On 14 May, 1972, Kalanta, 19, poured 3 liters of gasoline on himself and set himself on fire in the square in front of the Kaunas Musical Theatre. He screamed Freedom for Lithuania before lighting the match.
Russia's KGB hastened Kalanta's burial by several hours to prevent publicity, causing thousands of young people referring to themselves as hippies to congregate in the city's central Laisvės Avenue. Mass disturbances were suppressed the next day, on 19 May.
The anniversary will be commemorated by a series of exhibitions, conferences, republications and plays organized by Vytautas Magnus University and library-museum of ex-president Valdas Adamkus.
Kalanta's suicide stepped up anti-Soviet feeling in Lithuania. In 2000, Kalanta was awarded the 1st Degree Order of the Cross of the Vytis, a monument was unveiled at the site of the self-immolation in Kaunas in 2004.
