Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

An international scientific-practical conference dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the outstanding Azerbaijani writer and playwright Jalil Mammadguluzadeh was held at the National Library of Azerbaijan named after M.F. Akhundzadeh on November 18.

The event was co-organized by the Ministry of Culture, International Turkic Culture Organization - TURKSOY, Institute of Literature of ANAS and National Library of Azerbaijan.

The conference was attended by researchers of Jalil Mammadguluzadeh, invited from Bulgaria, Poland, Turkey and Uzbekistan, along with scholars and cultural figures and public figures, as well as the successors of the writer's generation – his great grandson Martin Javanshiri and his son Pshemislav Javanshiri.

Opening the conference, director of the National Library, Prof. Karim Tahirov, highlighted the importance of the decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev on the 150th anniversary of Jalil Mammadguluzadeh. 

First Deputy Minister of Culture Vagif Aliyev said that prominent writer Jalil Mammadguluzadeh is famous for being the founder of the literary trend of critical realism in Azerbaijani literature, the creator of the Molla Nasraddin literary school and one of the main figures of the national independence movement. He laid the foundation for a new type of realist-satirical literature and democratic press in Azerbaijan.

Jalil Mammadguluzadeh, who fights against ignorance, illiteracy and despotism, enriched Azerbaijani literature with his publicist activities, V. Aliyev added.

The Deputy Minister also stressed out that both during the Soviet period and during the independence, great realist writer Jalil Mammadguluzadeh had been highly appreciated due to his services to the Azerbaijani people and literature. Nakhchivan State Musical Drama Theater and Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Literature Museum were named after Jalil Mammadguluzadeh to perpetuate the writer's memory. In 1967, former Astrakhan district and city were named Jalilabad in honor of Mirza Jalil, and village of Bash Norashen was called Jalilkand, and a statue was erected in Nakhchivan and Jalilabad. House-museums in Baku and Nakhchivan, including memorial museums of the great master were opened in the villages of Nehram and Jalilkend. In 1999, great leader Heydar Aliyev attended the opening of the Jalil Mammadguluzadeh House Museum in Nakhchivan. The 100th, 125th and 140th anniversaries of the birth of the outstanding writer Mirza Jalil was celebrated in our country.

Reminding the meeting of President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva with cultural workers, Aliyev said that People's writer Anar had proposed to erect a monument to Jalil Mammadguluzadeh in Baku. He noted that the work in this direction is underway.

Later, a documentary film “From Light to Darkness” was shown on the life and creativity of J. Mammadguluzadeh.

Speaking at the event, chairman of the Writers' Union of Azerbaijan People's Writer Anar stressed out that, main idea of great writer and public figure Jalil Mammadguluzadeh’s creativity, who occupies a special place in the history of Azerbaijani literature, is his homeland, nation and language: “Sometimes, poor thoughts are sounded against Mirza Fatali Akhundov, Mirza Alakbar Sabir and Mirza Jalil and say that, as if they allegedly criticized the Azerbaijani people. They have criticized this nation to escape from from ignorance, destroying the captives that have enslaved them, and be on par with other nations of the world”.

Vice-president of ANAS acad. Isa Habibbayli spoke about the invaluable contribution of Jalil Mammadguluzadeh in formation of ideology of national statehood and Azerbaijanism. He said that the article "Azerbaijan" published by the great writer on the “Molla Nasraddin” journal dated November 27, 1917, called the Declaration of the National Concept, still forms the basis of the ideology of Azerbaijanism, although 100 years have passed.

Isa Habibbayli also spoke about the state care of the outstanding writer Jalil Mammadgulzadeh, his literary and cultural heritage. He noted that the national leader Heydar Aliyev paid special attention to celebrate 125th anniversary of the great writer in 1994, the publication and study of his works. He emphasized that the ideas of the great leader Jalil Mammadguluzadeh, reflecting all the national peculiarities of Azerbaijan, as well as the universal values, are the basis of our national ideology.

At the event, President of the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Gunay Afandiyeva, TURKSOY Deputy Secretary General Bilal Chaskiji, and others spoke about the rich and versatile creative activity of the prominent writer and spoke about the scientific and philosophical importance of his works.

Within the conference, “Jalil Mammadguluzadeh. Bibliography” book from series of “Outstanding personalities of Azerbaijan”, publishing by National Library, and “Jalil Mammadguluzadeh – 150” electron database has been presented.

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