The Village Bailovo- The story of sequential struggle
The Dwellers of Hope:
Once upon a time, there dwelled a beautiful village -Bailovo- in the heart of tremendous snowy mountains. Cold breeze blew through the leaves of each tree as it fondled them. The dwellers were very delighted with their fate. Always they felt spring in their souls, for it had become the part of their internal emotional system. Their relationship with nature can be depicted by their lifestyle. They and their things, both of them were pure; it seemed like nature had shaped them. The cows' mow had its own sweet voice; the farmers remained busy harvesting their crops.
Many trees were there, but a single tree offered numerous birds to live in it. This tree welcomed every season, every swing of wind, and every living thing to get benefits from it. But still, it stood in its place magnificently as a portent of kindness and steadfastness, delving its roots deep into the ground to achieve more strength.
Likewise, there stood a windmill proudly whose wings gorgeously touched the zenith where the rainbow makes its pathway to connect one heaven to the other. The church represented the unity and faith of villagers; it was the only place where the weak’s soul could flourish and the strong’s faith could become staunch. But both hearts felt the same felicity and pain. That was the land where fairies came to meet the villagers, for their relationship between them. They played with their kids forgetting all the distinctions between the two worlds.
Amidst the bustling scene, the villagers were working heartily without any burden. Including the woodcutter with weathered hands whose tattered clothes and worn-out shoes depicting his untiring effort and passion for his job. Children played joyfully, and their youthful spirits were echoing through the meadows. There lay the pumpkins and a vast expense remained covered by fruits. But whatever I told you is not just a dream. It all became possible due to the struggles, dreams, and aspirations of the common people after a colossal tragedy. Let’s look over what happened there.
Miracle in the form of a kid:
There was a child whose parents named him Elin Pelin. Nobody knew how this boy would safeguard them not as a soldier but as a writer who would build up their morale in the time of misery. Days passed and the boy had also grown up, too old to differentiate between good and bad. Elin Pelin was fond of reading books and writing and due to this habit, all the habitants loved him. His mother always advised him to be honest, for honesty and loyalty were the first lessons to be taught there. Just like the fairies who could enter this elegant village, anything could enter. They were not bound to remain in their place because of their decisive patriotism and bravery.
The Commencement of Misfortune:
One day, a devil named 'Ignorance' entered this village with the desire of ruining it. He grasped the strategy and hypnotized the innocent people. So, what happened? Oh My God! The sky got dark, autumn prevailed over the trees, birds were crying, and fruits got rotten. People got alerted and very much frightened. Meanwhile, on the account of the devilish intrigue of the devil, a cruel king, 'Corruption' arrived there and acclaimed,
"To the poor peasants! I’ve come here to establish my throne in this village. As it’s not so far from my kingdom, I wanted to conquer it. You had better obey me to save you from a gigantic disaster."
The father of the church intercepted,
"We can’t do so, for this land has been granted by our God. It’s the place of worth and not only our entities are used to living here but also our souls. We are not separated; we are soulmates."
Corruption said,
"As you wish, you’ve decided to ruin yourselves. Soldiers! March ahead to besiege them. It’s my order!"
The soldiers started surrounding the dwellers. Everyone was yelling and trying his best to protest but all in vain while the devil was laughing at the destruction of this heaven-like land. Fortunately, Elin Pelin ran away at that time and took refuge in the woods where he sought out the assistance of fairies. They took him to their fairyland to polish his skills that would help him in fighting against Ignorance, the devil.
The return of the survivor:
Time passed on and Elin had written many books. One of his powerful books was named, "The Gerak Family". It told the story of a Bulgarian family living in a small village. The Geraks were depicted as poor peasants who struggled with everyday hardships and poverty. The book explored the themes of social inequality, rural life, and the challenges faced by ordinary people. And this book proved as a robust javelin against the cruelty of Corruption.
One day, the king of fairyland, Discipline summoned Elin Pelin and said,
"Elin! You are my soldier. You’ve been studying and writing for a long time, and now you’ve become mature enough to fight against Ignorance through the strength of your literature. I wish you all the best and want you to protect your people from Corruption so that their hearts would sing the harmonies of independence."
Elin added,
"Your Majesty! I’m committed to preserving your hope eternally."
Elin Pelin reached his beloved village after ten years, but what he saw was heartrending. He saw that the soldiers of Corruption were picketing here and there. Bribery, adulteration, and backbiting were the three main heads. All these scenes touched the sensitive strings of his heart. He devised a plan on how to gather people and teach them his book, "The Gerak Family" with the assistance of fairies. An idea flashed through his mind that there lay a dark and immense grotto just beside the vast mountains that were always covered by the leaves of tall maple trees.
First of all, Elin gathered a small group of people silently, took them to the cave, and convinced them,
"Oh my dear fellows! I know that all of you have been subordinate to a brutal king for a long time. But I assure you if you use this book as a weapon, you’ll be freed not by the strong powers but by your own struggle, fortitude, and oneness. So share your knowledge as much as possible if you want to vanish Corruption and his army."
The innocent natives agreed with him. People started reading, "The Gerak Family" and strengthened their self-sufficiency and ingenuity. Corruption was unaware of the nurturing of the villagers' confidence.
Eventually, the day came when Elin Pelin successfully developed his own army, the people of Bailovo village. All were ready to cut down Corruption with their intellectual literacy. The war began! It was not about the royal throne and harmful weapons but the fight between Ignorance and Acknowledgement. Their minds changed. The devilish powers ended up and Elin hoisted the flag of independence and literacy power.
The Celebrations of Prosperity:
Since then, every person attached to the land, endeavored to raise it. The days of prosperity were celebrated with full pomp and show.
"He who laughs lives long"
A celebration of humor and jokes was held in the village of Bailovo that was dedicated to the birth anniversary of Elin Pelin, for he was the real hero of that village.
Acknowledgement:
Through vivid storytelling, it offers a poignant and realistic portrayal of the village’s struggles and harsh realities. Poverty and social inequality loom over the peasants, shaping their experiences and aspirations. No one can measure the power of words whether it’s in the form of a speech or a book. They inspire us to live a significant life with their sweet melodies.
By Narcissus
