An event dedicated to the 120th anniversary of Samad Vurgun was held at Turkmen State University
As part of the Cultural Days of Azerbaijan in Turkmenistan, an event commemorating the 120th anniversary of the birth of the distinguished poet, playwright, public figure, academician, recipient of the USSR State Prize, and People’s Poet of Azerbaijan, Samad Vurgun (1906–1956), was held on 5 June at Turkmen State University.
The university’s leadership, faculty members and students of the Faculty of Philology, and guests attended the event.
Opening the event, Ilgar Fahmi, Secretary of the Azerbaijan Writers’ Union and Honoured Cultural Worker of Azerbaijan, provided an overview of Samad Vurgun’s life and literary legacy. He noted that through his unique creative contribution, the poet played an exceptional role in the development of twentieth-century Azerbaijani literature.
Participants then listened to a presentation entitled “Samad Vurgun and the Turkic World” delivered by Aygun Bagirli, Associate Professor and Scientific Secretary of the Nizami Ganjavi Institute of Literature of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.
The presentation emphasized that Samad Vurgun occupies a special place in the history of Azerbaijani literary thought and that the guiding principle of his multifaceted activity was devotion to Azerbaijani national identity and cultural values. Drawing inspiration from the inexhaustible treasury of folk creativity, he championed the purity of the native language and produced literary works distinguished by profound humanistic and social significance.
It was further noted that respect for the past and confidence in the future constitute central themes throughout the poet’s oeuvre. His works were translated into the Turkmen language and published in the 1950s, while several of his plays were successfully staged in Turkmenistan’s theatres.
In his presentation entitled “The Theme of Homeland in the Works of Samad Vurgun,” Hikmat Mammadov, Member of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, member of the Azerbaijan–Turkmenistan Interparliamentary Friendship Group, Doctor of Political Sciences and Professor, highlighted that the literary heritage of the People’s Poet is largely devoted to the glorification of the motherland. He stressed that the poet’s works continue to inspire readers to cherish and serve their homeland.
Addressing the audience on the topic “The Development of Literary Relations and Literary Exchange Between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan,” Professor Karim Tahirov, Director of the National Library of Azerbaijan, underscored the important role of literature in building cultural bridges and strengthening mutual understanding between nations.
Professor Rahiba Aliyeva of the Institute of Architecture and Art of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences and Associate Professor Tohfa Talibova of the Nizami Ganjavi Institute of Literature also shared their reflections on the artistic and ideological richness of the People’s Poet’s literary legacy.
As part of the programme, Turkmen students recited Samad Vurgun’s poetry in both Azerbaijani and Turkmen languages, highlighting the enduring cultural affinity between the two peoples.
The event concluded with a literary performance by renowned reciter Huseynaga Aslanov, who presented selected works from the poet’s rich poetic heritage.
