Bulgaria marks the 175^th birth anniversary of celebrated enlightener, teacher and writer Iliya Rashkov Blaskov. He left a permanent trace in the country’s spiritual treasure-house. Iliya Blaskov was among those who laid the foundations of Bulgarian prose writing. His short novel Lost Stanka, which describes the life of the Bulgarians, was in fact the first rural-related Bulgarian piece of literature. Iliya Blaskov’s destiny is similar to the one of the brightest Bulgarian enlighteners who placed the interest of their fatherland above the personal one.

Iliya Blaskov was born in 1839 in the village of Klisura in the large family of teacher Rashko Blaskov, says Dimitar Stoykov, keeper of the “Bulgarian History- 15^th to 19^th centuries” department at the Regional Historical Museum in Shumen (Northeastern Bulgaria). He graduated primary school in his father’s classes. After the closure of the schools during the Crimean War (a military conflict between Russia and the alliance including the Ottoman Empire and some major European Powers 1853-1856), Iliya Blaskov was sent to work as an apprentice in a tailoring shop in the town of Silistra (Northeastern Bulgaria). Later he joined the Russian forces and reached Brăila (Romania) where he stayed until 1856. He worked as an interpreter in the Romanian town and also served as an apprentice in a local workshop. Iliya Blaskov became a teacher in 1857 when he returned to Bulgaria. Three years later Iliya Blaskov departed to Shumen where he met with Dobri Voynikov- a teacher and playwright who wrote the first theatre plays in Bulgaria. Voynikov was the person, who encouraged Blaskov to start writing, says Dimitar Stoykov and adds:

“Iliya Blaskov worked as a teacher in Shumen and also wrote short novels, short stories and many textbooks. He also published calendars and edited a number of magazines. In 1865-1866 Blaskov, together with and his younger brothers, village priests and poor citizens, established a small literary society. Its purpose was to publish books and donate them to the village schools with money donated by various contributors. In 1873 Iliya Blaskov took part in the first teachers’ council in Shumen. The council developed a new statute of the village schools and made the education in Varna and Veliki Preslav diocese mandatory. However, the rules had to be explained at all-village meetings in order to receive the citizens’ support. That is why Blaskov started touring the villages on national holidays without asking for any remuneration in return.”

After the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman Rule in 1878, he was appointed as a school inspector and meanwhile lectured at the maiden secondary school in Shumen.

“Iliya Blaskov’s literary activity started before he moved to Shumen”, Dimitar Stoykov goes on to say. “In 1856 he published in Bucharest (Romania) the book entitled Ten Commandments. In fact, this book was translated from Greek which proves his great translation skills. This was the first literary work of Ilya Blaskov which later became a textbook in the Bulgarian schools. The book actually interprets the Ten Commandments. Iliya Blaskov published in Shumen his second book as well-about the life of two saints- John the Baptist and Ignatius of Antioch.”

Iliya Blaskov wrote the short novels Lost Stanka, Ill-Fated Krastinka, Two Sisters - Dobra and Grozdanka as well as the short story Father Dobri. He also wrote many articles, memoirs and works about the National Revival Period and its heroes. He was also known as a scholar. His book entitled History of the National Revival Period, published in 1907 contains rich documentary information. It provokes the interest of all who deal with the cultural, political and educational history of the town of Shumen. Iliya Blaskov worked until the last moments of his life. The celebrated Bulgarian passed away on August 13, 1913 and was buried in the yard of the Three Saints Orthodox Church in Shumen.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov