A new-old monument to Jan Palach was unveiled in Prague

photo: Pavel Nasadil

Prague - More than a hundred people today braved the freezing weather to witness the unveiling of the monument to Jan Palach on Alšovo embankment in Prague. The ceremony was attended by the daughter of the sculptor John Hejduk, Renata, the ambassadors of the United States and Israel, Andrew Schapiro and Gary Koren, Prague Mayor Andriana Krnáčová (ANO), Cardinal Dominik Duka, and other honorary guests. In their speeches, they recalled the significance of Palach's sacrifice, who self-immolated 47 years ago to rally society against normalization.

The approximately hour-long ceremony was opened by former rector of Charles University and current senator Václav Hampl. According to him, the death of Jan Palach became very important for Czech history particularly in 1989, when it motivated Palach Week - a series of significant anti-government protests. "At that time, the desire for freedom was manifested, and the inspiration was indeed the sacrifice of Jan Palach," said Hampl.

Cardinal Duka followed Hampl's words, reminding that it was Czechoslovak students who repeatedly sacrificed their lives during the 20th century, believing that society cannot be governed by violence. Not only Palach, but also the university students who opposed the Nazi regime in 1939 should serve as an inspiration for today's younger generation.

According to the words of the dean of the Faculty of Arts at Charles University, Mirjam Friedová, those students who voluntarily went to help in refugee camps in the Balkans this year fulfill Palach's legacy. "It is not possible to remember Palach and at the same time deny help to those in need," she said in her speech.

Before the ceremonial ribbon cutting, the daughter of American sculptor and architect of Czech descent John Hejduk also spoke. She recalled the moment when the original version of the sculptures was installed at Prague Castle. At that time, both sculptures were wooden; Hejduk dedicated them to Václav Havel and the people of Czechoslovakia. They gradually deteriorated and were removed in 2000. When the architect learned shortly before his death about the project aimed at restoring the sculptures, it was said to have immense value for him.

Hejduk was inspired to create the sculptures by a poem by American writer David Shapiro entitled The Funeral of Jan Palach. Shapiro wrote it in 1969 based on a newspaper report about Palach's act. A memorial plaque with the poem in both Czech and English complements the installation of the two approximately six-meter sculptures. Shapiro also attended today's ceremony and read his verses at the end.

The suffering mother, referred to in one of the verses of the poem, is symbolized by the darker of the two towers, while her son-the light bearer is represented by the second, lighter one. Flames rise from the angular pedestals of both sculptures. "I think they are great; they look as if they reach up to the sky, they look a bit like fire, like danger, like freedom. It's perfect," commented the monument's evaluation by the American ambassador Schapiro.