Central Asia Journal No. 64

Classical Publicist Writings in Azerbaijan

 

Dr. Jahangir Mammadli*

 & Dr. Allahverdi Mammadli*

           

This article explores the thematic writings of the Azerbaijani scholars from an academic standpoint. Its purpose is to focus the literary activities of the prominent publicist writers of Azerbaijan who have been highly influential in the press and journalistic history of the country. The purpose of this article is to bring into focus the importance of these writers and their writings in the shape of articles, views, comments and works so as to assess their role not only in the expression of free nationalistic spirit of the Azerbaijani people but their relevance in understanding the present socio-political thinking patterns of Azerbaijani people and the state.

 “Press plays an exceptional role in the advancement of nation as it widely contributes to the awakening of national consciousness and fostering a sense of national identity”. Long before the press and journalism joined the field, intellectuals had already started engaging actively in this area of creative literary activity.

The classic publicist school of Azerbaijan has served to reinforce the enlightenment and self-awareness of the nation at all times in terms of its thematic underpinnings and coverage. Progressive intellectuals of Azerbaijan have always valued the power of a publicist language. As a consequence, “the quest to search for the ground where writing could prove to be most influential has compelled these intellectuals to explore all types of literary activities.”¹ Naturally, all these developments were reflected in the press. Therefore, “a press plays an exceptional role in the advancement of nation as it widely contributes to the awakening of national consciousness and fostering of a sense of national identity”. Long before the press and journalism joined the field, intellectuals had already started engaging actively in this area of creative literary activity.

It is a well-acknowledged fact that, for a long time a literary language remained as the most prevailing and powerful medium in Azerbaijani classical school of thought for promoting spiritual development and societal growth. The literary themes introduced in the works of ingenious Azerbaijani classic masters such as Nizami, Nasimi, M. F. Akhundzade and others have served immeasurably to enlighten the society by envisaging the image of a perfect, immaculate humankind through a power of aesthetic sway. The Azerbaijani intellectuals’ marked preference for a literary language as a means of materializing their high aesthetic ideals was dictated by demands of the time and social milieu. Perhaps, this is the reason why the age-old tradition of poetry still holds a strong appeal. Universal and timeless literary themes such as “man and society”, “man and time” upon which Nizami mainly dwelled in his “Khamsa” (“Quinary”) were indeed the topics to be explored in the realm of publicist thought, but having more outreach than prose at the time, poetry provided the thinker with a more appropriate way for conveying his message.  

With the emergence and expansion of press which brought more ample opportunities for publicizing the worldviews of artists and poets, functionality of the publicist thought was put into a spotlight. But, despite the extensive leverage of publicist tradition, its characteristic propensity to highlight rather day-to-day actual troubles of life, but not tribulations of larger reality tempted many artists to resort to a literary language again. It is not a mere coincidence that members of the “Molla Nasraddin” school of thought mostly used a literary language by way of which they demonstrated the “intellectual and artistic affiliation among them”.

The aesthetic influence of the literary language has been reaffirmed at all times as artists have principally utilized this mode of creativity to realize their wish of self-actualization. With the advent of press and mass media, this state of affairs was fundamentally transformed. As press gained more ground and turned into a full-blown social institution, the literary figures were also involved in publicist activities dealing with the pressing problems of the time. In essence, these publicist activities to which artists could not have remained indifferent constituted the major cornerstone of this institution. A great English poet, John Milton, who was highly distinguished for his outstanding poetry during the time, made an appeal to Parliament in the first half of the 18^th century to rescind the order on censorship which he later published under the title of Areopagitica. Thispublicist work earned him a great recognition and respect even beyond the boundaries of his country.

M. F. Akhundzade, the key forebear of the social-humanitarian school of thought in Azerbaijan laid the foundation in this field with his unique exposition called “Kamaludoule Letters”. Immense opportunities that the newspaper and journalistic world offered in Europe at the end of the 19^th and beginning of the 20th century heightened the predisposition of the leading intellectuals of Azerbaijan towards publicist activities which provided an open access to direct communication channels. Renowned masters of a publicist language- H. Zardabi, A. Alioghlu, Y. V. Chamanzaminli, J. Mammadguluzade, O. F. Nemanzade, U. Hajibeyov, M.A. Rasulzade, A. Huseynzade and many others soon converted this genre of literary activity to the most powerful tool of influence in society. All these selfless devotees of art and literature were inspired and cultivated by the emergence of a new press which served to bolster the ideals of publicist thought at the time. This was the case, because “in so far as development of the culture of any nation depends on its literary growth, by the same token the political status of any nation is related to the freedom of the press”. So, the story is of a free press also.

