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Memory of great philanthropist to be honored in Baku

31 January 2018 14:50 (UTC+04:00)
Memory of great philanthropist to be honored in Baku

By Laman Ismayilova

The National Art Museum will host memorial evening of Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, Azerbaijani millionaire and philanthropist, on February 3.

The event starts at 15:00. Admission is free.

By the end of the 19th century, Baku became a major oil and gas industry center. The oil fountain in the Bibiheybat field of Baku in 1848 laid the foundation for the first industrial production of "the black gold" in Azerbaijan. The oil boom brought a new wave of prosperity.

The development of oil industry bred a new generation of local entrepreneurs.

Baku millionaire Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev turned into the most famous oil entrepreneur in Azerbaijan.

Born to a poor family of a shoemaker in Icheri Sheher, the old part of Baku, on January 25, 1821 (1838), he had to work from childhood to maintain his family.

He began as an apprentice of one mason in Baku and bricklayer. His dedication and hard work ensured quick professional advancement and at 18, he was already a contractor.

In 1873, along with his partners the Sarkis Brothers, Taghiyev rent a plot of land near the oil-booming town of Bibi-Heybat, a few kilometres to the southeast of Baku. They hired workers and started drilling for oil, but with no success. The Sarkis Brothers gave up hope decided to sell their shares. Taghiyev purchased them and became the sole owner of the land. He continued drilling and paid workers despite all financial difficulties.

Finally, fortune smiles on him. In 1877, oil gushed out of the well with a mighty force.

Oil gush instantly made him an oil baron and millionaire.

One of the first things Taghiyev did after becoming wealthy was to surface the road between the city and his oilfield in Bibi-Heybat. He then extended the road on to the Bibi-Heybat mosque.

However, Taghiyev remained in the memory of the Azerbaijani people as a symbol of charity.

He spent a great deal of money for charity projects.

Taghiyev invested in many important projects such as the first textile factory and fisheries. He sponsored the first Azerbaijan National Theatre (1883), the first muslin School for girls (1896), the first Technical School (1911) and covered all the expenses for the construction of what would later become the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre.

He also helped to solve the water crisis in the city by helping to finance the Shollar water pipeline (1916).

Baku's best-known philanthropist allocated 11,000 roubles for the construction of the head office for the Muslim Benevolent Society in Saint Petersburg; 3,000 roubles for the education of Armenian orphans; 5,000 for the St. Nina's School for Girls in Baku; 10,000 roubles for the construction of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Baku; tens of thousands of roubles for the construction and repair of mosques and madrasas throughout Russia and Persia., etc.

Taghiyev also provided scholarships for many talented young people who strove for higher education in prestigious Russian and European universities. He built a number of schools and supported a lot of attention to mosques, since he considered them to be centers for enlightenment, culture and science.

After Azerbaijan's Sovietization in 1920 the country's wealthy suffered severe repressions from the Bolshevik government resulting in the emigration of many of them. Therefore, Taghiyev's house and his other possessions were confiscated. He was exiled to his summer house in Mardakan.

The end of his life was hard as well as his youth.

Taghiyev was a friend of Molla Abuturab, who was an educated person and akhund (singer of prayers). Taghiyev respected him very much and often followed his advice.

Once on the way to his country house in Mardakan, near Baku, Taghiyev saw Molla Abuturab in his old horse carriage. He stopped his cab and invited Molla Abuturab to join him. Taghiyev asked him: "What do you think? Is it possible that I could ever lose all my wealth?"

The Molla replied: "Haji, you've made the pilgrimage to Mecca. You know all about the hardships of life. If God is willing, he can take away all of your possessions in a split second. So, set your thoughts on more eternal things."

After the confiscation of his wealth Taghiyev often thought about the Molla's words. He used to say: "Even his little finger knew more than my head did. And that's why I want to be buried at the feet of the Molla."

Taghiyev`s heart stopped beating on September 1, 1924. He was buried at the foot of the grave of Molla Abuturab in accordance with his wishes.

People will always remember Taghiyev not only for his great wealth, but how he spent it.

For his outstanding contributions, Taghiyev was twice-awarded with the Order of Saint Stanislaus, as well as with a number of other orders and medals from both Russia and abroad.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz

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