Baku hosts event in memory of ADR founder Rasulzade
By Nazrin Gadimova
The 130th anniversary of Mammad Amin Rasulzade, one of the founders of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR), was held in Baku on January 31.
The event brought together Azerbaijan's Culture and Tourism Minister Abulfaz Garayev, President of Azerbaijan's National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) Akif Alizade, Chairman of Azerbaijan's Press Council Aflatun Amashov and representatives of other organizations.
Addressing the event, Abulfaz Garayev said in accordance with the presidential decree the Culture and Tourism Ministry, ANAS, the Education Ministry and other state agencies have prepared a comprehensive plan of activities in connection with the 130th anniversary of Azerbaijan's outstanding politician.
Different events, conferences, meetings, round tables, publishing numerous books and magazines devoted to Rasulzade will be held in Azerbaijan throughout the year, as well as in several foreign countries, the minister said.
"Being of the ADR founders, Mammad Amin Rasulzade is one of the persons, who developed the idea of Azerbaijan's independence and promoted it among the broad masses," Garayev said.
Looking over our history, we can proudly say that the first democratic government and parliament in the East, as well as opera and theater were created in Azerbaijan. Exactly in Azerbaijan women first gained the right to vote. Despite the fact that ADR did not last long, it has made great successes."
ANAS President Akif Alizade, in turn, said ADR period is a very important stage in the history of Azerbaijan, adding that Mammad Amin Rasulzade made a great contribution in formation of the national identity of the Azerbaijani people.
Azerbaijani scholars, scientists are carrying out extensive work on the study of great scientific heritage of Rasulzade.
Chairman of the Press Council Aflatun Amashov noted that Rasulzade was not only an outstanding politician, but also a major scientific, social activist, literary critic, historian and journalist, adding that his memory will always live in the hearts of the Azerbaijani people.
Being an outstanding state and socio-political figure of Azerbaijan, one of the founders of People's Republic of Azerbaijan (1918-1920) and leaders of political migrants of Azerbaijan, Mammad Amin Rasulzade was famous for his scientific and publicist works in the Western Europe. In general he was the most distinguished and the greatest persons of the Eastern History and a leader of national independence movement in Azerbaijan.
Despite the fact, the first independent Republic of Azerbaijan existed for only 23 months, between May 28, 1918, and April 28, 1920, young government manages to make major progress during this period. Thus, ADR had diplomatic relations with a number of states; sixteen states established their missions in Baku. During the first year of its existence, the government opened a number of primary and secondary schools.
To appreciate the historical significance of this event not only for Azerbaijan, but also for the entire Islamic world, it is enough to recall that at that time there were only seven independent Muslim states in the world - Turkey, Persia, Afghanistan, Emirate of Bukhara, and three small monarchies of Inner Arabia.
Rasulzade also contributed to the development of social and
philosophical thought in Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, Germany, and
Poland, writing numerous papers and articles on politics,
international affairs, and the self-determinati
Mammad Amin Rasulzade made the most significant contribution to the theoretical basis of modern Azerbaijani statehood and its practical implementation.
Gaining its independence again in 1991, Azerbaijan proved once more the words said by Rasulzade years before. Appealing to the generation that were to come after him, Rasulzade wrote: "The generation who came before you created a flag, a saint symbol of ideal, raised it facing unbearable difficulties and said: "A flag once risen will never fall again!".