― 7 марта 2019 г.

Commemoration of the Azerbaijani poet Imadeddin Nesimi in Istanbul

Within the framework of the Year of Imadeddin Nesimi – 2019 it has declared, the International Organization of Turkic Culture TURKSOY held a panel and exhibition of books featuring works by Nesimi.

The event organized by TURKSOY in cooperation with the Turkish Literature Foundation was hosted by the Chairman of the latter Mr. Serhat Kabaklı and took place in the presence of the Minister of Culture of  Azerbaijan  Mr. Ebulfes Garayev and gathered artists and authors as well as scholars, members of the press media and students.

In the opening speech he delivered at the event, TURKSOY Deputy Secretary General Prof. Dr. Purtaş stressed the fact that the good will agreement signed between TURKSOY and the Turkish Literature Foundation is bringing about concrete results and extended his gratitude to the Turkish Literature Foundation for hosting one more such cooperation activity. Prof. Dr. Purtaş who further expressed his happiness to attend this event dedicated to the 650th anniversary of the birthday of  Imadeddin Nesimi hosted by the Turkish Literature Foundation also stressed that the Turkic World is not familiar enough with such an important author as Nesimi  and that he is being confused with other famous authors.

Prof. Dr. Purtaş stressed that Nesimi is the Yunus Emre of Diwan Literature and that with the simple, yet philosophical style he used in the 14th century, this poet did not only address feelings of his readers but also taught them to praise human values such as friendship, brotherhood and love. Prof. Dr. Purtaş further expressed his happiness and honour to be organizing this event dedicated to such a precious author.

The Minister of Culture of  Azerbaijan  Mr. Ebulfes Garayev who also delivered a speech at the event that the commemoration of this great author and poet of Azerbaijan and the Turkic World in the Turkish Literature Foundation which is located in the heart of Istanbul  is a very significant fact  which is why he extended his gratitude to all those who contributed to the organization of this event on behalf of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and its Government.

Mr. Garayev who also delivered a speech at the event said that Nesimi is a great poet and philosopher not only for Azerbaijan but also for all Turkic peoples and that as the founder of a major literary and philosophical movement which praises human values, Nesimi was born in the town of Şamahy in Azerbaijan and had to move to Anatolia later on due to political reasons before finally migrating to Aleppo in Syria after a while. Mr. Garayev further said that upon the declaration of the year 2019 as Year of Imadeddin Nesimi by TURKSOY and Azerbaijan, this great poet and author whose legacy transcended the borders of his country and reached out to the entire Turkic World  will be commemorated with various events and acitivities carried out in Turkic republics and other regions throughout the year 2019.

The opening speeches were followed by a panel discussion entitled “Imadeddin Nesimi on the 650th Anniversary of his birthday” featuring Prof. Dr. Esat Harmancı, the MP of Azerbaijan Ord. Prof. Dr. Nizami Jeferov, the Director of the National Library of Azerbaijan Prof. Dr. Kerim Tahirov and Dr. Nusret Gedik as keynote speakers.

All panelists touched upon various aspects of Nesimi’s life, his work, issues he dealt with therein as well as his struggle to stand up for his own ideas, his philosophy and thoughts about religion and justice.

The event which  also featured a reading of Nesimi’s poems by Can Yalçın, a student from the Mimar Sinan University, went on with a performance of mugam songs composed on Nesimi’s poems by the lyrical artist Feyruz Sehavet and the kamancha player Hayyam Memmedov along with Aliağa Sadiyev of the  Karabakh Mugam Ensemble.

The event ended with the handing over of souvenirs and plaquettes to the participants.