MIRAS Social Organization in Support of Studying of Cultural Heritage arranged a seminar entitled ‘attitudes towards our language and cultural heritage in the creation of Mahammad Amin Rasulzade” jointly with Institute of Literature of National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan on 20 February, 2014 on occasion of 130-year of M.A. Rasulzade and 21 February International Mother Language Day.
Opening the event, chairman of MIRAS Organization, PhD Fariz Khalilli expressed his thoughts about personality of Muhammad Amin Rasulzade, his creative activity and importance of promotion of his heritage among youth. He said that the event is realized within the Order signed by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev in November last year on marking international mother tongue day and underscored consideration important of advancement of our cultural heritage and purity of our language, which is integral part of this in Rasulzade’s creation. Later he invited the seminar reporters PhD Yadigar Turkel, PhD Faig Alekberov and Mustagil Aghayev to the presidium.
Employee of NASA Institute of Philosophy, Sociology and Law, PhD Yadigar Turkel who made speech first, called Mahammad Amin Rasulzade a person united the humanity around certain idea and gathered under one flag. The speaker also talked about his book “Siyavush of our day” dedicated to M. A. Rasulzade. He added that though M. A. Rasulzade’s language is hard and difficult, there are many clear Turkic words left if to exclude words with Arab and Persian origin. Senior lecturer, senior researcher and PhD of NASA Institute of Philosophy, Sociology and Law, Faig Alakbarov delivering speech on “The issue of national language in creative activity of M.A.Rasulzade” touched upon the grouping created on our languages in the beginning of 20th century and its influence on the development of our language. Rasulzade said that language means nation”. He expressed that we should create common Turkic language” during Congress of Musavat Party in 1919.
Mr. Faig brought to notice of seminar participants his thoughts on how our language and national roots play significant role in the formation of our national conscience, as to M.A. Rasulzade. He concluded his paper with thought “If any nation is embarrassed of speaking his own language, that nation has no future”.
Leading scientific worker of NASA Institute of Philosophy, Sociology and Law, PhD Mustagil Aghayev made a report on “The issues of science, culture and education in the creative activity of Mahammad Amin Rasulzade”. He almost speak on M.A.Rasulzade’s quotes. The reporter, the author of the book “the outlook of Mahammad Amin Rasulzade” continued his speech with the great person’s thought “the Nation must possess science, education and culture in order to be nation”. He stressed that Muhammad Amin Rasulzade is an advanced ideologist in the history of public thought and that he criticized severely ignorance.
He sounded the appeal of Rasulzade, who had great role in the development of science and culture for enlightenment of the Azerbaijani people and addressed Baku millionaires in the line of reading halls’ opening: “20th century came... Cultural ways opened. Will the appearance of newspapers cause increase of readers? Thus, reading hall “Nijat” and “general reading halls” were opened... it was high time for opening of reading halls combined with sages”.
M.A.Rasulzade considered important freedom of the press: “Press is forerunner of the nation’s liberty and culture, the 4th power to form the community” and called ‘ignorance great sorrow which has no way out”.
As the reporter noted, though Rasulzade attached science, education, culture with the state, he was worried about shortage of schools, their unfitness and weakness of education programs. Saying “It is time for zeal and honour” – the founder of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic stressed especially the opening of medresehs, studying of Islam far from ignorance and virtuously and called on Baku millionaires to finance this direction”. Mustagil Aghayev stated he could not speak more because of time limit and there was still necessity to study deeply this great person and advised them to study this.
Yasemen Garaqoyunlu, Rushan Rushanzade, Khalid Bahadir, Matanat Shakikhanova and others expressed their views.
In the end PhD Fariz Khalilli, chairman of MIRAS Organization thanked to the scientists, guests, seminar participants for valuable and thematic reports. He said he enjoyed seminar a lot and all participants’ contribution.