Charles University Commemorated the Self-Sacrifice of Jan Palach












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            On January 16, 1969, Jan Palach, a student of the Charles University Faculty of Arts, set 

            as a protest against the Soviet-led occupation of Czechoslovakia and the demoralization of
            under the totalitarian regime. He died of his injuries three days later. Even after two da
            and spiritual suffering, during which doctors were trying to save his life, he did not reg

            saying: “My deed has fulfilled its goal.” The radio documentary My Brother Jan offers a lo
            thoughts and ideals of this young man and a detailed account of the last weeks, days and h
            The documentary was played at one of the events that commemorated his death 42 years ago. 

            hosted by the Student Council of the Charles University Faculty of Arts.


            Michal Ježek from the Student Council (left) introduced the director of the Palach documen
            Janáč.
            The author of the 2009 documentary, Marek Janáč from Czech Radio, discussed the process of

            the programme. He was inspired by a song by the Czech popular singer Karel Gott called “My
            “This made me wonder who Jan Palach’s brother was and what he was like.” Interviews with P
            his fellow students and witnesses of his self-immolation are juxtaposed with the official 

            and expert evidence on Palach’s psychological profile, written by psychologists and psychi
            the secret police. Janáč also included archival radio broadcasts that show the changing ap
            the government-controlled media, from cautious reporting of the event to the complete supp

            information about the self-immolation of another student, Jan Zajíc, that followed a month
            As the documentary shows, Palach’s family was deeply hit by the enormous tragedy and took 
            to terms with it. “Do you understand your brother’s self-sacrifice?” Janáč asked Palach’s 

            answered: “I don’t know if it was even worth it. I felt like that when I was watching the 
            down during the Normalisation era, when I saw that most people didn’t care – even now, whe
            say that they had been better off under communism.”

            The Faculty of Arts never forgot its student’s sacrifice. This year, his memory was honour
            ceremony, candles were lit and flowers were put under Palach’s memorial plaque outside the
            Along with members of the Student Council, Rector of Charles University Mr. Václav Hampl a

            the Faculty of Arts Mr. Michal Stehlík brought flowers under the bust of Jan Palach outsid
            Arts building on Jan Palach Square.
            Later that evening, a mass dedicated to Jan Palach was held in the Church of St. Thomas in

            where the requiem for Palach took place 42 years ago, shortly after his death.
            (Marie Kohoutová)


            Translation: Jaroslav Švelch