SOME TOUCHES FROM THE BIOGRAPHY OF TODOR VLAYKOV (1865 -1943). DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE FROM BULGARIAN ARCHIVE INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

Todor Vlaykov (1865 1943) was a Bulgarian writer, teacher and public figure. He devoted a long period of his life to politics, thus contributing to the creation of a better basis for the development of Bulgarian educational and cultural institutions.
The aim of this article is to reveal details of the formation of Vlaykov's personality, which are reflected in his diverse activities in the mature period of his life.
The methodology of this article is based on an interdisciplinary approach. It includes the construction of a historical narrative of the first decades of Vlaykov's life, a substantive analysis of archival documents, systematization of published information sources, synthesis of the information obtained.
All aspects of Todor Vlaykov's activities are recreated on the basis of personal archival materials donated by his heirs to the Scientific Archives of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
Emphasis is placed on the education he received at the primary school "St. St. Cyril and Methodius" in Pirdop, the Sofia Classical Gymnasium and the Imperial Moscow University.
The student years in Moscow were of decisive importance for the formation of Todor Vlaykov's social and aesthetic views. He recognized the views of the Russian nihilist Dmitry Ivanovich Pisarev (1840 1868), became acquainted with the theory of populism and fully embraced the idea that enlightenment was an indispensable task of the intelligentsia.
In 1888, Todor Vlaykov returned to Bulgaria. Initially, he started working as a teacher in his native Pirdop, and later moved briefly to Veliko Tarnovo. From 1892, for two years, he worked as a school inspector in the Sofia Educational District.
Immediately after that, he was appointed a teacher of Russian and Bulgarian at the Sofia Classical and Real Gymnasium (1894 1896).
In 1893, the young teacher created the “Bulgarian National Educational Society”. He believed that Bulgarian teachers should unite in order to achieve a rapid increase in the literacy of the population. His personal beliefs motivated him to join the creation of the Bulgarian Teachers’ Union.
It was the desire to actively participate in the change of Bulgarian reality at the end of the 19th century that distanced Vlaykov from an academic career.
In 1905, together with Naicho Tsanov (1857 1923), he took the initiative to establish the Radical Democratic Party. The social base on which he stood consisted of medium and small owners from the cities and villages, mainly craftsmen and farmers, some civil servants and teachers. Todor Vlaykov's long term political commitments deprived him of the opportunity for creative activity. After the publication of "Stories and Novels" in 1897, only in the period 1925 1931 did he find time to revise and publish his literary and journalistic works. The texts cover six volumes and reflect the entire life experience of the writer.
All the cited documentary evidence, collected in the personal archive of Todor Vlaykov, categorically prove his multifaceted activity to enhance the education and culture of the Bulgarian people.