Czech Embassy in Tallinn hosted a debate on debate on the topic of Jaroslav Hašek's work, The Fate of the Good Soldier Švejk

Jaroslav Hašek and his Fates of the Good Soldier Švejk are very popular in Estonia. Raul Rebane, a well-known Estonian journalist and one of the main speakers of the debate, described that The Fates of the Good Soldier Švejk is “a textbook of how to survive in a stupid state“, and according to him, Estonia has been a part of it for many years. Many Estonians identified with Švejk’s story, and during the difficult years of the last century, reading it helped brighten even the darkest days. On this year's round anniversary of the birth and the end of Jaroslav Hašek's life, the Czech Embassy in Tallinn hosted an event “Hašek and Švejk are not dead!“ which Raul Rebane himself actively supported. Raul Rebane has an ever-expanding collection of different translations of the book The Fates of the Good Soldier Švejk and has founded a small Švejk’s Estonian fan club. Tereza Panchartková, Ph.D. student from Faculty of Theatre in Prague, who has been dedicated to the legacy of Jaroslav Hašek for a long time came to speak at the event. In her presentation she reflected on the perception of Jaroslav Hašek's work today and if his specific humour still has something to say. The event is accompanied by an outdoor exhibition about the life of Jaroslav Hašek and the Fate of the Good Soldier Švejk in front of the Czech embassy, which can be viewed by all people passing by.

Tereza Panchartková summarized the image of Švejk in contemporary society.

The afternoon program was opened with a short speech by the Czech ambassador to Estonia, David Král, who was very surprised by the Raul Rebane's passion for Švejk. The Estonian media were also interested in the event, namely the newspaper Postimees, as well as the Estonian public television ERR. In the evening Ringvaada October 20. at ERR will be broadcasted a short report form event.

Raul Rebane brought only a few editions of Švejk that he owns.

Among the guests were not missing representatives of some diplomatic missions. To the debate contributed writer Olav Osolin, ex-politician Indrek Tarand, Riho Kivila, a businessman who had displayed the only monument of Soldier Švejk in Estonia, Andrei Kuzichkin, a writer who escaped from Russia and became an Estonian citizen, Toomas Luhats, an Estonian TV program manager, and Toomas Kall Estonian humorist. All these guests had one thing in common, and that is that reading The Fates of the Good Soldier Švejk played a big role in their lives, and they like to share their enthusiasm for it. Švejk and Jaroslav Hašek are thus another close connection between Czechia and Estonia.

The exhibition is open to the public.