Nikola Pushkarov
Encyclopedia
Nikola Petkov Pushkarov (1874–1934) was the first Bulgarian soil researcher and founder of the soil science
in Bulgaria. He was also an activist of the Internal Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organization.
Nikola Pushkarov was born on December 14, 1874 in Pirdop
, then in the Ottoman Empire
. He graduated from elementary school in his hometown and high school in Sofia. Afterwards Pushkarov taught as a teacher in Mirkovo
. In the period 1898-1901 he studied natural sciences at the Sofia University
. Later he taught in the Bulgarian High School in Skopje
, where he became a member of Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO). In 1902 he received a task from Gotse Delchev
to reinforce the Skopje Revolutionary Region. As a result Pushkarov was elected as a president of the Skopje Revolutionary Committee of IMRO in 1902. Pushkarov was also the editor of the IMRO organizational newsletter in Skopje, "Freedom or death". As a whole the revolutionary network, in Scopje Region was not well developed and the lack of weapons was a serious problem. On the other hand, in some areas, as in Kumanovo
, the strong pro-Serbian propaganda gained support, and other districts, as Kratovo
, were under the control of the Supremists. Before the start of the Ilinden Uprising in 1903 Pushkarov had on his disposal an armed detachment of 18 people, which carried 100 kilograms of dynamite and 200 bombs.
At the outbreak of the uprising Pushkarov was a chief of the rebel forces in the Skopje Region. On July 22, the band of Pushkarov settled in the Monastery "St. John", near the village of Vetarsko, close towhere the river Pchinya flows into Vardar
. From there the cheta could control the traffic on the railway. The detachment moved from the monastery to the village of Novachene and on August 1, they derailed a military train with 32 carriages. On 3 and 5 August respectively, they attacked a Turkish unit, guarding the bridge on the Vardar river and gave a battle in the "St. John" monastery. In the next few days the band was pursued by numerous Bashibozuks and mooved slowly to Bulgaria, because it carried the wounded rebels with it. On August 20 the band runs through Vranje
in Kyustendil
. Nicola Pushkarov formed a new band there, which went into Macedonia again. The cheta moved to Kriva Palanka
and in October after a battle in Prelesiya returned to Bulgaria
.
After the uprising Pushkarov returned to Bulgaria. As he could no longer return to Skopje, as the Turkish police actively sought him, he worked as a teacher in Plovdiv
, Sofia and Vidin
. Later he devoted himself to scientific work. He dealt with the study of the soil types and created the first soil map of Bulgaria in 1931. Pushkarov died on February 18, 1943 in Sofia. His native house in Pirdop today is a house museum. On his name was named the Institute of Soil Science in Sofia.
Soil science
Soil science is the study of soil as a natural resource on the surface of the earth including soil formation, classification and mapping; physical, chemical, biological, and fertility properties of soils; and these properties in relation to the use and management of soils.Sometimes terms which...
in Bulgaria. He was also an activist of the Internal Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organization.
Nikola Pushkarov was born on December 14, 1874 in Pirdop
Pirdop
Pirdop is a town located in South-West Bulgaria of Sofia Province in the southeastern part of the Zlatitsa - Pirdop Valley at 670 m above sea level. It is surrounded by the Balkan Range to the north, Sredna Gora Mountain to the south, and Koznitsa and Galabets saddles to the east and west,...
, then in the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. He graduated from elementary school in his hometown and high school in Sofia. Afterwards Pushkarov taught as a teacher in Mirkovo
Mirkovo
Mirkovo is a village in western Bulgaria, part of Sofia Province. It is the administrative centre of Mirkovo municipality, which lies in the central eastern part of Sofia Province...
. In the period 1898-1901 he studied natural sciences at the Sofia University
Sofia University
The St. Clement of Ohrid University of Sofia or Sofia University is the oldest higher education institution in Bulgaria, founded on 1 October 1888...
. Later he taught in the Bulgarian High School in Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
, where he became a member of Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO). In 1902 he received a task from Gotse Delchev
Gotse Delchev
Georgi Nikolov Delchev was an important revolutionary figure in Ottoman-ruled Macedonia and Thrace at the turn of the 20th century...
to reinforce the Skopje Revolutionary Region. As a result Pushkarov was elected as a president of the Skopje Revolutionary Committee of IMRO in 1902. Pushkarov was also the editor of the IMRO organizational newsletter in Skopje, "Freedom or death". As a whole the revolutionary network, in Scopje Region was not well developed and the lack of weapons was a serious problem. On the other hand, in some areas, as in Kumanovo
Kumanovo
Kumanovo is a city in the Republic of Macedonia and is the seat of Kumanovo Municipality which is the largest municipality in the country. Municipal institutions include a city council, mayor and other administrative bodies.-Name:...