A strong inclination of the Azerbaijani free-thinking intellectuals towards publicist activities at the beginning of the 20^th century elevated this field of work into the level of well-established school of thought. Newspapers such as “Shargi-Rus” (“Eastern Russia”) and “Hayat” (“Life”), periodicals such as “Fuyuzat” and “Molla Nasraddin” intensified these efforts aimed at conveying the enlightenment ideas to mass populations. Presidential Decree issued on the occasion of the 125^th anniversary of the establishment of national press in Azerbaijan which extols the role of press activities of the time in general, and the journal of “Molla Nasraddin” in particular can be considered as a rightful acclamation of the publicist activities of the Azerbaijani classic intellectuals: “As a harbinger of progressive ideas, the satirical journal of “Molla Nasraddin” heavily censured the colonial policy, fiercely denounced backwardness and superstition and continuously fought for the purity of the Azerbaijani language… “Molla Nasraddin” was acutely aware of and highly attentive to the imperative political issues of the time and was working relentlessly for the furtherance of the national awakening process”.   

The newspapers and journals of this type attracted the most active and vigorous publicists of the time. Nevertheless, at the beginning of the 20^th century, the literary figures of Azerbaijan still relied principally on a literary language. However, the followers of J. Mammadguluzade at the journal of “Molla Nasraddin” soon realized the growing reach and influence of publicist language and started to use it more frequently and fruitfully.

Wide-ranging activities of the above-mentioned literary figures in the realm of journalism confirm the fact that classic publicist movement rose to the level of a time-honored school of thought with an artistic-literary views on world and life. The voluminous literary works produced at the beginning of the early 20^th century were essentially driven and inspired by the enduring issues of publicist agenda. J. Mammadguluzade’s many valuable works such as “Azerbaijan”, “Our civilized people”, “The weight of the Muslim cleric and preacher”, etc., U. Hajibeyov’s thought-provoking and stirring writings aimed at enlightening people out of ignorance such as “A talk with a foreigner”, “What is the time for now?”, “Impression”, “Facing deceits”, “Activities of our enemies”, “About Karabakh”, N. Narimanov’s various articles such as “One man, no man”, “Enough of disgracing yourself”, The wail of the week”, “Tears of an island”, O. F. Nemanzade’s journalistic reflections such as “Our malady and remedy”,  “Invitation”, “A trial and tribulation”, “Let us support each other”, “It is time for patriotism”, “The repressed is the worst oppressor”, A. Huseynzade’s numerous works such as “How are Turks and who are they composed of?”, “Ooh, my pen!”, A. Aghaoghlu’s writings such as “Islam and woman”, “Microbes of inertia”, “Cradle songs of Tatar women”, “Who am I?”, Y. V. Chamanzaminli’s articles series entitled “Autonomy of Azerbaijan”, “If we desire an independence”-all these works forcefully highlighted the endangered state of the mother tongue, warned of the scale of future tragedies to be afflicted because of harsh Armenian aggression, and national blows the country would suffer as a result of imperial policies. The works of this kind are usually evaluated as “happy pieces of art and creativity”.

It can be stated assertively that members of the literary school of thought of Molla Nasraddin have created hundreds of ageless examples in the publicist literary genre which can be considered masterpieces in their own right. The iron censorship rules of the Soviet period prohibited publication of these brilliant works of the early 20^th century as the issues raised in these writings carried a high thematic significance with regard to national identity and self-awareness. M. A. Rasulzade’s, U. Hacibeyov’s works about national awakening were lying passive in the tattered pages of the early 20^th century Azerbaijani press. U. Hacibeyov’s publicist writings which warned about Armenian claims to Karabakh as well as falsification of our history by Armenian “scholars” were thrown to the archive basements in the same way as all the copies of the newspaper “Azerbaijan” published in 1918-1920 were discarded.  

It was because of the same reason that many articles of J. Mammadguluzade which reflected on vital national issues of his time were not included in his anthology at the Soviet time. These expelled writings were then incorporated into the author’s complete anthology thanks to the efforts of academician I. Habibbayli. Many researchers of these publicist works, such as A. Mirahmadov, N. Akhundov, S. Qurbanov, S. Huseynov were among those punished during the Soviet time for daring to publish the above-mentioned works in anthologies.

Generally, in a scholarly language the epithet of classic is attributed to the literary or art works which transcend the boundaries and span across all ages. Classics are valuable because their intrinsic postulates, flawless style, noble ideas and subtle way of expression convert the literary works into the truth of all ages reflecting the timeless challenges of life. Literary art is in possession of various propitious opportunities for gaining this status. Although, publicist writings are also based on the same delicate art of a language, because of engagement with day-to-day actual problems and direct relevance to a specific time and place, they are not supposed to be everlasting by their very nature. But, historical experience demonstrates that this eternality is rather dependent on the artist and his way of expression, as well as necessity and relevance of the topics for the life and society. In this sense, the conception about “a newspaper has a one day lifetime” becomes debatable. The articles that appeared in the pages of the Azerbaijani newspapers published at the beginning of the 20^th century emphasized such universal and well-liked themes that their relevance has not faded away even after the lapse of a century.

