Berlin celebrates anniversary of Nigar Rafibeyli
By Nigar Orujova
An event dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Azerbaijani national poetess Nigar Rafibeyli was held in Berlin on December 9.
The event titled "Distant - Close Friends" was held with the organizational support of the Azerbaijani History Department at Berlin Humboldt University, European Azerbaijanis Congress (EAC), the Coordination Center of Azerbaijanis in Germany, and the representative of the Azerbaijan State Oil Company SOCAR in Germany.
The event was attended by Azerbaijan Ambassador to Germany Parviz Shahbazov, chairman of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union national writer Anar, editor of journal "Olkem", writer and publicist Gunel Anargizi, as well as German scientists, representatives of the Azerbaijani and Turkish Diasporas, and journalists.
Opening the event, EAC head Samira Patser-Ismayilova spoke about Nigar Rafibeyli's life and work.
She evaluated Rafibeyli's poetry as a continuation of the traditions of Azerbaijani poetesses Mahsati Ganjavi and Khurshidbanu Natavan, and spoke about Rafibeyli's role in Azerbaijani literature.
Afterwards, Head of the Azerbaijani History Department Professor Eva-Maria Auch made a presentation about Nigar Rafibeyli's family, youth, and creativity.
Auch highlighted the ordeal which first Health Minister of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic Khudadat bey Rafibeyli and his daughter Nigar faced, as well as the problems of the Azerbaijani intellectuals during Stalin years.
The event was followed by a musical presentation dedicated to Rafibeyli and the recitation of her poems in German.
The literary evening also saw a discussion on the theme "With You without You - Family Tradition as a Manifestation of Society". Professor Eva- Maria Auch, theater director Peter Wittig, Azerbaijani writer Anar, and Samira Patser-Ismayilova exchanged their views on the issue.
Excerpts from the works of national writer Anar were also read in German, after which Anar answered the participants' questions and thanked the organizers of the literary and artistic evening.
Nigar Rafibeyli was born in Ganja, Azerbaijani, on June 23, 1913, in the family of the first Azerbaijani surgeon who had studied in Europe. Her father was first invited to head the Ganja government by the republican government of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, but was soon arrested at the instigation of Armenian Bolsheviks and sent to Nargin Island, where he was executed.
Nigar Rafibeyli graduated from a school in Ganja. She started writing novels while she was studying at school. Her first poem called "Chadra" (Veil) was published in 1928. She moved to Baku for her higher education and studied at Pedagogical Technical School. Afterwards, Rafibeyli continued her education in Moscow Pedagogical University.
Meanwhile, her first book of poems was published in Baku. Most parts of her works were dedicated to romanticism, motherhood, nature, and motherland.
Starting from 1940, Rafibeyli translated many works of famous poets and writers, including Navai, Schiller, Pushkin, Lermontov, and Shevchenko into Azerbaijani, making a great contribution to Azerbaijan's literature.