Bulgarian President Rumen Radev issued a decree on February 17, 2025, renaming Sofia Airport after national hero Vasil Levski. The airport is now called “Vassil Levski Airport—Sofia.”
Bulgaria celebrates Levski as the Apostle of Freedom. Born Vasil Ivanov Kunchev on July 18, 1837, he was crucial in establishing a revolutionary movement to liberate the country from Ottoman rule in the 19th century. Levski founded the Internal Revolutionary Organization (IRO). In 1872, he was captured, tried, and sentenced to death in Sofia. On February 18, 1873, Vasil Levski was hanged in what is now Sofia, near the place where his monument was erected in 1895.
Levski envisioned a liberated Bulgaria, stating, “We too are human and wish to live humanely: to be fully free in our own land, where the Bulgarian lives—in Bulgaria, Thrace, and Macedonia. Whatever nationality resides in this paradise of ours, they shall be equal in all matters with the Bulgarian. We desire the same for our Serbian, Montenegrin, and Romanian brothers and others so that they do not lag behind us but raise their voices together. It is time, through united effort, to achieve what our French brothers have sought and continue to seek—namely, Young France, Young Russia, and the like.” Levski was deeply influenced by the political ideas of Western Europe, especially those from France and Italy. He admired Garibaldi's guerrilla tactics. His most popular quote has been, “If I win, I win for the entire people; if I lose, I lose only myself.”
Levski’s revolution movement was probably influenced by the “Age of Revolutions” (1775-1848), a period marked by a series of uprisings across Europe, including Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Greece. This era was shaped by the Industrial Revolution and the Age of Enlightenment, which brought about significant advancements in technology and ideas. The Serbian Revolution (1804–1835) against Ottoman rule also considerably impacted the Balkan region.
Levski began his childhood education at the monastery school in his hometown. At the age of 14, he lost his father, and his uncle took on the responsibility of raising him. Between 1852 and 1854, he lived at a monastery where he studied church singing. From 1856 to 1857, Levski worked as a church singer. Influenced by the prominent Bulgarian revolutionary Georgi Rakovski, he turned to revolutionary activities. The economic crisis in the Ottoman Empire created an environment conducive to revolution, and in 1861, Levski organised a rebellion. However, Bulgarian society was not yet ready for this uprising.
Levski travelled to Serbia and joined the First Bulgarian Legion. According to legend, during military drills, he performed a leap that would later be known as the "Levski jump" (derived from "lion's jump"), which became his famous nickname. While there, he met other Bulgarian intellectuals involved in the revolutionary movement and gained his first combat experience, fighting against Turkish forces. In 1863, Levski spent some time in Romania before returning to Bulgaria, where he was briefly imprisoned, but after a few months, he was released after the advocacy of prominent Bulgarians.
From 1864 to early 1867, Levski taught in various Bulgarian villages and engaged in revolutionary propaganda. In the spring of 1867, he travelled to Romania once again. Over time, he realised that Bulgarian uprisings needed to occur independently and that the revolution should harness strength from within Bulgaria. Nonetheless, he advocated for coordinated actions among the Balkan peoples and envisioned the creation of a Balkan federation.
Levski had a practical perspective on the major Western powers, recognising that they tolerated the Ottoman Empire due to their strategic interests. He took a principled stance on Tsarist Russia's involvement in the region. Although he acknowledged the differences between Russia's policies and the goals of the Bulgarian revolution, he saw potential for collaboration in the fight against the Ottoman Empire. By the end of 1871, the IRO had emerged as the only genuine force capable of advancing the Bulgarian cause. The committees actively recruited supporters, raised funds, and acquired weapons.
Levski’s execution in 1873 sent shockwaves through revolutionary circles in Bulgaria and Romania at the time. Nevertheless, his uprising and the Russo-Turkish War ultimately led to Bulgaria's establishment as a state on the European map in 1878. This event also inspired similar efforts in neighbouring countries.
Vasil Levski left behind approximately 140 to 150 letters and proclamations that outlined his progressive ideas on equality, human rights, democratic governance, communication among peoples, and legal equality. In his final moments, he stated, "Whatever I have done is for the benefit of the people." In 2007, a national poll conducted by BNT named Vasil Levski the greatest Bulgarian of all time.
In the annals of Bulgarian history, few names resonate as profoundly as Vasil Levski's. His journey is not only one of resistance but also a testament to the power of ideals in the face of overwhelming odds. Levski's influence continues to be deeply felt in Bulgaria today.
**_(Arun Sahu is the Ambassador of India to Bulgaria)_**