On 15 November 2024, the Polish Institute in Sofia hosted the award ceremony of the “Prof. Wanda Smochowska-Petrova” Prize, organized by the Institute of Literature at BAS and the Polish Institute in Sofia. Established in 2017, the award was presented for the second time in connection with Poland’s Independence Day – 11 November.
Prof. Dr. Wanda Smochowska-Petrova (1919-2011) was a Polish woman who emigrated to Bulgaria during World War II. She devoted more than 60 years of her creative career to the study of Bulgarian literature, the links between the two cultures in the Bulgarian National Revival period and translated into Bulgarian classic works by Polish writers. Her merits to Bulgarian humanities and in strengthening Bulgarian-Polish cultural relations were presented by Prof. Margreta Grigorova.
In the category of promising Bulgarian polonist researcher, an authoritative jury awarded the prestigious “Prof. Wanda Smochowska-Petrova” prize to Sen. Asst. Prof. Dr. Kristiyan Yanev from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. It was presented by the founder of the award Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elka Traykova – Scientific Secretary of the “Cultural and Historical Heritage and National Identity” Division – BAS.
The laureate in the category of an established translator from Polish is Preslava Petkova. On behalf of the jury, the award was presented by its first winner Krum Krumov.
Guest of honour at the ceremony was Alina Petrova-Wasilewicz, daughter of Prof. Wanda Smochowska-Petrova, who shared memories of her mother’s lifelong dedication to Bulgarian culture and congratulated the awarded young polonists.
