Life of Jan Hanasz
1934 Born in Poznan. Took part in the family misfortunes from 1939 to 1945
1949 during his Father's trial, he was pressed to ritual self-critique for the crimes of his father and was forced "to explain his position" to his socialist colleagues during the Polish Socialist Youth meeting
(In my father's opinion, this youthful trauma has scarred and hardened my grand-uncle forever.)
1958 finished University (Nicolas Copernicus) and started his scientific work as an astronomer
1968 he receives a doctorate in Astronomy
1970-1983 he leads Polish scientists in the Polish-Soviet Intercosmos Space collaboration
1979 he receives habilitation (the highest scientific degree offered in Poland)
1980 his wife suffers from massive brain hemorrhaging: she subsequently spends six months in a hospital
1980-1981 he becomes a member of the first polish independent workers union called "Solidarity."
1982-1989 he becomes a leading figure in underground activities of the delegalized Solidarity in Torun
1984-1985 he is arrested and imprisoned for his part in the construction and operation of a radio-tv device that hacked the official government TV programming to broadcast messages inciting peaceful protesting.
1985 During his trial, he and the other three accused refused to incriminate each other. They are all imprisoned anyways
1985-1989 he continues his activity as an underground leader of the region and one of the chief organizers of the Solidarity radio broadcasts.
1989-91 he participates in the security forces verification (he was in charge of committee deciding which members of the secret service and police officers will keep their jobs and who will be let go.)
1991 he ends his political engagements and goes back to research
2011 he lives as a retired pensioner afflicted by Parkinson's.
This is quite an extraordinary life
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