Hikmet HADJY-ZADEH
Now many people could find our country on the map... But no more.
"Azerbaijan, what is it?" Is it something the world knows as being
European or Asiatic. Or more Russian or Turkish?
Can we answer this question ourselves? Just recently we were not
allowed to know our past. Today we still don't know how we shall
live in the near future. We are in a process of self-indentification.
Shall we become a nation or will our future be guided somewhere in
distant capitals? Shall we really love freedom or shall we give our
will to a Big Brother? Will we be able to enter the world market or
become supplier of raw materials to the world!
To answer these questions we should find out what resources are
responsible for prosperous development of our people.
It's a complicated task to give my version of Azerbaijan situation,
its present life and people's aspirations. I beleive that it's
difficult for Azerbaijan to be recognizable in the aspect of
comparison. But let's try...
Here is some information about Azerbaijan from reference books.
Azerbaijan is an ancient country situated in the south western
border of the Caspian Sea.
In 1828 Azerbaijan was divided Russia and Iran into Southern (present Iranian
Azerbaijan) and Nothern (present Azerbaijan Republic). Since then
Azerbaijanis have their own state called Azerbaijan Republic.
Population of Azerbaijan Republic is 7.8 million people. Annual
growth of population is 1%. Its territory is 86.600 sq.km. which
depends on the Caspian Sea level changes. Baku is the capital of
Azerbaijan with the population of more than 2 million people.
After joining the United Nation on January, 1992 our republic as well as
all republics of the former USSR received the status of a developed
country. However, a deep crisis all over the collapsed Soviet Union
caused by distruction of socialist economics made Azerbaijan in line
with other newly established independent states appeal to the UN
for providing a status of developing country which needs a world
financial support.
Azerbaijan has a very remarkable nature. We have here 11 out of 14
existing climatic zones of the globe. It is not surprising that
during the Soviet period Azerbaijan was considered to be republic
with the best variety and quantity of plant kinds per square unit.
The majority of Azerbaijani population belongs to the turkic group
of peoples. Azeri language is consequently, one of the
west representatives of this group, as it is Turkmenian and Turkish
languages. Persian and Caucasian tribes played a significant role
in formation of the ethnos of the Azerbaijani
turks.
Many thousands years of Azerbaijani history is full of rises and
downfalls of numerous great states and religious associations.
One can see the traces of all of them in present day face of
Azerbaijan. It is here, in Azerbaijan, Zaratushtra expounded his
theory of the good and the evil.
Having ruined the Persian empire, the Arabs brought Islam here.
After that the turks ruled everywhere in the middle east. It was
the time when Azerbaijan presented to the world a galaxy of
outstanding figures: scientists, philosophers, poets, architectors,
general military leaders.. .
But... who khows the real reasons of rises and downfalls of any society?
Being defeated with the war with Russia in XIX century, Azerbaijan
was divided into two parts and retired into itself. At the end of
XIX century an industrial boom based on the first oil extraction
in Baku raised Azerbaijan to action.
p i c t u r e: Alpic zone, North of Azerbaijan
New social relations were forming, new face of our cities, new
features of our national character were being structured.
Azerbaijan's contribution into the industry of the Russian Empire was
4% (contribution of Azerbaijan into USSR industry was 1,5%). New
social organisations were established, new parties, more than
160 newspapers were published. Baku was one of the centres of
social-democratic movement of Russia. In 1918, after the fall of
tzarism a national state was proclaimed in Azerbaijan - it was
the first republic in the east.
During short period of 2 years existance Azerbaijan republic did
a lot to shape a self-awareness of Azerbaijanis, new civic society.
Restructuring was our pressing necessity and we had to be
transformed from a big part of ethnic and cultural community into
a national minority of the Russian Empire. But such minority had
completely different way of life .
In 1920 Russian troops headed by bolsheviks invaded Azerbaijan.
democratic government was overthrown, our independence was lost
again and the Soviet government signed a treaty according to which
Azerbaijan joined the USSR.
By that time, to my opinion, Azeri character was already formed.
its essence was influenced by turkic military-feudal code of honour.
You can read about it a lot in our epos "Keroglu", for example:
everything or nothing; courage higher than goal; defeat is dishonour
and it's worse than death, it's better to rely on yourself than
ask for help; all kinds of soul aspirations are comprehensible
I would like to note that in Azerbaijan there was no serfdom
which could have been any sort of influence on the nation's
psychology.
