Today is the birthday of the outstanding Azerbaijani poet Bakhtiyar Vahabzadeh

Today marks the 101st anniversary of the birth of the outstanding Azerbaijani poet, playwright, and literary scholar of modern Azerbaijan, Honored Artist Bakhtiyar Vahabzade.

He was born on August 16, 1925, in the city of Sheki.

In 1934, the future poet moved to Baku with his family and, after completing secondary school there, enrolled in the Faculty of Philology at Azerbaijan State University in 1942. In 1947, he graduated from the university, and in 1950, he completed his postgraduate studies. Working at Azerbaijan State University from 1950 in the positions of lecturer, associate professor, and professor, he dedicated more than 50 years of his life to the development of education in the country.

In 1951, Bakhtiyar Vahabzade defended his candidate's dissertation, and in 1964, his doctoral dissertation in philological sciences. His works were the first to be devoted to the creative path of Samed Vurgun. He published various monographs on this topic. In these works, based on scientific facts, the connection between modern literature and the traditions of classical Azerbaijani literature was revealed, as well as the innovation introduced by Samed Vurgun into the development of literature in Azerbaijan. He is one of the authors of the two-volume "History of Azerbaijani Literature."

In 1980, he was elected a corresponding member, and in 2000, a full member of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan (ANAS).

Bakhtiyar Vahabzade, one of the most prominent figures of Azerbaijani literature, played an important role in enriching our artistic thought through his work. The focus of the master of the pen was on events that occurred at various stages of the history of the Azerbaijani people, from ancient times onward, and vivid portrayals of outstanding personalities.

His works — lyrical poems, dramas, and publications — have been translated into many languages of the world. The poet's creative path began during the Great Patriotic War.

He was elected five times as a deputy to the Supreme Soviet of People's Deputies of the republic and later served as a deputy of the Milli Majlis (1995–2000).

In the 1960s, Azerbaijani literature managed to distance itself from communist ideology, and a national spirit began to manifest in the works of literary figures, although these works were still far from politics. Only the poet Bakhtiyar Vahabzade was able to produce a work reflecting the fate of the Azerbaijani people, whose lands were divided between Russia and Iran at the beginning of the 19th century into Northern and Southern Azerbaijan — the poem "Gulistan" (1959). For this poem, Bakhtiyar Vahabzade was persecuted by the Soviet authorities and in 1962 was dismissed from Azerbaijan State University, being accused of "fervent nationalism." He was reinstated only two years later.

The dramatic works