― 18 мая 2025 г.
Commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birthday of Bahtiyar Vahabzade in Şheki
Bahtiyar Vahabzade, the great Azerbaijani poet and philosopher, whom TURKSOY dedicated its commemorative year 2025 to pay tribute to his legacy on the 100th anniversary of his birthday was commemorated in Sheki.
The event, organised in cooperation with the International Mahmut Kaşgari Association and Academy and the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences once again highlighted Vahabzade's literature legacy and his significant contribution to the Turkic World. Participants gathered at the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre to visit an exhibition featuring works from Azerbaijani history and paintings by artists from the Turkic World.
Speaking at the event, the Kyrgyz People’s Poet and TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev stressed that the great poet was not only an illustrious personality of Azerbaijani literature but also a shared value of the entire Turkic World. Secretary General Raev also stated that Bahtiyar Vahabzade's poems do not only reflect individual feelings but also give an insight into the common destiny, spirit and resilience of the nation.
‘Every letter of his poetry speaks his love for his homeland’
‘Every nation has poets who weave its destiny into verses and give life into its soul through their words. Every poem, every verse, every comma, every period, and even the silent letters of Bahtiyar Vahabzade's poetry shout out love for the homeland and the nation. He did not use his pen merely to write; he used it to be the voice of his people.
Vahabzade's voice is not only that of his nation; it is the voice of a mother, a child, a home. The lines flowing from his pen show how individual sorrows are transformed into collective memory. Just as in these lines:
Mother, no one has ever hurt you,
I have
I have hurt you as much as I had to
Now, whom shall I tell about my sorrows one by one?
Who will grieve for me as you do?
Your place is seen everywhere in the house
My eyes are searching for you, mother, oh mother
This poem is not merely an expression of personal longing, but a symbol of the bond that people of an entire nation feel for their mothers’ heart.
In his speech, Mr. Raev also mentioned the commitment of TURKSOY to keep Vahabzade's literary legacy alive in the collective memory of the Turkic World, stating that the poet's works will be translated into other Turkic languages and made available to a wider audience.
‘A Man of Ideas at the Summit of the Turkic World’
‘Bahtiyar Vahabzade is not only a source of pride for contemporary Azerbaijani literature but also for the entire Turkic World. He is the unattainable peak of art and thought. TURKSOY will further pursue its efforts to keep his intellectual legacy alive and preserve it in the collective memory of the Turkic World.’
At the event, awards were handed over to several participants in recognition of their contributions to the culture and arts of the Turkic World. Hence, Mr. Cavanshir Feyziyev, Member of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan and scholar, was awarded the Gold Medal and the Order of Honour of TURKSOY. While Prof. Nadir Məmmədli,the Director of the Nesimi Language Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan received the Medal of TURKSOY, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hayale Zerrabkızı received a Certificate of Appreciation.
