Squares, streets, schools are named after him. For Slovaks, it was a symbol of hope and a better life. One hundred years ago, an important figure in our history, Alexander Dubček, was born in Uhrovec, and he often visited his beloved Trenčín.

One birth house in Uhrovec united two greats - Ľudovít Štúr and Alexander Dubček. Last November we commemorated the hundred years since Dubcek's birth. Various events were held in his honor throughout Slovakia. Even his home Trenčín region could not get around. He always reported to his native chest and did not miss any opportunity to visit Trenčín. And right in the city center, the Trenčín photographer Miloslav Abel exhibited unique shots of Dubček. "I first met him in the stadium behind the bridges during a football match in June 1968. I saw him and since he was very popular at the time, the stadium applauded him. I took the photos to the editorial office on Monday. There they rejoiced and had them summoned. They were published a week later, and the stamps probably remained in the printer. When August 1968 came and the special issues of Trenčianske noviny were published, they used one of the photos on the headline with the inscription: 'We are with you, be with us.' I met him in the autumn of that year at the exhibition 'Trenčín, the city of fashion', where he was with his wife, and then I also photographed him at the pre-election skater and in 1990 in Brezová pod Bradlom. When they were returning from the mound, one citizen managed to hug him, despite the security, and at that time one of the exhibited photographs was also created, " recalled Abel, a fresh man in his eighties.

Dubček under the castle of Matúš Čák started his political career and it was here that his first steps led here after his return from Moscow in 1968. Two years later, he was deprived of all functions and memberships related to his political activities, fell into disfavor and became the target of surveillance and espionage by ŠTB. He lived in isolation for 20 years. They persecuted him, lost his military rank, confiscated his passport and worked for the minimum wage. For a photo that was published after the match, a similar fate befell photographer Abel. "They started to blame me. Suddenly I was banned from carrying photos to the newsroom. I preferred to hide the negatives in the attic out of fear, " he said.

While Dubček was launched on the political pedestal Gentle Revolution in 1989, Miloslav Abel was able to pursue his passion - photography. He captured several sports moments, in Dubnice nad Váhom he had his own photo service and so far you will meet him at many cultural and social events in Trenčín, where he captures important moments from the life of Trenčín. Alexander Dubček's pilgrimage was finally cut by a traffic accident on September 2, 1992, in which he died. "I will remember him as a person who was able to incorporate funny thoughts into speeches," concluded Miloslav Abel.