On 21st of March, 1980, Walenty Badylak doused himself with gasoline and set himself on fire, protesting against the oblivion and silence about the Katyń massacre.
Well in Krakow - Badylak, photo: Wikipedia
The tragic event took place in the Krakow market square, where Walenty Badylak chained himself to a historic well. During World War II, he was a soldier of the Home Army with pseudonim “Simon”.
During the occupation, he worked at the Zieleniewski Agricultural Machinery Factory. After the war he settled in Mrowiny,
After self-immolation, information about his death appeared only in the local press, in a very laconic form, reporting on the death of a mentally ill pensioner. Regardless, Krakow's inhabitants placed candles and flowers at the site of the incident (which "unknown perpetrators" took away during the night) and sang religious songs.
His act was commemorated in 1990 with a commemorative plaque, which was unveiled by his grandson, priest Wojciech Badylak. In 2004, the well was restored. A film called “Świety ogień” (Holy Fire) was made about Walenty Badylak's self-immolation.
Comments