Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

The presentation ceremony of the book “The Great Turkish Poet Nazim Hikmet and the Turkic World” was held in the Electronic Conference Hall of the Institute of Literature of ANAS named after Nizami Ganjavi on December 9.

The author of the book, published by the decision of the Scientific Council of the Nizami Ganjavi Institute of Literature, is Professor Ali Gafgasyali, Head of the Faculty of Literature and the Department of Turkish Language and Literature of the Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University of Türkiye.

The first pages of the book begin with the preface “The Wisdom of Nazim Hikmet’s Art” by the President of ANAS, the Director of the Institute of Literature, Academician Isa Habibbeyli. The Chairman of the Council of Elders of the Organization of Turkic States, Binali Yıldırım has also written the preface to the book.

The presentation ceremony was attended by state officials, guests from Türkiye, figures of science and culture, prominent literary scholars, members of the public, and media representatives.

The President of ANAS, the Director of the Institute of Literature, Academician Isa Habibbeyli opened the ceremony with an introductory speech. He highlighted that the head of state determined strengthening relations with the Turkic world as a priority. The speech of President Ilham Aliyev in his inauguration ceremony saying: “Our family is the Turkic world. We have no other family!”-clearly demonstrates our country’s attitude towards the Turkic World. Saying that today’s event is another example of the unity of the Turkic world, Academician Isa Habibbeyli emphasized that Turkology is developing at ANAS, with significant research carried out on the Turkic world. New departments have been established in several scientific institutions of ANAS in this direction and the relations of ANAS with scientific institutions of the Turkic world are further expanded.

Academician Isa Habibbeyli recalled that the III International Turkological Congress was held at ANAS last week with the participation of representatives from Turkic countries and highlighted the importance of the event in terms of further strengthening the unity and integrity of the Turkic world.

The head of ANAS spoke about the rich heritage of Nazim Hikmet, one of the great figures of 20th-century world literature, his life and creativity, particularly his connections to Azerbaijan. He said that the poet’s first book “Günəşi içənlərin türküsü” ("The Song of Those Who Drink the Sun") was published in 1928, in Azerbaijan, which the poet considered his second homeland. The first article dedicated to the poet was written by the prominent critic of that time Ali Nazim in Baku. The article particularly highlighted the influence of the great Turkish poet’s work on Azerbaijani poetry of that time.

Sharing his thoughts about the famous Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet, who lived in exile in the Soviet Union, Academician Isa Habibbeyli emphasized that many of his poems are unique in world literature. According to the academician, Nazim Hikmet influenced not only the poetry of the Turkish people but also that of all the peoples of Eastern countries. He was an innovator who brought freshness to poetry and contributed to the development of modern Turkic literature with his romantic poems and profound works. 

The head of ANAS said that serious research on the works of Nazim Hikmet was conducted in the republic, numerous books, monographs and articles were published and dissertations were written. Academician Isa Habibbeyli added that the works of the poet were deeply studied by the Turkologist scholar Akbar Babayev, Professor Tofig Malikli, and others. Academician Faramaz Maqsudov admired Nazim Hikmet’s works, knowing many of his poems by heart and reciting them. Academician Isa Habibbeyli also mentioned that he personally visited Nazim Hikmet’s grave in Moscow and the Gülhane Park in Türkiye. 

Academician Isa Habibbeyli emphasized the need for an even deeper study of the poet’s works and added that the book “The Great Turkish Poet Nazim Hikmet and the Turkic World”, presented to the public, holds great significance as a joint work between Türkiye and Azerbaijan. He also noted the importance of distributing this publication also in Türkiye. 

Then, the author of the book, Professor Ali Gafgasyali, Head of the Faculty of Literature and the Department of Turkish Language and Literature of the Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University of Türkiye spoke about the value of the book and expressed gratitude to the organizers and participants of the event.

The professor said that the unity and brotherhood between Azerbaijan and Türkiye are eternal and unshakable and emphasized that work on common literature of the Turkic world is underway.

Necdet Tozlu, Director of the Institute of Social Sciences at Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University of Türkiye, Meti Osmanoghlu, Associate Professor of the Department of Azerbaijani Literature of the Faculty of Philology of Baku State University, Professor Gazanfar Pashayev, Senior Researcher of the Nizami Ganjavi Institute of Literature, literary critic, Doctor of Philology, and Member of Parliament Elnara Akimova, and Professor Gular Abdullabayova, Head of the Department of World Literature and Comparative Studies at the Institute of Literature and others made speeches at the event. They highlighted the significant influence of Nazim Hikmet on Azerbaijani literature, and Soviet literature.

It was also emphasized that Nazim Hikmet is one of the giants of world literature and his work will always live on in the history of Azerbaijani, Turkish, and world literature.

Reyhan Majidli, Public Relations, Press and Information Department of the Presidium Administration of ANAS

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