Karel Havlíček Borovský. Journalist, writer, satirist and politician. Czech nation defender. Founder of modern Czech journalism and the most important Czech newspaper of the revolutionary years 1848 – 1850. A relentless, politically engaged critic of Austrian regime, a person with a significant impact on Czech public opinion. One of the most important Czechs of our history.
The name of Karel Havlíček Borovský (31.10.1821 - 29.7.1856) is inseparably connected with the town Havlíčkův Brod. Karel Havlíček was born in the nearby village Borová close to the town Přibyslav, the Havlíček family moved to the town at the time called Německý Brod in 1832. Karel finished the classical gymnasium (=grammar/high school) here, and the town became his only true home where he always came back from his life’s journeys. The Vysočina Museum is based in Havlíček’s house nowadays. There is a permanent exhibition dedicated to this exceptional person.
The KHB’s legacy is truly extraordinary in comparison with his short life. His courageous political commitment in the revolutionary years 1848-1849 is admirable and anyone who has ever read a text will understand why he was so hated by the Austrian Empire and why the regime was so scared of him. For more than three years he was able to resist the government regulations that were “tailor-made” for him. He did not break down when the successful Národní noviny (“National Newspaper”) that he founded in 1848 in Prague was banned from publishing in 1850, and left for Kutná Hora. He continued his rebellious activity in the new magazine Slovan for another year there.
Karel Havlíček was deported to Brixen by court order at the end of 1851, on the eve of the incoming Bach’s absolutism. He was supposed to disappear from the sights of the Czechs and they were supposed to forget about him. However, they did not forget. His funeral in 1856 grew into an anti-Austrian demonstration.
He left unforgettable legacy in his work. Kutná Hora Epistles (Epištoly kutnohorské), Pictures from Russia (Obrazy z Rus), The Tyrolean Elegies (Tyrolské elegie), King Lavra (Král Lávra), The Baptism of Saint Vladimir (Křest svatého Vladimíra). You know them, don’t you. A little bit difficult texts for school reading-books, however, we adults should understand them. And what about epigrams, those short and trenchant lines? Many of them have something to say even nowadays. For instance the well-known: "Moje barva červená a bílá, dědictví mé poctivosť a síla!" (“My colour is red and white, my legacy is my honesty and strength!”).
Statue of Karel Havlíček Borovský in Chicago
In Chicago, on Northern Island in front of the planetarium, there is a bronze statue of Karel Havlíček Borovský. It was carved by Josef Strachovský, who created many of his sculptures mainly in the Czech Republic. It was built at the request of Czechs living in Chicago in 1911 and moved here in 1983.
On the monument behind the statue there is the text:
THE MARTYRED STATESMAN OF BOHEMIA, BELOVED BY HIS COUNTRYMEN, BORN OCTOBER 31 1821, DIED JULY 29 1856
IN HIM BOHEMIA LOST ONE OF HER BEST SONS, A FEARLESS DEFENDER OF HER RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES,
A MAN OF STERLING CHARACTER, EVER TRUE TO HIS CONVICTIONS FOR WHICH HIS SACRIFIED HIS LIFE.
UNDYING HONOR TO HIS MEMORY
SCULPTURED BY
JOSEF STRACHOVSKY
MILACEK NARODA A MUCEDNIK BRIXENSKY, SLAVNY CESKY PUBLICISTA
NAROZEN 31. RIJNA 1821, ZEMREL 29 CERVENCE 1956
V NEM ZTRATIL NAROD JEDNOHO Z NEJLEPSICH SYNU,
NEOHROZENEHO BOJOVNIKA ZA PRAVDU A SVOBODU,
MUZE VZACNEHO CHARAKTERU A SKALOPEVNEHO PRESVEDCENI
ZA NEZ OBETOVAL SVUJ ZIVOT
NEHYNOUCI CEST JEHO PAMATCE
DEDICATED TO BOHEMIANS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS
ERECTED AD 1911
ARCHITECTURE BY ANTHONY F RUSY
Statue on postcard in 1920
About the cache:
The cache is located at the posted coordinates near the statue. Enjoy! And watch out for Muggles!
Resources:
https://martin-pluhar.cz/havlickova-challenge
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karel_Havl%C3%AD%C4%8Dek_Monument
https://www.loc.gov/resource/stereo.1s12449/