The Vagif Poetry Days, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture, continue in Shusha. A conference titled "Mohammed Fuzuli. Beyond Time" dedicated to the 530th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani poet and thinker Muhammad Fuzuli took place on July 19 at the Shusha Hotel-Congress Center. The event was moderated by Ilgar Fahmi, the Secretary of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers.
Academician Govhar Bakhshaliyeva, Acting Vice-President of ANAS, and Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies named after Z. Bunyadov, mentioned that the conference was organized in accordance with the plan of events developed to implement the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the celebration of the 530th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani poet Muhammad Fuzuli: "For more than five centuries, the works of Muhammad Fuzuli have been appreciated by readers in Azerbaijan and all over the world. Although centuries have passed since Fuzuli wrote and created, the charm of his works does not diminish from year to year. On the contrary, with the passage of time, new generations, with their intelligence and comprehension, engage with the great poet's creativity on different levels and reinterpret it from their own point of view”.
The academician noted that in addition to the numerous events planned by ANAS to commemorate the 530th anniversary of the great poet's birth, extensive work is being done to research the poet's scientific legacy.
Academician Teymur Karimli, Director of the Institute of Manuscripts named after Muhammad Fuzuli of ANAS, said that in 1994, while Azerbaijan was progressing towards development and stabilization of its independence, a great historical and literary event was taking place in our country: "The 500th anniversary of Muhammad Fuzuli. Even amidst the turmoil, the national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev did not postpone the celebration of the jubilee of the great poet in those years that were challenging for the destiny of our country. Instead, he ensured that Fuzuli's anniversary was celebrated grandly through a series of celebrations in Azerbaijan, and neighbouring countries.
Poet Farid Huseyn, a member of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers, spoke about the unique literary universe of Fuzuli. He emphasized that the timeless legacy created by Fuzuli will always remain relevant and adored by readers.
Deputy Minister of Culture Farid Jafarov said that after our historic victory, we are meeting for the fourth time in Shusha, our cultural capital, to celebrate Vagif Poetry Days: "It is a fortunate coincidence that the 530th anniversary of Fuzuli falls in the same year as our country hosts a significant global event like COP29. This jubilee year, we must ensure that writers and poets from abroad receive comprehensive information about Fuzuli. At the same time, let's share the news of our Karabakh victory and the realities of the 30-year occupation period."
The deputy minister stated that last month, a conference titled "Mohammed Fuzuli and Alishir Navai: Our Common Literary and Moral Values" was held during the Days of Azerbaijan Culture in Tashkent, and an anthology of the poet's works translated into Uzbek was presented. The great poet's legacy has also been promoted at international book fairs with special sections at the Azerbaijani stand. The 10th Baku International Book Fair, scheduled for October this year, will also honor Muhammad Fuzuli.
Following the speeches, the soloists of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, Honored Artist Anar Mikayilov and Roza Zeynalova, performed a composition based on "Leyli and Majnun" by Mahammad Fuzuli.