The jubilee of the diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and India was a real festivity for the friends of this country-subcontinent in Bulgaria. And they are many. The Bulgarians’ interest in India is traditional, kindled at an early age by the children’s books of stories about this wonderful land and later enforced by piling further information, for many drawn from their personal deep and unforgettable experiences. But little Bulgaria and its culture also enjoy respect and interest among the Indian public. Throughout these 50 years the two countries have maintained constant active contacts and friendly cooperation. We have had periods of intensive trade exchange, and our positions on the basic issues of peace and cooperation in the world have always been close.

December 22, 1954, is the date on which the bilateral agreement was signed for establishment of regular diplomatic relations and missions were exchanged, at first headed by ministers plenipotentiary, the first Bulgarian one in India being Dr. Petar Vutov, and later with the rank of ambassadors, the first Bulgarian ambassador to India being Mr. Lyubomir Popov. Mr. Popov, who is an eminent career diplomat and later had many other no less responsible assignments, to this day keeps fresh memories from his encounters with the great Indian statesman Javaharlal Neru, a major figure in the struggle for India’s independence and its first Prime Minister.

This remarkable jubilee of the Bulgarian-Indian relations was marked in December 2004 in both countries; in New Delhi by a scientific symposium, where reports were read on the period of our cooperation; and in Sofia by a ceremonial meeting and concert in the hall of St. Kliment Ohridski Sofia University, jointly organized by the Friends of India Club, the department of Indology and the Indian Embassy in Sofia.

President Georgi Parvanov honored the meeting with a special address, which read: “Notwithstanding the vicissitudes of history, during this half a century the relations between Bulgaria and India have been characterized by close friendship and active cooperation. I am deeply impressed by the culture, history and traditions of this country, by its achievements in combating poverty, in science and technology. At present the two countries are faced with the great challenge to give their input in the building of a new world of humanness, stability and prosperity. Bulgaria and India today have a number of common goals and interests in their aim to contribute to the establishment of peace, trust, security and understanding in international relations.” And further on: “Through the years many Bulgarian politicians and diplomats, representatives of the Bulgarian artistic, public and academic circles made considerable contribution to the development of the bilateral relations. Allow me to express my sincere gratitude to the members of the Friends of India Club for their noble activity in the name of the drawing closer and the goodwill between the two nations.”

The address of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Solomon Passy was read by Deputy Minister Petko Draganov. Among other things it said: “For Bulgaria India is not just a huge friendly country. It is a whole universe of wisdom, embodied in its millennial history and culture… The past 50 years of official diplomatic relations between India and Bulgaria provide sufficient reason to look upon the next 50 years with optimism. Let us work together for their success!”

The ceremonial meeting was moderated by the prominent chemist Acad. Panayot Bonchev, former vice rector of Sofia University and activist of the Friends of India Club. Apart from him, speeches were delivered by Mr. Lyubomir Popov, currently first deputy chair of the Friends of India Club, the Ambassador of India to Bulgaria, H.E. Mr. Dinkar Khullar, and the Vice Rector of Sofia University and head of the Center for Eastern Languages and Cultures, where the Indology department is, Prof. Alexander Fedotov.

The meeting ended with a concert, in which the well-known pianist Prof. Snezhana Barova performed. Students of Indology recited verses by Indian classics in Sanskrit, Hindi and Urdu and their translations in Bulgarian. 12th grade girls from “Indira Gandhi” School in Sofia performed dances on Indian motifs, and the popular Bulgarian singer Yordanka Hristova captivated the audience with an Indian song from her concerts in India.

Again in December 2004 and on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and India, under the program for cultural exchange between the two countries a traditional puppet theater from the state of Rajasthan was on a visit to Sofia. The main public performance was at Salza I Smyah Theater – an impressive show of authentic Indian folklore. The company also gave two performances for the students of “Indira Gandhi” School, and on the initiative of Friends of India Club had two meetings with Bulgarian colleagues: one with the puppet art classes at the State Theater Academy (NATFA) and one with the actors from the Central Puppet Theater in Sofia.

Friends of India Club is a public organization founded 14 years ago by 105 representatives of the Bulgarian public – intellectuals with interest in the country like the late Acad. Petar Dinekov and Acad. Vera Mutafchieva, who is still the chairperson of the club, eminent artists, writers, scholars, Bulgarian specialists who had been to India under the program for cultural and scientific exchange, Bulgarian ambassadors and diplomats who had worked in India. Members of the club are Bulgarian Indologists, journalists, students and university students. In 2004 the Indology department at Sofia University held a large scientific conference on the occasion of its 20th anniversary with the participation of more than fifty Bulgarian scholars from all fields of knowledge and foreign guests, which was dedicated to the jubilee of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and India. For nearly seven years now Friends of India Club has been publishing an annual journal “Svetilnik”, which presents the club life, recounts about the Bulgarian-Indian contacts through the centuries, the values of the Indian cultural heritage and the achievements of modern scientific thought in India.

Evgenia Kamova,
Vice Chair of Friends of India Club