Václav Havel: A Life in the Service of Truth and Freedom

Václav Havel, a Czech playwright, essayist, and dissident, became the first president of Czechoslovakia after the Velvet Revolution in 1989. Havel is perhaps best known for his leadership role in the nonviolent overthrow of the communist government in Czechoslovakia.

Havel was born in Prague in 1936 and began his writing career in the early 1960s. He quickly gained a reputation for his plays, which were often critical of the communist regime. In 1968, Havel was one of the signatories of the Charter 77, a manifesto calling for the respect of human rights in Czechoslovakia. This led to his arrest and imprisonment by the communist authorities.

Havel spent the next several years in prison, but he continued to write and to organize resistance against the communist government. In 1989, he helped to found the Civic Forum, a nonviolent movement that led the Velvet Revolution. The Velvet Revolution was successful in overthrowing the communist government, and Havel was elected president of Czechoslovakia in 1990.

Havel served as president of Czechoslovakia and later the Czech Republic until 2003. During his time in office, he worked to establish a democratic society and to promote human rights. He also played a key role in the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993.

Havel is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest award that can be bestowed upon a civilian by the United States government. He is also the author of several books, including "Letters To Olga" and "The Power of the Powerless."

Havel's legacy is one of courage, hope, and freedom. He was a tireless advocate for human rights, and his work helped to bring about the end of communism in Czechoslovakia. He is an inspiration to all who believe in the power of nonviolent resistance.