Transylvania, a land of contrasts where identity is tested. For Dalma and Radu, two young Transylvanians born into a region that has been a battleground for centuries, the sense of belonging is complicated.
Dalma's case is not an isolated one in Szekely Land, where more Hungarians than Romanians reside. In her hometown of Targu Mures, signs, street names, and even inscriptions on building entrances are written in both languages. Growing up as a Hungarian-speaking girl from a Romanian family has instilled in Dalma a unique identity: Hungarian, Transylvanian, Romanian.
For Radu, the narrative is different. He considers himself 100% Romanian, born into a family with no Hungarian roots. However, his upbringing in Targu Mures exposed him to both cultures, and he acknowledges that knowing Hungarian would be beneficial for his future career as a doctor. His stance reflects the ambivalence prevalent among Transylvanians: on one hand, they feel a deep connection to Romania; on the other, their minority status often sparks resentment.
The presence of Hungarians in Transylvania dates back centuries, when the region was part of Hungary before being ceded to Romania at the end of World War I. Today, the two communities coexist relatively peacefully, but tensions simmer beneath the surface. In 2018, Hungarian parties proposed territorial and cultural autonomy for Transylvania, drawing parallels with Catalonia or South Tyrol. However, this initiative remains on hold.
Viktor Orban's government in Hungary takes a different stance, viewing Transylvania as an integral part of Hungarian heritage. The prime minister has invested heavily in the region, financing schools, media outlets, and places of worship, among other projects. Furthermore, he has implemented policies that grant Hungarian citizenship to hundreds of thousands of Hungarians abroad, mostly residing in Romania.
Dalma obtained a Hungarian passport, which she views as an opportunity for personal growth but also raises questions about Orban's true intentions. She believes the government's stance on citizenship sends mixed messages.
The stakes are high, with the Hungarian diaspora's votes potentially swaying the balance of power ahead of next year's parliamentary elections. Meanwhile, some Romanian politicians have capitalized on anti-minority sentiments to gain traction among voters.
For Dalma and Radu, as well as the new generation of Transylvanians, identity is a complex web of heritage, culture, and politics. They face mounting challenges in navigating their place within this contested region, where belonging is both a privilege and a burden.
Dalma's case is not an isolated one in Szekely Land, where more Hungarians than Romanians reside. In her hometown of Targu Mures, signs, street names, and even inscriptions on building entrances are written in both languages. Growing up as a Hungarian-speaking girl from a Romanian family has instilled in Dalma a unique identity: Hungarian, Transylvanian, Romanian.
For Radu, the narrative is different. He considers himself 100% Romanian, born into a family with no Hungarian roots. However, his upbringing in Targu Mures exposed him to both cultures, and he acknowledges that knowing Hungarian would be beneficial for his future career as a doctor. His stance reflects the ambivalence prevalent among Transylvanians: on one hand, they feel a deep connection to Romania; on the other, their minority status often sparks resentment.
The presence of Hungarians in Transylvania dates back centuries, when the region was part of Hungary before being ceded to Romania at the end of World War I. Today, the two communities coexist relatively peacefully, but tensions simmer beneath the surface. In 2018, Hungarian parties proposed territorial and cultural autonomy for Transylvania, drawing parallels with Catalonia or South Tyrol. However, this initiative remains on hold.
Viktor Orban's government in Hungary takes a different stance, viewing Transylvania as an integral part of Hungarian heritage. The prime minister has invested heavily in the region, financing schools, media outlets, and places of worship, among other projects. Furthermore, he has implemented policies that grant Hungarian citizenship to hundreds of thousands of Hungarians abroad, mostly residing in Romania.
Dalma obtained a Hungarian passport, which she views as an opportunity for personal growth but also raises questions about Orban's true intentions. She believes the government's stance on citizenship sends mixed messages.
The stakes are high, with the Hungarian diaspora's votes potentially swaying the balance of power ahead of next year's parliamentary elections. Meanwhile, some Romanian politicians have capitalized on anti-minority sentiments to gain traction among voters.
For Dalma and Radu, as well as the new generation of Transylvanians, identity is a complex web of heritage, culture, and politics. They face mounting challenges in navigating their place within this contested region, where belonging is both a privilege and a burden.
idk what's up with these politicians & passports they just wanna control everyting but cant even decide wht side they re on lol 
Dalma got a hungarian passport now & its like she chose that over romanian bc thats wht her fam wanted or watever 
but like radu said 100% romanian isnt bad either u can be both or just be ur own person not need some gov'ts approval 
This whole situation with Dalma and Radu got me thinking... how do we define ourselves? 
My Hungarian friend 
told me that just because you're born in Transylvania doesn't mean you're automatically Romanian. 
It's like, what even is your language of love 
? Is it the one your parents spoke at home or the one they taught you in school? 
. Giving passports to hundreds of thousands of people just so he can gain more votes? 
.
! Maybe this is what they need - a sense of belonging, of being seen 
. It's not about the politics; it's about being able to call somewhere home 
.
. He wants to know Hungarian but doesn't want to be seen as not Romanian 
. You gotta love the history, but also acknowledge the hurt it still causes 
. Can't we just have one cultural identity and call it a day? 
and then you got Radu who feels he needs to know both just in case... it's like they're living on borrowed time 
and then you got the politics getting all up in there too... Viktor Orban's government is like "oh we love hungary so much we'll give them citizenship" but what about the romanians? 
. I mean, it's no wonder Dalma's identity is all over the place! We should really get a graph showing how minority tensions are impacting voting patterns... 
What's going on with language policies in Transylvania? Should we have a map showing all the different dialects and languages spoken in the region 
?
... the idea of autonomy for Transylvania is intriguing, but at the same time, you gotta wonder who this policy really benefits 
. The region just seemed so... complicated back then too. Like, you'd drive through these tiny villages and see people speaking Hungarian one minute and Romanian the next. It felt like they were living two separate lives, you know?
.
.
cant blame radu for wantin to learn hungarian too its useful and all but what about the politics tho? 
gotta love the complexity of it all 
?
'Tis a game of power and control, innit? 
.
.
they're stuck in the middle of this crazy identity crisis. like, how can u choose between ur heritage & culture when its all intertwined? 
The Hungarian government's policies are definitely bringing attention to Transylvania, but at what cost? It's like they're trying to control the narrative and manipulate people into feeling a certain way. Dalma's situation is a perfect example - her desire for personal growth has been met with a complex mix of emotions, making it hard for her to define herself.
It feels like they're using people as pawns in their power struggle.