„The faces of the April uprising come to life in an exhibition of young scientists from UniBIT“ – under this sign passed the opening of the exhibition „Chronicle of a feat. The faces of the uprising“, dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the April uprising, at the University of Library Science and Information Technologies.
From the first minutes, the university space became a „living memory“, in which the story is told in posts, words and patriotic songs, and comes to life before the eyes of visitors. This exhibition is the first study of its kind, carried out by young scholars from the Department of “Culture, Historical Heritage and Tourism“, who, through a modern scientific approach and a new reading of the sources, present one of the most
dramatic and inspiring events in Bulgarian history.
Photographs, manuscripts, pictures and texts, arranged in a conceptually constructed exhibition, draw attention to the main actors related to the preparation, outbreak and course of the uprising.
The impactful visual-documentary narrative highlights the personalities whose actions and choices give a human face to the events – the high point of the Bulgarian national liberation
movement against the Ottoman Empire.
Authentic testimonies – among them the famous letter of Todor Kableshkov from Koprivshtitsa (April 20, 1876), the handwritten testimony of Naiden Karadjov, as well as the stories of eyewitnesses, preserved and popularized through Zachary Stoyanov's “Notes on the Bulgarian Uprisings“.
The exhibition brings to life the names of Georgi Benkovski, Panayot Volov, Stoyan Zaimov, Ilarion Dragostinov, Georgi Ikonomov, Kocho Chestimenski and Raina Knyaginya – persons who turn history into a feat.
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„Chronicle of a feat. Faces of the Uprising“ is an emotional narrative and a unified documentary picture of the events of 150 years ago, explains Prof. Vanya Dobreva, head of the department. In her words, the exhibition “brings to life the voices of the participants, who have preserved the spirit, drama and grandeur of the events of 1876.
At the official opening ceremony of the exhibition in the presence of the rector of UniBIT Prof. Irena Peteva, and Prof. Hristina Hristova, dean of the Faculty of Library Science and Information Technologies, Prof. Vanya Dobreva emphasized the importance of the exhibition with the words: “This is a way for young people to touch history on the one hand as knowledge, and on the other – as an experience, to feel
the spirit of the times and the power of freedom that these people defended.“
Prof. Stoyan Denchev, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, also addressed warm words to the young researchers in a highly moving and emotional speech.
„UniBIT joins the national celebrations of this significant event. This exhibition connects historical memory with the present and shows how young people can turn history into a meaningful present, without anyone forcing them, without even being paid for this effort... This is the power of continuity between generations,“ he said.
The atmosphere during the opening was saturated with respect and excitement, and the Bulgarian anthem was also played at the ceremony. Visitors stopped in front of the exhibits, read the documents and seemed to be having a silent conversation with the heroes of Bulgarian freedom.
During the opening of the exhibition, emblematic Bulgarian patriotic songs such as “Wind echoes, Balkan groans“, “Stand up, stand up, Balkan hero“, “The quiet white Danube is agitated“, “Dear Motherland“, “He is alive, he is alive“ and other songs dedicated to Bulgarian history, freedom and national heroes.
Thus, UniBIT becomes a space of living memory – a place where “names – voices from the past“ they continue to talk today about courage, self-sacrifice and fortitude.