THE National Palace of Culture is one of Sofia's most easily recognisable landmarks. Comprised of a seemingly infinite number of halls, cinemas, and conference rooms, many of the city's activities revolve around the Palace of Culture (NDK). NDK recently received the 2005 AIPC Apex Award for World's Best Congress Centre.

NDK is just one example of the legacy left by Lyudmila Zhivkova. Daughter of longtime Bulgarian leader Todor Zhivkov, Zhivkova worked to inspire greater recognition of Bulgarian culture during her tenure as Minister of Culture. NDK originally bore her name, although "Lyudmila Zhivkova" was dropped from the title after the Bulgarian transition to democracy. The National Palace of Culture was created to be the cultural heart of Sofia, a place to celebrate and exhibit Bulgarian art, music, and other traditions.

For the elevation of his daughter, first to the Politburo and then to Chair of the Committee for Culture and Arts (Minister of Culture), Todor Zhivkov was charged by many with nepotism. Lyudmila Zhivkova, however, proved to be a surprisingly popular and influential figure in Bulgarian cultural preservation and development.

Zhivkova spent considerable government resources on the promotion of her cultural programmes. Such programmes included the support of Bulgarian scholars, the collecting of Bulgarian art, and the development of Bulgarian music and athletics. She particularly focused her energy on youth, with the hope of instilling an appreciation of Bulgarian culture in the next generation of citizens and leaders.

Perhaps Zhivkova's most well-remembered undertaking was the 1300-year anniversary of Bulgaria in 1981. The large monument in Yuzhen Park, created by artist Valentin Starchev, is entitled, 1300 Years Bulgaria, and was created as part of the celebration. The anniversary was used to increase a sense of national pride in the longevity of the Bulgarian identity.

Even before her appointment  as Minister of Culture, Zhivkova was active in promoting the legacy of Bulgarian history. In 1972 she encouraged the creation of an Institute of Thracian Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Science. The Thracian people came onto the scene around the 6th century BCE, residing in what is today Bulgaria. They left a considerable archeological heritage, and many of their artefacts can be found in museums and ancient ruins throughout the country. Zhivkova felt that Bulgaria's unique Thracian history needed to be recognised and celebrated.

Zhivoka found much of her inspiration for cultural advancement while travelling in India in 1975. There she met Svetoslav Roerich, a highly regarded artist and the son of Helena and Nikolai Roerich. Helena and Nikolai founded the Eastern school of thought known as the theosophical Agni Yoga Society, or the Teaching of Living Ethics.

Zhivkova's admiration of the Roerich family and ideology inspired her to name 1978 "The Year of the Roerich Family" in Bulgaria. This was an act of considerable deference, given the two following years honoured Leonardo da Vinci and Vladimir Lenin, respectively.

Many of the Old Guard within the Bulgarian state remained sceptical of Zhivkova's Eastern philosophy. Zhivkova, however, took inspiration from the Roerich understanding of cultural advancement in order to promote Bulgaria's unique cultural heritage.In addition to her unusual Eastern philosophy, Zhivkova supported a pro-Western policy for Bulgaria. Zhivkova had attended Oxford University, and felt that Bulgaria's cultural heritage needed to be shared with all parts of the world, not just the Soviet bloc. These ideas made Zhivkova unpopular with many of the more traditional communist leaders in both Bulgaria and the Soviet Union.

Zhivkova was found dead in her apartment on June 21 1981, at the age of 39. Although rumours continue to circle regarding her early death, it is generally accepted that Lyudmila Zhivkova died of a brain tumor.

Zhivkova was married to Ivan Slavkov. Slavkov acted as head of the state-controlled Bulgarian Television from 1972 to 1982, thanks to his marriage to Todor Zhivkov's daughter Lyudmila. He headed the Bulgarian Olympic Committee beginning in 1982, as well as serving as the Bulgarian representative to the International Olympic Committee. Recently caught in a bribe-for-bid sting, Slavkov was expelled from the IOC this August. Slavkov is also President of the Bulgarian Football Union.