This is the first book I picked up from the Balkan books collection. Of course, I was looking forward to knowing more about Bulgaria, my current home country.

 

The book is a collection of short stories. I am not a fan of short stories, but this one caught my interest. And it was sheer love.

 

It felt like time travel, a story from each era of Bulgarian history. The stories talk about the struggles and challenges that people of this country faced for the last many centuries. Interwoven amidst real-life situations, there's a subtle touch of humor here and there, adding a light-heartedness to the narrative, while the stories of ordinary people form the backdrop of the tale.

 

From the Ottoman era through the fall of communism to the present day, the book provides comprehensive coverage of historical events spanning various epochs. Some stories left an indelible mark on me, they were simply heart touching. There is a subtle indication of how a lot has changed yet certain things remain the same.

 

The book covers the pain of a mother whose child was taken away from him by the Ottoman army, so that he can grow up and join their army of janissaries. But here, very surprisingly, she willingly gives away her son so that he can lead a better life compared to the life of a peasant.

 

A river separates two villages and two lovers. Once, the village across the river belonged to Bulgaria. However, shifting political landscapes drew new borders, and the village on the opposite bank found itself part of another nation, Serbia. Now, the lands have got divided but the hearts have not. Occasionally the villagers meet and celebrate together. And the young sweethearts are left with no choice but to cross the river in the darkness of the night to meet each other. Of course, the border security is very active and don’t hesitate to shoot at any moving shadow.

 

What happens after Bulgaria gets freedom from the Ottoman rulers? It is not difficult to imagine the fate of the people living on the two sides of the newly created border. The great exodus on this side of the border also gets a mention. And the converted Bulgarians living close to the border of its neighboring nation suddenly find themselves under the governance of individuals practicing a different religion.

 

Many such heart-warming narratives of ordinary people navigating complex circumstances of the past form the essence of this book. For centuries, people have faced discrimination based on their religious beliefs and been persecuted for not worshipping the same God as the ruler. And we thought God has the power to unite the world and bring hearts together, because doesn’t God reside within each heart?

 

But unfortunately, newly drawn boundaries have always separated humans from their humanity and hearts from their souls. History is a witness to the harsh realities of people turning against their ‘once a friend’ neighbor only for a piece of land. This seemingly insignificant piece of land may appear trivial to some including me, but this "only" reason has been the catalyst for countless acts of carnage and devastation in the past, even in the recent past. And who knows, it may continue to exert its influence on the world even in this highly advanced era.

 

It leaves me pondering, when did humans begin to forget that we are all made of the same flesh and blood?

 

“Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us and the world will be as one.”  — John Lennon