We were influenced by the Islamic religion. Using modern language,
the Koran is an islamic declaration of human rights, it proclaimed
inviolability of person, equality of all people worshipping
the only god (moslems, christians, jews). According to islam, one
has to hold control over feelings and emotions, to be
self-concentrated.
Secured priority of awareness and conscience.
Rapid growth of capitalism in Azerbaijan at the end of xix century
cultivated in Azerbaijanis such features as initiative,
enterpreneurial trend, strive for constant broadening of their out
look. Young people studied in the best universities of Europe.
well-trained engineer personnel appeared in the country. Culture
of industrial production became an integral part of our national
culture.
During the 70 years of the soviet rule, our national psychology
was completely changed. All peoples of the former ussr were
surfering from the omnipotent power of the empire.Azerbaijan had its
own bitter experience. In the 30s under the feigned "threat from
the south", struggle with "panturkism and bourgeous nationalism"
stalin and his apprentices started to execute a "number of bloody
executions" accompanied by genocide of our people. 90,000 people,
in particular, intellectuals, were repressed. Historacal memory
of the people was extinguished in an unprecendented pressure.
p i c t u r e: Active volcanos in the environs of Baku.
They tried to invent a new history, enthogenez and culture for
Azerbaijan. Azerbaijanis were declared persians being under turkish
influence. The latin alphabet adopted in the republic was
substituted by the russian kirillitsa. And all these things were
done within the frames of tragicomical "cultural revolution" aimed
on separation of our people from its root and culture as
a constituent part of the middle east.
After the second world war the repressions against persons who
thought a different way and Azeri as nation were renewed. In
1948, 100,000 of Azeri civilians who had been living in their own
land for thousands of years in the territory of the present
Armenia were forced to leave their homes for an unknown reason.
Same number of people were moved from Georgia also. People were
forced to leave the mountain places ang left to the mercy of fate.
Many of them died during the first years because of malaria
and tuberculosis...
Spiritual life became a crime. Moral was disappearing. Absence of
legal rights, economic and ecological madness, actions against
laws of nature and "sublaws" were the heritage of the personality
cult period up to the stagnation period. It rouse the society to
"self-protection" and mutual protection way. It was the only way
to survive in such conditions. At that time we lost a lot of holy
things, and not only us. The same could be said about all the peoples
of the former USSR. even after restoration of our country's
independence in 1991, this heritage is making itself felt as main
obstacle in our way to democracy and progress.
Nevertheless we've succeded to save our most valuable features
necessary for any society revival. "Great inquisitors" who had
power over our lives failed to suppress our inner freedom. Idea
of suppression of individuality for the benefit of state interests
was spread everywhere but it could not squeese out the idea
that state interests should consist of personal ones.
Azerbaijani always knew that any person were free to plan his
future and settle all problems. As for attitude to the family and
children, they are estimated more than career, success and spiritual
concord. Desire for prosperity: no need to convince anybody that it is
not good. Azerbaijani are initiative and enterprising. People are ready to
take a commercial risk, they want to work and earn more. The Koran
says: "money of a man adorn the world." What better can be said about
the national features of Azerbaijani people? they are risky. Mostly
they are in a good mood, they are friendly, like to banter each other.
Azerbaijani are very musical.
p i c t u r e s : Temples of caucasian albania.
Mausoleum of Momine khatin. Nakhichevan
As for their attitude to strangers their hospitality is
well-known. Azerbaijani like bright colors: dark blue, red, turquoise,
(they say turquoise stone brings happiness), they like to eat well ready
to cook favorite dishes by hours much more often than in holidays.
It is difficult for Azeri to say "no". But if you could get his "yes",
sometimes it doesn't mean what you think exactly. To be economical is
considered here to be greedy. Of course, they are individualists but
it's more impressive to see their solidarity in the face of common
danger and their sympathy towards a person who is in trouble.
And we are optimists, too. We are confident in solving all the
problems that are in our society. And we will do our best for that! A
"new time" has come and we will never miss the opportunity given to us
by history to return a glory to our land, to give a happiness to our
people, to confirm the dignity for every citizen...
That is the way we are !
p i c t u r e : Shirvanshkh's palace
"Azerbaijan, where is it?" Any Azery could be asked this question
outside the territory of the country - it was the USSR at that time.
At present the world knows where we are: the Karabakh war, struggle
for independence and democracy, oil "comtract of the century" has
made us well recognizable in the world.