The life story of Professor Minko Balkanski illustrates the fate of many ambitious and talented Bulgarians who emigrated during the second half of the past century lending their valuable contribution to world science and culture. The renowned physicist was born in the small village of Oryahovitsa near Stara Zagora. He was fascinated by the fate of Louis Pasteur and dreamed of graduating the university of this great scholar - the elite Ecole Normale Superiore in Paris, not knowing that only French nationals were admitted there. In the dawn of Communist Bulgaria, it was impossible to study abroad which forced Minko Balkanski choose the path of emigration. In Bordeaux, France, he began his successful scientific career that took him across continents.

The first scientific community that showed interest in his research was the Max Planck institute in Berlin, Germany. Ecole Normale Superior now opened its doors to the young scientist. Later, he specialized in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. For his scientific achievements there he became the first European winner of the prestigious "Von Hippel” award. At the age of only 28, Minko Balkanski was already a professor at the Faculty of Natural Sciences in Paris, thus turning into the youngest professor at the time in the world. For decades he headed the Laboratory of Solid State Physics. He was also professor emeritus of physics at the Pierre et Marie Curie University. 

Professor Balkanski has presented his research in 34 universities in Europe and the United States, also he has participated in the foundation of research institutes in India and China. For his scientific discoveries this eminent Bulgarian has received the highest honors of France - the title Knight of the Legion of Honour and the Order of Merit. He is also member of the New York, Indian and International Academies of Sciences and winner of prestigious awards in Poland and India. In 2003, he was honored with the highest Bulgarian state order Stara Planina for his contribution to science. Until 1992, over half a century of emigration, Professor Balkanski never uttered the name of his homeland Bulgaria. One day he was visited by the then Bulgarian ambassador in Paris. Here is what he recalls:

“After half a century I did not think it was possible to go back to Bulgaria because I had a death sentence. Everything the Communists could do to someone they had already done to me. Then I received a call from my colleague Simeon Angelov. I thought we would be talking about physics. However, he showed up with a passport and a ticket to Sofia and invited me to go to Bulgaria. I was invited to receive the title of Doctor Honoris Causa of Sofia University. That was how I came back.”

Professor Balkanski still vividly remembers the day when he returned to France - June 16, 1992. He gathered the whole family, talked about his experiences in Bulgaria and shared his idea to set up a foundation that would work for Bulgaria. Everyone was surprised but took the idea enthusiastically. This was how the Minyo Balkanski Foundation came to life, named after the professor’s father. The son fulfilled his father’s covenant - to be a good person and help people. Minko Balkanski admits that for 20 years his whole family has been working in the name of Bulgaria and he is only the "outward expression" of their desire.

Laureates of the contest visitng Prof. Balkanski in Fourche, Normandy

The Institute of Higher Education, advancement of culture, science and technology in Bulgaria was established in Paris by Professor Balkanski in 1993. The same year a competition in Mathematics, Physics and Informatics was launched at the headquarters of the foundation, Oryahovitsa, the professor’s native village. Thus, for two decades, he was looking for youngsters whose skills and impetus might allow them to continue their education in the most prestigious universities in France.

“It is amazing. The first time I did this competition, the results really surprised me”, says the professor. “The level was very high, but I thought it was normal since there had been no such competition before. But for 20 years now we have two winners in mathematics, physics and informatics. What are the results? The first winner Mladen Dimitrov is a professor of mathematics at the Diderot University in Paris. At the same time he is doing research at Caltech - USA. This summer he will bring to Bulgaria and the village of Oryahovitsa a group of eminent mathematicians from around the world."

Professor Balkanski explains that few of the winners take the hard road to study at the educational center Lycée Louis le Grand. He is proud that the first foreigners who set foot at Ecole Normale Superior and Ecole Polytechnique were Bulgarians and laureates of his foundation. The Bulgarian flag stays raised at the campuses of the most prestigious universities founded more than 200 years ago by Napoleon to educate the French elite. Their graduates are Nobel laureates, prominent scientists and politicians. Professor Balkanski regards talented Bulgarians as his own children. During the holidays they are visiting his home in Fourches (Normandie) where they meet with prominent scholars, writers and musicians and become part of the French elite.

The learning center of the foundation

During the official celebrations of the 20th anniversary of Minyu Balkanski Foundation at the French embassy in Sofia, world-famous violinist Svetlin Rusev, now a professor at the Conservatoire in Paris, greeted the guests with a performance of Paganini. This was the occasion for Prof. Balkanski to remember how the violin master classes held annually in the village Oriahovitsa actually started. Years ago, at one of the receptions at the mansion in Fourches, the young Bulgarian brought his professor - Devy Erlih - one of the best violin professors known for his busy schedule.

“When he heard me discussing with members of the French high society what we wanted to do for Bulgaria, he came to me and asked how he could help. I said: give me two weeks of your time for a summer school. Thus began the master classes which are now taught by the greatest professors of France."

With the course of years, the activity of M. Balkanski Foundation was rapidly growing. In Bulgaria he created the National Institute of Education, which conducts courses for teachers. There is also a National Youth Institute, which annually conducts summer schools in order to arouse the interest of young people in science and technology.

International symposia were held in mathematics and cryptography, too. The summer schools of cryptography involved one of the winners of the competition - Dimitar Zhechev who teaches at Ecole Polytechnique in Lausanne. Thanks to the results achieved, the next International Conference on cryptography will be held in Sofia.

During the cryptography conference in Oryahovitsa

Similar to the French College de France that opened its doors back in the 17th center and had some of the most eminent philosophers, poets, scientists read lectures there, Professor Balkanski joined by another great Bulgarian – Dimi Panitza created The Institute for Advanced Studies. In October this year in Sofia, eminent scientists from around the world will visit the Institute and will hold lectures. We will bring this spiritual food to Bulgaria and this is what we are now working on, says the professor. 

The inauguration of the Balkanski-Panitza Institute of Advanced Studies (BPIAS)

Bulgaria has an extraordinary source of talent. There are children to whom we need to open the road of development, Professor Balkanski firmly believes.

English version: Rossitsa Petcova

Pgotos: courtesy to the M. Balkanski Foundation