
I didn’t expect it at all, as it is the highest honor the city can give. I always thought that my teacher, Péter Buza, who taught me local history, would receive this award before me. While I am honored and very proud of it, I think this was more of a dream for my mother. Every year she would go through the list of honorees and would get upset that her “little boy” wasn’t on it.
How did you feel when you heard the news about the recognition?
She cried and said, “Now I understand why I had to live so long.”
Do you think your career has shifted after receiving this recognition?
Not at all. I would like to continue doing the same thing, with even more joy. I’m only 70, but age is just a number these days. I have three book ideas that I’d like to write in the next five years. Some of these are new ideas, while others involve collecting my previous writings into books. In addition, I’d love to continue teaching at the Csányi Foundation’s S10 Academy. I also want students to join me at the museum, the film club could be restarted, and perhaps we could offer a course introducing French culture as well. I can’t complain, as I have three adult daughters, four grandchildren, and I feel very content in life.