At the national conference marking the 150th anniversary of the April Uprising, Panagyurishte Mayor Zhelyazko Gagov addressed attendees at the Panagyurishte History Museum. Gagov urged Bulgarians to emulate the ordinary citizens who became historical figures during the uprising. He suggested that the anniversary should prompt national reflection on unity and pride.
Speaking at the event, which was organized by the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), Gagov noted the timing of the commemorations coinciding with an election campaign. He contrasted the current political leadership with that of the past, stating that the comparison was “not in favour of our present day.” For Gagov, the anniversary should serve two primary purposes: to ensure it is a genuinely national commemoration, mirroring the aspirations of the uprising itself, and to allow the public to reconnect with history as a source of national pride. He asserted that Bulgarians currently exhibit a “deficit of pride,” making the anniversary a crucial opportunity to recall the accomplishments of their ancestors, while emphasizing the shared roots between current and past generations.
Gagov drew a contrast between the young revolutionaries of 1876 and today’s youth, observing that while modern youth focus on social media, their predecessors were preparing for sacrifice and “choosing immortality.” The mayor stressed that the heroes of the April Uprising were not mythical figures but real individuals, calling for their legacy to be understood on a human level. He concluded by urging Bulgarians to live up to the example set by those “ordinary people whom history made great.” This conference is part of a broader series of discussions by BTA as part of the “14 Centuries of Bulgaria in Europe” initiative.
Topics: #april #uprising #heroes
