Romas Kalanta, Ambassador of Freedom, and the Spring of 1972 in Kaunas
Last photograph of Romas Kalanta. Spring 1972.
(Personal archive of the Kalanta family)
“What should I live for? For this system to kill me slowly and mercilessly? It would be better to kill myself at once… There will never be freedom here. Even the very word FREEDOM has been forbidden”, was the reasoning of Romas Kalanta, a nineteen-year old student of a night-school from Vilijampolë, before his dramatic death.
Romas Kalanta, an ambassador of Lithuania’s Freedom, who sacrificed his life in the name of Lithuania’s Independence, was born in Alytus on 22 February 1953 into the family of Elena and Adolfas Kalanta. During the war, his father Adolfas Kalanta served in the 16th Lithuanian Military Division, was injured, and later engaged in party activity. His mother Elena Kalantienë (maiden name – Vyđniauskaitë) was a rather religious woman who sought to educate her children in a Catholic spirit. As a result, in his childhood, Romas Kalanta dreamt of becoming a priest. Romas Kalanta lived in Alytus with his parents until 1963 and later they moved to Vilijampolë, Kaunas.
In the period between 1963 and 1971 Romas studied at the18th Secondary School in Kaunas. He was not doing too well there. His classmates say that Kalanta would often refuse to respond during a lesson even though he had learned it, because it made no sense to him. He was to graduate from secondary school in 1971 but having failed his graduation exams in chemistry, geometry, and physics he transferred to a night-school. Simultaneously, Kalanta worked at the Aidas factory (in Vilijampolë), a manufacturer of furniture, prams, and various musical instruments for children, such as glockenspiels and mouth organs among others. Kalanta’s personal files of the time indicate that he “was well-read, wrote poetry, did sports, played the guitar”, “was leisurely, placid, and rather withdrawn, fond of analysing and not openly friendly,” “he opposed falsehood and injustice and was very fond of the Beatles’ music.”
In his last years, Romas’ disillusionment with life could be felt. The motif of sacrifice was repeatedly present in his drawings - he portrayed a cross, fire and a human figure. His suicidal thoughts can be seen in the following remarks in his personal notebook in 1972: “I still do not dare though I definitely must do it”; “death will be a great day for me, I will be waiting for it until it comes”, “burn the letters and a pile of ashes will be left of me”. His notebook also contains his last note saying, “Blame only the regime for my death.” Romas Kalanta realised that the totalitarian regime was unbearable and he resolved to sacrifice his life thus contributing to Lithuania’s liberation.
On 14 May 1972, in protest against the Soviet regime Romas Kalanta poured petrol from a three-litre jar on himself and shouted, “Freedom for Lithuania” as he set himself on flames in the park close to the Kaunas Musical Theatre. The ambulance came and rushed Romas, who was already unconscious, to hospital. The efforts to save his life were unsuccessful. He was diagnosed second and fourth-degree burns of the whole body. The official record says that Romas Kalanta died on 15 May 1972 at 4.00 am.
Protest March on Laisvës Avenue. Kaunas, 18 May 1972
(Lithuanian Special Archives)
Self-immolation of Kalanta resulted in spontaneous resistance and unsanctioned protests in Kaunas, which was a suitable environment famous for its Lithuanian national spirit, a rather strong influence of the Catholic Church and informal youth movements. The attempts of the Soviet KGB to prevent any gatherings of people by hastening Kalanta’s burial only sharpened the situation. The young people who were late for his burial as a result were outraged. They took the flowers to the place of his death.
Anti-Soviet disturbances, resulting in open resistance, began in the city. Demonstrations on 18 and 19 May 1972 were attended by several thousand people. As they walked down the streets in Kaunas people were chanting: “Freedom for Lithuania!” “Freedom for hippies!” The appeals saying, “Long live independent Lithuania!” “Long live 18 May!” were distributed throughout the city. It is noteworthy that the anti-Soviet unrest in Kaunas attracted the largest number of people in the Soviet Union at the time. In addition to the Soviet police, the authorities commissioned the forces of paratroopers and security services to fight the protesters. During the riots, 402 people were arrested, including 351 men, 51 women, 97 members of the Komsomol, 192 workers, 37 civil servants, and others. The following active participants of the resistance on 18-19 May were arrested in the period between May and June 1972 and later convicted: Vytautas Kaladë, Antanas Kačinskas, Rimantas Bauţys, Virginija Urbonavičiűtë, Kazys Grinkevičius, Vytautas Ţmuida, Jonas Prapuolenaitis, and Juozas Macijauskas. Thirty three persons faced administrative charges and eight persons were charged with criminal liability.
In 1972, thirteen people followed the example of Romas Kalanta by setting themselves on fire or attempting to do so. This extreme form of protest by self-immolation did not disappear later on. Antanas Kalinauskas self-immolated in the Soviet Army in the presence of other soldiers on 10 August 1976.
It is not absolutely clear what repercussions Romas Kalanta’s death had on the international level. The news about Romas’ death and the unrest in Kaunas reached the world as early as on 20 May 1972. In subsequent years, Lithuanian communities in the United States commemorated the sacrifice of Romas Kalanta every year, which was another opportunity to remind the world about Lithuania’s aspirations for freedom. It is worthwhile to note the fact, which is still seldom mentioned, that the visit of the US President Richard Nixon to Moscow began on 22 May 1972. The insolent events in Kaunas on the eve of the visit of the US President to the Soviet Union evidently destroyed the myth about the flourishing and problem-free empire and shook its public institutions.
The incident prompted a huge response and promoted Lithuania’s aspiration for liberation, which under favourable conditions evolved into the Reform Movement Sŕjűdis. The Kaunas dwellers annually commemorated 14 May. Lithuanians living abroad organised commemorations, published books and stamps, erected monuments and other symbols of remembrance in the gathering places of Lithuanian communities.
Romas Kalanta was posthumously awarded the 1st Class Order of the Cross of Vytis on 4 July 2000. On 27 December 1990, an order was issued announcing the Kalanta’s tomb a historical monument of local significance. Romas Kalanta was conferred the status of a freedom fighter in 2005.
