Presentation of www.veramutafchieva.net

Speech of Professor Bogdan Bogdanov - 25.03.2010, NBU

Vera Mutafchieva can be represented in many ways, but this one seems to be the most obvious – she had friends. One of the actions that took place before my eyes in recent years was this work of hers, friendship. Serious work, because it was a work of transforming a not very significant particulate community into high-ranking communication. No one should be surprised that she left such close friends – women and men, adults and young people, ready after her death to make joint efforts to preserve her memory and continue the ideas she defended and the undertakings she advanced. The fruit of these friendships is also this site. Of course, in order to exist successfully, it must continue the rapprochements and gatherings of which Vera was such a master. I am sure that this will happen first in Ottoman studies, her beloved field, then in the other fields and issues in which she worked and in which she left research, essays and fiction. It is an intricate task to be specific with the so many manifestations that a gifted and dynamic person like Vera Mutafchieva had. That is why I am addressing those for whom not enough has been said. I have already touched on the first – Vera's friendships. There is a lot of material on this topic in her life. I am sure that a writer will be found who will develop it. It will not be easy. Because no matter how high-ranking Vera's friendships were, they took place in the friendly culture, which for our country is always with a positive sign – because of it Bulgaria is so attractive for both Bulgarians and foreigners. On the other hand, however, it also has a negative coloration, insofar as it was and continues to be a substitute for our not very stable social existence. When we talk about Vera Mutafchieva, there is something else not so much said. Evgeny Daynov has just mentioned it – her sharp wisdom, the rounded telling of chopped truths. The softly summarizing wise talk was blurry in her oppinion. She spoke wisely warningly, pushing the listener into the clear sharpness of choice. She spoke not so much to be understood as to make the one who did understand to make something unmade. As her daughter pointed out, Vera avoided public speaking. From time to time, of course, she had to speak in public. She spoke in a straight line, summarizing, sharp, fast and accurate. So accurate that the heart shrinks. She didn't like to speak in public, but this public speech of hers that I'm trying to present was in the style of her writing, especially in recent years. Especially her famous memories are sustained and conducted in this style of sharp wisdom, of fast effective saying, which leads to a result. And here is the third not often commented manifestation of her personality. I suspect that in my case she approved of the same thing that was characteristic of her – the absence of delay and hesitation to accomplish something planned. If she convinced me that something was the right thing to do, I would take it upon myself to do it. If I offered her something meaningful, she would do it right away. We were both unfamiliar with Southern speaking just like that in the comfort of the moment here and now. Speaking, she did. So Vera realized the last big project she started – "History inhabited by people". When he first presented it to me, I said, “Well, that won't be very effective. People think they're involved in history, but they're actually making their story aside.” Vera ignored my skeptical note, set to work, organized and carried it out. Both volumes came out. I, of course, participated and helped. But is history inhabited by people? And so far I hesitate. Her look was more democratic than mine. In my opinion, we all participate in history, but in a different way - by raising or supporting the people who make history; once the actors who actually make it, and the second time the historians who write it. The official story is made by them. Well, once we raise and support them, we usually start to watch less often what they do, although we may disapprove and even protest, and they start doing what they want. In any case, neither the political heroes nor the authors of the text of official history are particularly influenced by our reaction of approval or disapproval. This is my realistic understanding, with which Vera disagreed. On this point, she preferred to mix what was with what should be. And she was driven by the noble remorse that as a historian she had for too long dealt with the great lines of Bulgarian history and that, although she had done so in a deviating and even restive way, her history had turned out to be more linear than actual historical discord. Hence the call to populate history, left uninhabited, with people. I am glad that "such people" are already on Vera Mutafchieva's site. Of course, I still doubt that small historical speeches can grow into the speech of official history. But this is exactly what this site can be useful for me. - to call into question my doubts and, with the efforts of many participants, to convince me that it is possible for small historical speeches to push the speech of official history and make it more hesitant, less ideologically false and more controversial. Hard work, because this pulpit speech penetrates the small historical speeches and does not actually leave them alone. I'm sure if she could hear that, Vera would be glad I kept arguing with her. This is less often said about Vera Mutafchieva. You know the rest and we can keep it to ourselves. However, I do not want to keep silent about her role in the short history of the New Bulgarian University. She immediately noticed us and immediately showed readiness to participate. She felt good with us. That is why the opening of an audience named after Petar Mutafchiev was quite appropriate. I thank Vera and her family for the trust here in NBU to honor her father in this way, notes a Bulgarian historian inappropriately disrespectful elsewhere. I also thank, of course, for Vera participating so warmly and sincerely in our construction. Well, here is what is less often said about Vera Mutafchieva. You know the rest and we can keep it to ourselves. However, I do not want to keep silent about her role in the short history of the New Bulgarian University. She immediately noticed us and immediately showed readiness to participate. She felt good with us. That is why the opening of an audience named after Petar Mutafchiev was quite appropriate. I thank Vera and her family for the trust that it is here at NBU that her father, a distinguished Bulgarian historian who is inappropriately disrespected elsewhere, is honored in this way. I also thank, of course, for Vera participating so warmly and sincerely in our construction. Her site, which was taken care of by so many relatives and friends and, first of all, Veselina Vasileva, who built it, and which is our current sign of our gratitude, is something that starts with an undoubted future. I allow myself to wish it the same thing I say about the New Bulgarian University. Let this site also become a small living society - an exception, a place of happening and becoming, the result of which is one of sheltering and filling with hope for achievement and truth - as Vera herself was for us.