The sharp smells and sounds of early childhood in the Majstorovina meadows at the foot of the Bijelo Polje slopes of Bjelasica remained deeply etched in the memory of the seventy-one-year-old Sandor CanicThey were the ones who were decisive in his return to Montenegro after six decades spent in Hungary - his second homeland.
He was born in Bar, and at the age of three he moved with his parents and brother. By Miloš, went to Hungary.
His parents Stojanka Danilović Čanić and Hungarian Sandor Canic, who was a builder, met at one of the work actions, during the reconstruction of Yugoslavia after the war, and in 1958 they moved to Hungary.
Šandor tells "Vijesti" that he was raised on the heroic stories of his mother Stojanka - a living witness of World War II. He says that, at only 12-13 years old, after the death of her father, she joined the Partisans, and soon participated in the battles of Sutjeska and Neretva, where she met and Tita.
Tito, she says, later helped her move to Hungary with her two sons, which was impossible at the time, and plane tickets were ready for her.
The life of mother Stojanka and her family filled the Čanić house with memories of museum value. Among them, the bearers of the Partisan Memorial - Šandor's grandfather - stand out. Milos Danilovic and aunt Dunya, who was killed by the Germans on her doorstep when she was only 16 years old.
Although originally from Čarnojević, his father lost touch with his homeland over time, while Šandor's memories and recollections of his mother's birthplace in Majstorovina made him vow to someday return to the slopes of Bjelasica.
"I remember the company, the people, the beauty of my region. The cheerful roar of children, the sounds of sheep and shepherds calling in all directions, mixed with the sounds of the melodies of the winds and birds, swimming in the willows in Klanići, on the Ljuboviđa River. There were also various games, football in Dolovi... A hundred children would gather. That's why I couldn't wait for the holidays and going to grandma's." Vasilije "...and aunts in Montenegro. Today it's not like that, there are no children, but everything has remained the same. Simply put, I love the Balkans. I love this sky, which is nowhere this blue. I also love the Hungarian people, who are very hardworking, but have a completely different mentality," he says for "Vijesti".
The Čanićs lived in the town of Erd, near Budapest, where Sándor was educated in Hungarian. He worked as a bus driver, and later as an armored car driver for a bank. For decades, he was active in the fight for the rights of his minority.
"Since 2006, when minority self-governments were established, I have been the president of the Serbian Minority Self-Government, through whose work we have fought for the rights of our people, among the 13 state-forming minorities. During the same period, I was also the president of the steamers' and bank guards' union, and for two terms I was a juror in court," he said, adding that he has worked abroad on two occasions.
He recalls with regret that in 2010 the Bijelo Polje local government did not show interest in twinning with Erda, which he had fought for as president, so that position was "ceded" to Subotica...
Šandor says that he was dedicated to all his jobs and tasks until his retirement in 2019, when one evening he told his wife Station announced an "ultimatum":
"You have 24 hours to get ready, I don't mind whatever you decide, but I'm moving to Montenegro."
Stanica says that it was not an easy decision to make and that at first she thought it was a joke. However, in the end, her husband's wishes prevailed, and she joined him in returning to her hometown, while her sons, now adults, stayed to live in Hungary.
The Čanićs have a house in Ravna Rijeka, and spend every free moment at their weekend house on Bjelasica, when the weather permits. The choice of location was also decided by the wishes of their older son. Aleksandra which he said a few years ago, that they really have a home there. His chosen one, who recently visited Montenegro, was not immune to his choice.
Healthy living, local food, and daily long walks and spending time in nature have become the daily routine of the new residents at the foot of Bjelasica, who believe that they will pass on their love for Montenegro to the "Hungarian" part of the family.
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