Czechs honor student who died to rouse the nation

Jan Palach set himself on fire to spur Czechoslovakia to fight the Soviet-led occupation and remains an enduring symbol of resistance

Society

Guest Writer | 18.01.2011

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ČTK

In a letter signed ‘Torch Number One,’ Palach said he would be the first of a group to self-immolate in protest at Czechoslovakia’s apathy in face of the Soviet occupation, but historians say he acted alone

This Wednesday (January 19) marks the anniversary of the death of Jan Palach, the Charles University student who set himself on fire in a bid to rouse people from the apathy that had set into Czechoslovak society in the wake of the 1968 Soviet-led invasion. He succeeded, albeit briefly; his funeral was a mass outpouring of grief and anger, and Palach became — for many — an enduring symbol of resistance.

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