Masaryk's letter thus becomes not only a historical curiosity, but also a stimulus for further research

LÁNY (Kladno) - Experts at the castle in Lány today made available a unique document bearing the words of the first Czechoslovak president, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk. According to historians, it is a five-page letter that Masaryk allegedly dictated to his son Jan. The text contains not only personal reflections but also specific instructions on how to handle his funeral.

"If people are uneducated and stupid, there is not much that can be done," the document states, among other things. According to historian Dagmar Hájková of the Masaryk Institute and Archives of the Czech Academy of Sciences, who presented the letter to journalists, it is authentic material. However, she also pointed out that its creation should be dated earlier than previously assumed.

It was long believed that Masaryk dictated the letter at the end of his life, shortly before his death in 1937. However, according to the latest findings, it seems to have been written as early as the summer of 1934. "The text bears no signs of having been written in the moments of his imminent death. On the contrary, it looks more like a thoughtful reflection of a man preparing to leave but still actively observing events," Hájková explained. The letter is five pages long and, in addition to personal advice to her son, contains hints of the philosophical positions Masaryk held. Also significant is the part in which he reflects on the nation's education and the fact that without it, no fundamental social change can be expected. This motif appeared repeatedly in his public speeches, which, according to experts, supports the authenticity of the document.

According to historians, the discovery of the letter is a valuable contribution to the understanding of Masaryk's private life and thought. "Such personal texts help us understand the president not only as a statesman, but also as a father and a man who thought about the future of his family and the entire republic," Hájková said.

The chateau in Lány, where the document is stored, has long been a place associated with Masaryk's life and legacy. After his death, the president was also buried here. The newly made available material thus adds another layer of understanding to the history of the First Republic and the personality who was at its birth. According to the staff of the Archives of the Academy of Sciences, the letter will be examined in detail. Experts will focus on analysing both the handwriting and the contemporary context. The aim is to confirm the exact dating and to find out whether the text was actually written as a private document or whether it was originally intended for the wider public.

Masaryk's letter thus becomes not only a historical curiosity, but also a stimulus for further research. Its publication opens up questions about how the first president understood his own death, and at the same time reminds us that Masaryk's legacy is still a living part of Czech history.

gnews.cz - GH