site.btaAleko Konstantinov's 160th Birth Anniversary Marked by Writers, Members of the Public

Georgi Gospodinov, Zdravka Evtimova, Mihail Nedelchev, Alek Popov, Kalin Terziiski and other Bulgarian writers and members of the public gathered at the monument to Aleko Konstantinov in central Sofia on Sunday to mark the subtle satirist's 160th birth anniversary.

Actor Rusi Chanev read excerpts from Konstantinov's most famous work, Bai Ganyo, whose title character is perceived as a social stereotype of an unsophisticated profit-driven Bulgarian, ignorant, arrogant and selfish.

Gospodinov commented to the media that Aleko Konstantinov "is among the most European Bulgarian writers". 

Prof. Alexander Kiossev, who was among the organizers of the observance, described Aleko as "the role model teaching us how to differentiate between genuine and sham patriotism".

Replying to a question, Prof. Kiossev said that in Bulgaria Aleko's patriotism predominates over Bai Ganyo's patriotism. "The former, though, is quiet and working, it practically cares for this country, whether the latter is shrill and rather visible, and thus creates the false impression that it is dominant."

As the most important lesson left by the author, professor singles out the fact that Konstantinov does not hate his Bai Ganyo, does not despise him but criticizes him, at times ridicules him, yet nevertheless feels a deep emotional bond with him. "They are in the same community, they are Bulgarians, and Aleko Konstantinov wants to take care of his Bai Ganyo. Whether Bai Ganyo wants to take care of Aleko is a different story," the historian of culture added.

Aleko Konstantinov was born in Svishtov (on the Danube, Northwestern Bulgaria) on January 1, 1863. He studied in his native town and in Gabrovo. Having finished his secondary education in Nikolaev, Russia (now Mykolaiv, Ukraine), in 1881, he graduated in law from the Imperial Novorossiya University in Odessa in 1885. He worked in Sofia as a judge, prosecutor, jurisconsult and freelance lawyer. He was dismissed twice for political reasons.

Konstantinov is credited with pioneering the tourist movement in Bulgaria. He visited the world's fairs in Paris (1889), Prague (1891), and Chicago (1893). The writer joined Petko Karavelov's Democratic Party and contributed to its print media. Konstantinov was assassinated near the Radilovo village (South Central Bulgaria), most probably by mistake, the actual target being local politician Mihail Takev with whom they shared a cab ride.

He wrote features, short stories, travel notes and feuilletons and translated texts from Russian and French. His two essential works are the collection of feuilletons Bai Ganyo: Incredible Tales of a Modern Bulgarian and the travelogue To Chicago and Back. Both have been published in English. Works by Konstantinov have been translated into Estonian, Russia, Serbian, German, Polish, French, Czech and other languages, some 30 altogether.