Baku marks 85 birth anniversary of Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov
By Nigar Orujova
Baku hosted a commemorative event to mark the 85th birth anniversary of famous Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov on December 18 at the Azerbaijan State Academic National Drama Theatre.
The event, organized by the Azerbaijan Culture and Tourism Ministry, viewed a book exhibition on famed writer. Kyrgyz folk songs have also been performed at the event.
Azerbaijan Culture and Tourism Minister Abulfas Garayev addressed the event and highlighted the life and literal activities of the Kyrgyz writer.
"Readers have always shown great interest to the creative works of Chingiz Aitmatov. His works Jamila, Farewell, Gulsary, White Ship, Spotted Dog, Running at the Edge of the Sea, and many other novels and stories have been translated into the Azerbaijani language, and published repeatedly," he said.
Chyngyz Aitmatov, a bilingual writer, creating works in Kyrgyz and Russian, was born on December 12, 1928 in Talas, Kyrgyzstan. He had a hard childhood, after losing his father - a victim of Stalin's purges - at the age of 10.
As the eldest son of the family, Aitmatov took over the responsibility of helping his mother to bring up his younger brother and two sisters. During World War II, Chingiz was a hard-working teenager helping his family to get by in the small village of Sheker.
He graduated as a veterinary surgeon, studying first in Dshambul and later at the Agricultural High School in Frunze, now Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Aitmatov published his first short story in 1952.
His works have been translated into more than 150 languages worldwide, issued in more than 100 countries with the circulation of more than 60 million copies.
State Secretary of Kyrgyz Ministry of Culture Akimbek Tekeshov expressed his gratitude for organization of such events commemorating the great Kyrgyz writer, which symbolizes the great respect of Azerbaijani people to the memory and works of Chingiz Aitmatov.
"Aitmatov is a classic author of the Turkish literature world, a phenomenon arising at the intersection of cultures and languages," he said.
"Aitmatov was not only a brilliant author, but he was first and foremost a person of a global scale. He was a talented writer, diplomat, philosopher, a prominent state and public figure. Chingiz Aitmatov's works are on a par with the best literary works of the world," Tekeshov said.
Azerbaijani People`s writer Anar and famous Kyrgyz film director Bolotbek Shamshiyev also shared their impressions on Chingiz Aitmatov.
At the end of the event, the writer`s son Askar Aitmatov expressed his gratitude to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for organizing such an event.
He further highlighted the fact that Chingiz Aitmatov is a beloved and well-known writer in Azerbaijan.