Journalist, writer.
In the Hungarian literature from Romania, the refined and intelligent achievement of Markovits Rodion is considered special, from more perspectives and his name becomes successful immediately after the publication of his first novel. His book catches the international attention, interest and support. In about three or four years, the Szibériai garnizon (The Siberian Garrison) is published in 14 different languages. Prestigious international papers appreciate the book and the editor very much, the literature which had just been published in Transylvania at the moment.
Markovits Jakab (he changes his forename into Rodion at the beginning of his career) was born in Oas, Kisgerc. He attends his average studies at Satu Mare, first at the catholic gymnasium, then at the reform college. He attends courses of law at Budapest while he submits his articles and short stories to newspapers such as Népszava, Korbács, Ifjú Erők, Fidibusz, Független Magyarország, Szatmár és Vidéke. As a consequence of the First World War’s outburst, on the first of January 1915, he is sent to the 12th infantry to defend the country and in summer 1916 he is the Russian’s prisoner. He spends seven years in Siberia’s detention. At Krasznaja Rjecska he is one of the editors of Szibériai Újság. He had been a prisoner at Krasnojarks for a longer time. His shocking memories, experience and sorrow reflect the historical events, which he processes more decades later both in novels such as Szibériai garnizon (The Siberian Garrison) and Aranyvonat (The Golden Train) and in his numerous articles, memories and fiction.
On his arrival to his native place, in Satu Mare, he opens a legal office, and then he becomes the editor of a daily newspaper, Szamos and the reporter of Keleti Újság. In 1925, in Satu Mare, he publishes Ismét találkoztam Balthazárral (I met Balthasar again) enclosing a selection of his older and more recent writings. In 1927 Szibériai garnizon (The Siberian Garrison) is published by the prestigious daily newspaper in Cluj, firstly in episodes, then in two volumes, translated into German by Hatvany Lajos and promoted by Ullstein Verlag. Markovits Rodion’s novel becomes a real best-seller and reaches the international success. In 1929 he is invited to Brâncoveneşti, to the meeting of the Transylvanian writers.
Starting with February 1931, he is the main co-worker of Temesvári Hírlap, a liberal newspaper edited by Pogány László. Every day, he publishes two or three articles and notes in the carefully edited daily popular newspaper. He completes the Sánta farsang (The Lame Carnival) novel here and announces his prose volume Reb Ancsli és más avasi zsidókról szóló széphistóriák (Reb Ancsli and other beautiful stories about Jews). He had been one of the most active and productive co-workers of the Szabad Szó from the very beginning of its publication, in November 1944, at Timisoara. His writings are often published in Világ and Képes Újság but also in Utunk at Cluj. He participates with volunteer activities, within the frames of the Hungarian Popular Alliance and as the permanent lecturer at the Bartók Béla Upper School he often has lectures in front of the audience. He is fond of travelling to the towns and villages from Banat: he reads his writings, reconsiders his memories from Russia and initiates the public in political, literature and historical themes. He had also developed a powerful and valuable activity as the president of the Hungarian Writers’ Organisation in Banat.
On August 27, 1948 he dies unexpectedly, while sleeping. He is buried in the Jewish Cemetery in Timisoara.
