History of one neglect

History of One Neglect: Maybe after many years this would be a title of one academic book about Azerbaijan’s attitude towards Mammedamin Rasul-zadeh (1884-1955), one of the fathers-founders of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic(ADR, 1918-1920) and leaders of Azerbaijani political emigration (1923-1955). But now I want to talk about the second volume of works by Mammedamin Rasul-zadeh that I bought from a bookseller next to Maiden Tower in the Old City of Baku recently; and to compare it to the first volume of his works published 9 years earlier than the second one, and if you have some spare time, I want also to talk about ADR, Rasul-zadeh and our attitude toward their heritage using the first and second volumes of his works as a pretext.

The first volume (ISBN 5-552-01096) was published in 1992 by Azerbaijan State Publishing House (or Azerneshr – the most prestigious at the time), the second volume (no ISBN at all!) was published in 2001 by a non-significant private publishing house – a clear sign of not capitalism, but of neglect of Rasul-zadeh by present-day authorities. And in the second page of the second volume it reads: “This book was published by the donation of M[.] M[.]” A very comprehensive comment indeed…

I remember the 50th anniversary of Rasul-zadeh’s passing away, when there was no significant comment or commemoration ceremonies, except some small ones by private initiatives, and only BBC Azeri Service prepared approximately-15-minutes material about this great man. And that material spoke again of that neglect that he receives in this country.

In this country they say that Rasul-zadeh was not the president of ADR, they say that he didn’t signed the Declaration of Independence, they say that he doesn’t held any commanding position in the state, they say that… but isn’t it enough to stop this slander campaign? Yes, Rasul-zadeh was not a president, but he was the chairman of Azerbaijani National Council, thus a head of state! Yes, he didn’t signed the Declaration of Independence, but he signed the Treaty of Batumi and the act that created Azeri Parliament. He was one of the main initiators of founding of Baku State University, yet they deny him the merit!

I do not know the true motives of this neglect, as I can only guess, but one thing I know for sure: in this country you can’t find a single man who approves this policy.

Each year on the eve of 31 January (his birthday) and 28 May (Azerbaijan’s Independence Day) people start to talk about this neglect. The youth and the old voice their silent and coward protest, internet groups and university auditoriums became a place of heated debate. More courageous ones demand the statues to be erected to him in the city.

But then there comes the Silence again.

It is because of this Silence that one of the places reserved for his statue was hijacked and went under a meaningless fountain. It is because of this Silence that Rasul-zadeh and his name was omitted when they erected a statue for the fathers-founders of ADR. It is because of this Silence that one day Rasul-zadeh will became a COMPLETE apostasy in Azerbaijan!!!

I am fond of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, not because I am a nationalist, and not because I am a musavatist, but because of ADR’s dedication to democracy, to the rule of law, to the respect that it showed to the human rights and freedoms, the respect that we see now the lackness of, and we need now very much. And in the beginnings of this dedication and respect, there stood Rasul-zadeh, in his shoulders and arguments the new republic emerged and in 1953, when every hope and opportunity for our independence perished completely, it was again Rasul-zadeh who was telling us through the Voice of America in what would be his farewell address to Azerbaijani nation, that “It is doubtless that there will come the day when the side which respects the freedom, the principles of UN and the human rights will win and this sun of victory will rise again in our fatherland bleeding under the red despotism as it rose once on 28 May 1918. Do not cast a doubt on this, citizens! ”

For such people Huseyn Javid once wrote: “Were a prophet, had I a flock”…