LITERARY ENVIRONMENT OF BAKU – ABSHERON AT THE END OF XIX AND BEGINNING OF THE XX CENTURY

Baku-Absheron has been famous as the land of poetry, mugham and art from the ancient times. Names of many representatives such as science, literature, music and art, born and grew up on the Absheron Peninsula bringing fame not only to our country, but also to the every corner of the world.Without any words, culture − was clearly presented in Baku, which has been built as the great city. But poetry and art was one of the great means not only in all Azerbaijan, in Baku and its villages also, people not only in literary Mejlis, but in the family parties : when the guests comes , around the table, at weddings, in educational institutions and in other places, for enjoying soul, for sharing sorrows, for hearty enjoying, and for respecting each-other they read poems. People of Baku and Absheron mostly loved ghazelles, listened with great love and enjoyed from gazelles, which performed by the mugham singers. For this reason, almost, all poets, who grew up in the literary environment of Baku and Absheron based their creativity mainly on gazelles, but at the same time they also wrote odes, couplets, and elegies.

In addition to the words of the literary critic, Aydin Hajiyev, it can be said that Azerbaijani literature is part of Muslim-Eastern literature, and with enlightening of aesthetic feelings, with the forming of worldview, provided special services according bases of verses from Holy Quran, on creating perfect people, people of Azerbaijan had been formed more than seventy years the ideology of socialism under a poisonous sword despite living quite tolerant, peaceable, caring, patriotic, being closely to religious values, customs and traditions, respecting to smallest and older, wise-men, helps them, who in needs, provider of material and moral support to those in need, good manners, good morals, hardworking, laboring, talented, knowledgeable, educated. In a word, Azerbaijan people can be an example for the whole world, although they are urban, rural, lowlander and hillman, especially in the modern world, regardless of their position or wealth.
According to some historical source, Baku still had existed during the time of the prophet Musa (as) and Pharaoh. For example, Greek geographer Promotey, who lived in the II century BC, mentioned in his textbook of geography, that on the shores of the Caspian Sea, there was a city, called Baku. For example, the Christian-Albanian temple in Buzovna, the fortresses in Mardakan, Raman and the Maiden's Tower, built by Manuchor Shirvanshah II in the XII century, and the fortress walls built for the defense of Baku, proving that Baku isn't yesterday's or today's city. "The Maiden's Tower, which has a very original architectural appearance, has existed among the defensive tower of Azerbaijan since the XII century." (2. p.156) Baku-Absheron has long been famous as a country of poetry mygam and art. The names of many representatives of science, literature, music and art, who were born and grown up in Absheron Peninsula, bring fames not only to our country, but to the whole world. (7. p. 100) Poetry and art were the most loved mean in Baku and its villages, as well as throughout Azerbaijan. People read poetry not only at literary parties, but at home, at parties, during visiting, around the table, at festivities, in educational enterprises, where science is taught and for imitating spirits, relieving pains, to cherish hearts and showing how to respect each other. Baku and Absheron inhabitants mostly fond of gazelles, listened and enjoyed the gazelles with great enthusiasm which were sung by mugham singers. That's why, all poets who grew up in the literary environment of Baku and Absheron based their work on gazelles, but also wrote lyrics, couplets and elegies.
When the ideology of socialism revolted, the slaves of this ideology in former times, poets who wrote the gazelles, were indifferent to the masses and because their voices, which sounded like foreign spirits, were strangely irrelevantly to people, literature created in Azerbaijan over thousands of years has been called unnecessary and meaningless. Because, the greatest poets of Azerbaijan were the excellent students of the literary school of Mevlana Fizuli, which we see in the person of Seyid Azim Shirvani, M.A. Sabir, Mohammed Hadi, Abbas Sahat, Huseyn Javid and finally Aliaga Vahid, who presented pearls to Azerbaijani literature. It is clear that the most great and famous singers of Azerbaijan reached to this peak by going through all kinds and corners of mugham spheres, which require great professionalism through gazelles, and helped humanity to love the amazing musical examples created by the synthesis of gazelles and mughams.
Poem arose even before the gazelle and contains the beginning of literary forms. Thus, all of our classical poets used this genre when creating "divan" and wrote poetry in form of poems "Tawhid", "Minajat", "Nat", "Madhia", "Fakhriya", "Qita" and "Mercia" like "qaside". It was reflected the atrocities committed by perverted Armenians against the Azerbaijani people in 1905, as well as the united struggle of the Azerbaijani people against the villain Armenians which edited by Haji Mustafa Mayla oglu, editor of the Academic Council of the Institute of Manuscripts named after Muhammad Fizuli of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, academician Mohsun Nagisoilu in the collection of poems "Der Madhi-Musulmanan" by Lala Shukurova the name of the secretary Abdulhalig Badkubey (mentioned on page 21) manuscripts the works of unknown poets Rikai, Akbar Saig, Rahman, Sadig, Nazim, Sheida, which was published in the jurnal "Science and education", Baku -2017, January 26, 2015, by the decision of the meeting No. 01. This massacre, which began in 1904 in Karabakh, Shusha and from time to time against our people throughout the Caucasus, spreaded in Baku in 1905, and the Armenian Dashnaks did their best to sheld blood in Baku, the incomparable city of the entire Caucasus. But even here, regardless of their wealth, poverty or position, the Azerbaijani people joined hands and defeated the Dashnaks.