In this connection, there are abundant facts assigning the value of universality and timelessness to the classic journalistic publicist activities in Azerbaijan. The newspapers such as “Shargi-Rus” (“Eastern Russia”), “Hayat” (“Life”) and “Taraggi” (“Development”) were focusing on actual daily issues of the time, whereas periodicals such as “Fuyuzat” and “Molla Nasraddin” were highlighting long-term strategic issues. The ideas of Turkism which was brought into focus by “Fuyuzat” at the beginning of the 20^th century were suppressed by the Soviet authorities.  However, they resurfaced again at the end of the 20^th century after almost a century’s repression and persecution. That is to say, Turkism and its all classic expressions were expounded extensively in the pages of “Fuyuzat” at the time. The publicist style of this journal can be considered to be a school for modern journalists. One of the researchers in the field, S. Valiyev rightfully describes this journal as “a strong literary school of thought in development of the literary-cultural life of Azerbaijan”.

National values, identity issues and Azerbaijani ideas were the centerpiece themes in the journal of “Molla Nasraddin”. Consequently, the ideas of national awakening were elaborately accentuated by followers of the literary school of thought of Molla Nasraddin. These great schools of thought were founded and erected on the practice of starightforward and assertive publicist journalism. The level to which the Azerbaijani popular journalism of the early 20^th century reached at the time is highly astonishing, even beyond belief. Of course, it was the socio-political events of that period which strengthened process of national awakening and reinforced ideas of Azerbaijanism which elevated the popular journalism to artistic heights both in terms of its quantitative and qualitative nature.

I. Kasparali, who was himself one of the early national forerunners of Turkism and publisher of the newspaper of “Tarjuman” (“Translator”) in Baghchasaray (Turkey), expressed his opinion about the pupular journalism in the following terms in the newspaper of “Hayat” (“Life”) and its editor A. Huseynzade:

My dear brother…The true benefactor of “Hayat” is a nation. I am only a “Translator” of the nation. Nation always supports you. But, whatever you intend to write, don’t dirty your pen with a cheap ink, dip it into the blood of your heart. Your word will have to either appeal to consciences or it will pass and wither away uselessly and in vain.

 

This advice and will of I. Kasparali was turned into the main credo and philosophy of the Azerbaijani publicist activists at the beginning of the 20^th century. Following this advice, A. Huseynzade expressed his views in his numerous articles published in the newspapers of “Kaspi”, “Hayat”, “Fuyuzat”, “Irshad”, “Taraggi” faithfully.  His numerous works such as “My thoughts in Azerbaijan”, “Young Turks or what is young Turkism”, “Azerbaijani kings”, etc., are historical didactic lessons for issues of national concern. With his outstanding works, A.Husenzade himself became not only a legend in history but recreated history and reconstructed the “Turkic world”.  

The unique themes promoted by the publicist activists who lived and wrote during the early 20^th century retain their relevance and importance even today. J. Mammadguluzade, O. F. Nemanzade, U. Hacibeyov, M. Shakhtakhtli, M. A. Rasulzade, N. Narimanov, A. Huseynzade, A. Aghaoglu…This list is endless as these gracious people were endowed to Azerbaijan by the twist of its tragic national fate. At a time when Azerbaijani people were undergoing immense troubles and ordeals, fate bestowed a gift of brilliant minds to the nation such as J. Mammadguluzade whose forthright language as well as selfless devotion to nation became a principle of life for following generations. He can be described as “a flag-bearer and warrior of the national independence literature in Azerbaijan” as well as a forefather of the renewed ideology of Azerbaijanism in the literary-social school of thought in the country. His works are correctly referred to as “profound, meaningful and exciting Azerbaijanism”. In this regard, the article entitled “Azerbaijan”, a masterpiece in its own right, is a manifestation of national awakening and political renaissance. This article is actually an interpreter, harbinger and revelation of national duties in publicist terms illuminating the relentless fight for independence and democratic state-building process of our nation.

The issues brought to light in the journal of “Molla Nasraddin” established by J. Mammadguluzade and O. F. Nemanzade, related to re-awakening of national spirit of Azerbainjani people and promotion of national identity.

“Molla Nasraddin” was publishing articles, comments, views and editorials relating to many subjects of national and international concern. The issues relating to the Muslim world particularly of the Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia were given special attention.  This was because not only the Republic of Azerbaijan was under the Soviet colonial rule, but the Middle East and South Asian countries were also under colonial rule, though with different masters like that of the British. That is why special articles appeared with reference to   Pakistan, India, Iran and Arabian countries.  The issues relating to world concern like the international organizations and their concern for promotion of human values also attracted attention of Azerbaijani writers in this journal. The history, geography, culture, social and religious values of Azerbaijan were also not neglected. Moreover, the dilapidated hygienic conditions of Mecca and Madian faced by the Haj pilgrimages were also given due attention so that improvement is made for providing better facilities to the Hajis visiting these two holy cities of the Muslims. Thus the journal carries a valuable classical information on all these matters.

