Charles University multimedia project commemorates Jan Palach’s legacy












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            January 17, 2012; By: Helena Stinglová; Section: i-Forum informs

            Jan Palach, Ryszard Siwiec and Sándor Bauer – a few of those who sacrificed their lives on
            their country or conviction. Their stories and those of other “living torches” are present
            University multimedia project. The website www.janpalach.eu [ URL "http:// www.janpalach.e

            on January 16, 2012, precisely on the day of the 43rd anniversary of Jan Palach’s self-imm
            “Following the recent anthology ‘Jan Palach ‘69’ and an eponymous exhibition, the internet
            today is both a testimony and a legacy of the past – and also a proof that we are able to 

            values transcending the limits of reality distorted by totalitarianism, to understand thei
            significance because they still talk to us today. I extend my thanks on behalf of Charles 

            those who stood at the birth of this project, who participated in its completion and besid
            testimony on what we were, testify as to what we are now. This is truthful evidence worthy
            Charles University academic environment. It is a testimony about [Palach] but in fact abou

            Those were the words of Charles University Rector Prof. RNDr. Václav Hampl, DrSc., on the 
            launching of the project.
            “Some people never leave. Some thoughts, ideas and deeds are not devoured by flame! This i

            portal testifies to. But is also speaks about the fact that it’s not only important how [P
            mainly why, in the name of what and for the sake of what he had lived. And how we shall li
            and his conscience. In this we should see the transcendence of his story and his deed whic

            hope rather than despair, an act of faith rather than hopelessness – and act of a pure and
            who tells us to be that as well,” the Rector pointed out.
            The project was created under the auspices of the Polish film director Agnieszka Holland. 

            participants included historian PhDr. Petr Blažek, Ph.D., from the Institute for the Study
            Regimes, journalist Patrik Eichler, and Faculty of Arts student Michal Ježek. The internet
            available in the Czech, English and Polish languages. Besides period photographs, texts an

            Jan Palach and nine other people who sacrificed their lives on behalf of a higher principl
            also view television and film documentaries and listen to radio documentary programmes.
            Among the speakers at the presentation was also the Knight of the Czech Medical Profession

            Königová, CSc., from the Burns Department of the 3rd Faculty of Medicine who treated Jan P
            doc. MUDr. Jaroslava Moserová, DrSc.
            According to Prof. Königová his injuries were so severe that he probably wouldn’t be saved

            contemporary medicine. “Palach was mentally healthy,” she said commenting on the results o
            Palach underwent after his act. After he doused himself with petrol outside the National M
            and set himself on fire, he lived for another three days. Because his head was not injured

            to doctors and undergo tests which proved he acted on his own will.
            Monday’s presentation of the multimedia project was also attended by Hubert Bystřičan, one
            friends. “I learned about his act from television. On the following day I received a postc

            which said: ‘Your Hus is greeting you.’ It was hard,” Hubert Bystřičan told i-Forum.