, the strong pro-Serbian propaganda gained support, and other districts, as Kratovo
Kratovo
Kratovo may refer to:*Kratovo, Macedonia, a town in the Republic of Macedonia*Kratovo, Russia, an urban-type settlement in Moscow Oblast, Russia*Kratovo, Serbia, a settlement situated in the Priboj municipality of southwestern Serbia...
, were under the control of the Supremists. Before the start of the Ilinden Uprising in 1903 Pushkarov had on his disposal an armed detachment of 18 people, which carried 100 kilograms of dynamite and 200 bombs.
At the outbreak of the uprising Pushkarov was a chief of the rebel forces in the Skopje Region. On July 22, the band of Pushkarov settled in the Monastery "St. John", near the village of Vetarsko, close towhere the river Pchinya flows into Vardar
Vardar
The Vardar or Axios is the longest and major river in the Republic of Macedonia and also a major river of Greece. It is long, and drains an area of around . The maximum depth of river is ....
. From there the cheta could control the traffic on the railway. The detachment moved from the monastery to the village of Novachene and on August 1, they derailed a military train with 32 carriages. On 3 and 5 August respectively, they attacked a Turkish unit, guarding the bridge on the Vardar river and gave a battle in the "St. John" monastery. In the next few days the band was pursued by numerous Bashibozuks and mooved slowly to Bulgaria, because it carried the wounded rebels with it. On August 20 the band runs through Vranje
Vranje
Vranje is a city and municipality located in southern Serbia. In 2011 the city has total population of 82,782, while the urban area has 54,456...
in Kyustendil
Kyustendil
Kyustendil is a town in the far west of Bulgaria, the capital of Kyustendil Province, with a population of 44 416 . Kyustendil is situated in the southern part of the Kyustendil Valley, 90 km southwest of Sofia...
. Nicola Pushkarov formed a new band there, which went into Macedonia again. The cheta moved to Kriva Palanka
Kriva Palanka
Kriva Palanka is a town located in the northeastern part of the Republic of Macedonia. It has 14.558 inhabitants. The town of Kriva Palanka is the seat of Kriva Palanka Municipality which has almost 21.000 inhabitants....
and in October after a battle in Prelesiya returned to Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
.
After the uprising Pushkarov returned to Bulgaria. As he could no longer return to Skopje, as the Turkish police actively sought him, he worked as a teacher in Plovdiv
Plovdiv
Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia with a population of 338,153 inhabitants according to Census 2011. Plovdiv's history spans some 6,000 years, with traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 4000 BC; it is one of the oldest cities in Europe...
, Sofia and Vidin
Vidin
Vidin is a port town on the southern bank of the Danube in northwestern Bulgaria. It is close to the borders with Serbia and Romania, and is also the administrative centre of Vidin Province, as well as of the Metropolitan of Vidin...
. Later he devoted himself to scientific work. He dealt with the study of the soil types and created the first soil map of Bulgaria in 1931. Pushkarov died on February 18, 1943 in Sofia. His native house in Pirdop today is a house museum. On his name was named the Institute of Soil Science in Sofia.
Sources
- Спомени на Никола Пушкаров в "Движението отсамъ Вардара и борбата съ върховистите по спомени на Яне Сандански, Черньо Пеевъ, Сава Михайловъ, Хр. Куслевъ, Ив. Анастасовъ Гърчето, Петъръ Хр. Юруковъ и Никола Пушкаровъ; съобщава Л. Милетичъ", София, Печатница П. Глушковъ, 1927, поредица "Материали за историята на македонското освободително движение", Издава "Македонскиятъ Наученъ Институтъ", Книга VII ( текст).
- Short biography on the official site of IMRO-BNDIMRO – Bulgarian National MovementThe IMRO – Bulgarian National Movement is a nationalist political party in Bulgaria. The abbreviation IMRO references the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization, a historic Bulgarian-established revolutionary political organization in the Macedonia and Thrace regions. IMRO – BNM's current...