In his play named “Eastern woman”, J. Mammadguluzade fervently calls upon Eastern women to educate and enlighten themselves in these words: “Eastern women, read, read and read! Equip yourself with knowledge, because only then will you be able to appreciate the value of freedom and find a way of happiness, otherwise you are doomed to stay in darkness”.

J. Mammadguluzade’s close associate and friend O. F. Nemanzade also attached a great significance to the issue of Eastern development in his publicist literary activities, especially in the newspaper of “Sharghi-Rus” (“Eastern Russia”). In his essays he earnestly calls upon the “affluent people holding love for nation in their heart to contribute to country’s development”.¹⁰  In one of his articles in the same newspaper, he described “Pakistan’s speedy development as a natural outcome of ceaseless activities of the people who loved their nation”. Thus, by ingeniously highlighting national problems within the broader framework of Islamic world and wider perspective of nationalism, a publicist genre of the time was extending its scope of coverage beyond the boundaries of restricted themes.

The publicist intellectuals of that time had achieved uniting around the same causes. The affiliation between J. Mammadguluzade and O. F. Nemanzade played an important role in enlightenment of nation at the time of ignorance and backwardness. Just reading Nemanzade’s publicist essay entitled “Our malady and remedy” is sufficient for realizing how relevant and important the topics of exploration of their works are even today almost after a century. In this essay, he aptly explains the reasons sustaining backwardness of the Muslim world and expresses his heart-wrenching concern for superficial efforts aimed at assimilating into European culture: “We also have a kind of men that seeing civilized people’s works, cultured manners, and superior state aspire to become like them. Assuming that civility comes from dress and language, by replacing their long cloths and loose shoes with tight sweater and boots, they rise to the level everyone reaches in a year’s time just within ten minutes and only with 15-20 thousand manat money. Like domesticated monkeys, in a split of a second, they can draw the collar of their French shirt up until their chest, but do not even bother to try to get rid of the decayed thoughts and ignorance they nurture inside their heads”.

In his writings, this prominent publicist was inviting wealthy people and scholars to care for education and culture by a proactive attitude. His many works such as “Why don’t you demand your right”, “We should work according to the need of time”, “A tree is eaten by inside”, “The repressed is the worst oppressor”, “Our light won’t die off”, etc. are of such a high caliber and composition that they can constitute literary models for modern writers.

His literary publicist works are distinguished for their unique characteristics. His peculiar style has culminated in exemplary masterpieces of this genre. He competently enriches ordinary words of documentary and informational nature with subtle literary details, persuasive arguments, relevant facts, contexts and other essential features as he adopts an elegant style enhancing a literary genre by augmenting it with meaningful lexicon elements. There are many similar examples in the publicist history of Azerbaijani literature. This glorious tradition which played a pivotal role in the awakening of national consciousness and national identity awareness in the history of Azerbaijan starts at mid -19^th century with M. F. Akhundzade, continues with N. Vazirov and extends to prominent writers such as Y. V. Chamanzaminli, J. Mammadgukuzade, U. Hacibeyov, M. S. Ordubadi, A. Hagverdiyev, A. Gamkusar, M. A. Mojuz.

Y. V. Chamanzaminli’s popular writings such as “Letters from Kiev”, “Two families”, “Important issues”, “Autonomy of Azerbaijan”, “Our national and cultural heritage” are among the best examples of this genre. M. S. Ordubadi’s irreplaceable work named “Bloody years” which can be equaled to a vivid documentary depicting the facts about atrocities perpetrated by Armenians is gripping not only because of its accurate portrayal of agonizing historical facts and exposure of Armenian brutalities, but also because of its strong emotional appeal and thought-provoking style calling for a vengeance aimed at restoration of justice. In the same way, U. Hacibeyov’s publicist series published in the newspaper of “Azerbaijan” during the lifetime of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, in the years of 1918-1920. Re-publication of these writings was strictly forbidden during the Soviet times. Of course, if Azerbaijani young people had the opportunity to access these writings during the Soviet period, the current tragedy of Karabakh could have largely been prevented as these works revealed the true nature of Armenian intentions and imperialistic policy schemes.   

After Azerbaijan regained its independence, examples from among the classic publicist writings of the time which posed critical questions have been brought to light. Republication of the works of M. S. Ordubadi, A. Huseynzade, A. Aghaoglu, U. Hacibeyov and many others provides a proof to this as this publicist genre is timelessly modern, relevant and lessons of journalism directed at new creative intellectuals.