Pavel Dostál
Encyclopedia
Pavel Dostál was a Minister of Culture in the Czech Republic
, known for his dynamic personality and his advocacy of social justice
.
Born in Olomouc
, North Moravia
in 1943, Dostál took an early interest in theatre. In 1966, he put aside his technician trade in order to become the artistic director
of the Experimental Theatre in Olomouc. For the next few years, he was active as a theatre producer
, and a writer
of plays, TV scripts, and magazine columns. During this time, Dostál was member of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
. Disillusionment struck him in August 1968, when the Soviet Army
invaded Czechoslovakia
. Dostál took part in the underground radio broadcasts at Czechoslovak Radio, which was central to local resistance to the Communist occupation
. He did not formally end his Communist Party membership until the following year, in protest against the government placement of pro-Soviet Gustav Husák
.
Due to these activities, he was kept under surveillance by the STB secret police
, and allowed only to work at labour and technical jobs for 20 years. Still, he made attempts at protest during this time, and was detained as late as 1989, for the distribution of a petition.
Dostál was able to return to theatre again after the revolution in 1989. As before, he worked in theatre in Olomouc. He became active in governmental politics during this time. In 1991, he joined the Social Democratic Party
(ČSSD), and, in 1996, was eventually elected as an Member of Parliament
for that party. In 1998, Dostál was appointed Minister of Culture for the Czech Republic.
During his tenure, Dostál often spoke out in defence of Czech minorities. He was once attacked with a knife for his support of Czech Roma. He served as Minister of Culture until his death on July 24, 2005, after suffering from pancreatic cancer
for nearly a year.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, known for his dynamic personality and his advocacy of social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
.
Born in Olomouc
Olomouc
Olomouc is a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The city is located on the Morava river and is the ecclesiastical metropolis and historical capital city of Moravia. Nowadays, it is an administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and sixth largest city in the Czech Republic...
, North Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
in 1943, Dostál took an early interest in theatre. In 1966, he put aside his technician trade in order to become the artistic director
Artistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
of the Experimental Theatre in Olomouc. For the next few years, he was active as a theatre producer
Theatrical producer
A theatrical producer is the person ultimately responsible for overseeing all aspects of mounting a theatre production. The independent producer will usually be the originator and finder of the script and starts the whole process...
, and a writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
of plays, TV scripts, and magazine columns. During this time, Dostál was member of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, in Czech and in Slovak: Komunistická strana Československa was a Communist and Marxist-Leninist political party in Czechoslovakia that existed between 1921 and 1992....
. Disillusionment struck him in August 1968, when the Soviet Army
Soviet Army
The Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
invaded Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. Dostál took part in the underground radio broadcasts at Czechoslovak Radio, which was central to local resistance to the Communist occupation
Military occupation
Military occupation occurs when the control and authority over a territory passes to a hostile army. The territory then becomes occupied territory.-Military occupation and the laws of war:...
. He did not formally end his Communist Party membership until the following year, in protest against the government placement of pro-Soviet Gustav Husák
Gustáv Husák
Gustáv Husák was a Slovak politician, president of Czechoslovakia and a long-term Communist leader of Czechoslovakia and of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia...
.
Due to these activities, he was kept under surveillance by the STB secret police
Secret police
Secret police are a police agency which operates in secrecy and beyond the law to protect the political power of an individual dictator or an authoritarian political regime....
, and allowed only to work at labour and technical jobs for 20 years. Still, he made attempts at protest during this time, and was detained as late as 1989, for the distribution of a petition.
Dostál was able to return to theatre again after the revolution in 1989. As before, he worked in theatre in Olomouc. He became active in governmental politics during this time. In 1991, he joined the Social Democratic Party
Czech Social Democratic Party
The Czech Social Democratic Party is a social-democratic political party in the Czech Republic.-History:The Social Democratic Czechoslavonic party in Austria was founded on 7 April 1878 in Austria-Hungary representing the Kingdom of Bohemia in the Austrian parliament...
(ČSSD), and, in 1996, was eventually elected as an Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for that party. In 1998, Dostál was appointed Minister of Culture for the Czech Republic.
During his tenure, Dostál often spoke out in defence of Czech minorities. He was once attacked with a knife for his support of Czech Roma. He served as Minister of Culture until his death on July 24, 2005, after suffering from pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
for nearly a year.