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The Shocking Story of the 'Bonzo' Suicide of a Polish Philosopher

Ryszard Siwiec, the first 'bonzo' of the West, self-immolated in protest against communism. His letter, received 22 years later, reveals his tragic story....
Author: Patricia Alegsa
12-09-2024 12:30







  1. Ryszard Siwiec: The first 'bonzo' of the West
  2. A Disillusioned Intellectual
  3. An act of bravery and desperation
  4. The legacy of Ryszard Siwiec

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Ryszard Siwiec: The first 'bonzo' of the West



Ryszard Siwiec became an emblematic figure of the resistance against communist oppression in Poland, being the first "bonzo" of the West.

His act of self-immolation, inspired by the Buddhist monks who protested against the Vietnam War, took place on September 8, 1968, amidst a crowd during the Annual Harvest Festival in Warsaw.

That day, Siwiec doused his body with a flammable liquid and set himself on fire, shouting: "I protest!" His sacrifice was a desperate cry against the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia and the communist regime that had betrayed the hopes of freedom of many Poles.


A Disillusioned Intellectual



Born on March 7, 1909, in Debiça, Siwiec was an intellectual who dedicated his life to philosophy and resistance.

With an education that led him to the University of Lwów, his career was interrupted by World War II, where he fought in the Polish resistance.

Despite his initial support for communism after the war, he quickly realized the atrocities and repression that this system brought with it.

The invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 was the last straw for Siwiec, who began to plan his act of protest as a way to draw global attention to the brutality of the regime.


An act of bravery and desperation



The Harvest Festival, where his self-immolation took place, was intended to celebrate the regime's prosperity, but it became a stage for a powerful statement of protest.

Despite the government's attempt to dismiss the act as an accident, the reality was that Siwiec had made his discontent clear not only with the invasion of Czechoslovakia but also with the lack of freedoms in his own country.

His testament, written before his death, was a call to humanity: "Recover your sanity! It's not too late!"


The legacy of Ryszard Siwiec



Siwiec was quickly forgotten by the regime, which tried to suppress the truth about his heroic act. However, his memory resurfaced over time. In 1981, a documentary was made in his honor, and in the following years, his bravery was officially recognized in Poland and Czechoslovakia.

Today, several streets and monuments bear his name, including the former Dziesięciolecia stadium, which is now called Ryszard Siwiec.

His sacrifice has become a symbol of the struggle for freedom and human rights, reminding us that courage and resilience can emerge even in the darkest moments.



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