It was explained a very vivid picture of the events that took place in Baku, with the verses written by the above poets reflect at that time. Poems written by these poets, were written with great professionalism, artistic skill and amazing artistic expression. Their poems are so advanced, that it is very difficult to decide which one to use as an example. However, it is enough to mention some verses from these poems, so that the reader has a clear idea of the events, which took place in Baku the day before, and also to find out, how they were the owner of powerful pens: Look at the fate, how did it became, Armenians were erected ... did them, as remedy ailments.
Armenians did healing their compatriot always, Killing the mass, they crumbled everything Muslims didn't forced to this, perhaps, Look, how Armenians were raged in sneaking.
At last, the revolt of Armenian was happened... But, they knew that Lalaofyan did this.
Pity is that, Agharza was thrown to boulevard, Armenians said, and, Tigran did this work.
As Muslim took the rifle..., look How did crumble Kirkor 's house.
Came to wilderness, for strolling, because, World was embarrassed with bleed from sound of bullets.
As the worst was happened on Balabeg home, Creator-Sultan helped us, on all these events. (3 p. 26-27) Verses and qasids, as noted above, adorned parties of poets everywhere. So, sometimes the most famous singers of that time were invited to these literary parties, who read the gazelles from Mevlana Fizuli, other classics, as well as members of the literary parties, at that time, the artistic value of the newly created verses became known only after reading it together with mugham. Generally, singers, who were invited to the parties, liked qazelles or verses of the poets, who were members of those literary parties, they began reading them at folk festivals and weddings from that time.
"Majmaush-shuara" ("Party of Poets") was one of such literary parties under the leadership of Muhammad Aga Jumru in Baku in the 80s of the XIX century. The most famous artists of the time were invited to this literary party, and these parties, held at least once a week, sometimes lasted from evening to morning.
It should be noted, that Mashadi Azer headed the literary party of "Majmaush-shuara" after Muhammad Aga Jurmu and gave the great care to a number of poets on being master in Baku.
"Mesmeush-shuare" (literary party of poets) had the special place in the overall development of our national literature, which functioned from the 80s of 1915, XIX century. Mashadi Azer, head of the literary collection "Mesmeush-shuare" (party of poets) named after Muhammad Aga Jurmu, played a major role in developing lots of poets. This literary collection brought together not only Baku poets, but also famous Baku scientists and musicologists of that time.
"Majmaush-shuara" ("Party of Poets") which Mashadi Azer leadered, had poets such as Agadadash Suraya, Abdulhalig Yusif, Mirza Muhammad Musavvir, Agadadash Muniri, Karim Aga Salik. "Majmaush-shuara" ("Party of Poets") were actively connected with the poetic parties in Azerbaijan − Shamakhi, Derbent, Shusha, Lankaran, and also, as well as in Ardabil and Tabriz (4 p.) We are witness, that there were enough poets, who mentioned Creator Almighty in their works, we clearly saw this when acquainted with the works of these poets, in Baku and Absheron. We can present one of those representatives − Hasan Sayyar, who was born in 1891 in the village of Shaghan, whose families moved to Baku at an early age, and who was executed in 1936 for disobeying the ideology of socialism: If hermit didn't avowed his love, Blasphemed, didn't faith, avowed. If wine glass is the shariah the truth and humanity, Devil would avowed in front of Adam's rank.
Seeing your face, fainted him on Turi − Sina, Musabii-Imran avowed this, on his being. You are the bright light, source of knowledge, behavior, And Quran avowed this source verse by verses. (5.p.300) Abdulkhalig Gafar oglu Gafarzade (Jannaty) who wrote and created at the end of XIX − beginning of XX centures was one of the poet in Baku. He was born in 1855, and died in 1931 year. His many poems were published in "Tekamul", "Fuyzat", "Irshad", "Sada", "Tereqqi", "Tuty", "Dirilik", "Maarif and medeniyyet" jurnals and magazines. Mysterious rhythm, harmony and expressiveness of the poetry of his time with samples of folk and folklore poetics can be heard in form and artistic coloring in combination of progressive traditions and innovation in content and meaning in the artist's poetry: Besides that, it would be noted that Abdulhalig Jannaty was one of the most famous and beloved poets in Baku and Absheron. He was Aliagha Vahid's master, who left an amazing mark in the gazelle genre of Azerbaijani poetry and, adorned the repertoire of gazelle singers during his lifetime.
One of the masters Aliagi Vahid was Mashadi Azer, who has been very popular in Baku and Absheron during his career. Mashadi Azer was born in Buzovna in 1870 and died in 1951. He educated his primary education in Mollakhana, but at the age of fifteen he moved with his father to Petrovsk (now Makhachkala), possessed the sciences of theology, and at the same time he had learned Arabic and Persian perfectly. By this way he read Nizami, Khagani, Firdovsi, Khayyam, Rumi, Hafizi, Sadi from original. However, he was mainly an admirer of M. Fuzuli and, like many Azerbaijani poets, fell in love with Fuzuli on the poetic stage, taking advantage of the poetry of the Muslim East. Mashady Azer, who began his career at the age of 15, returned to his motherland age of about 20 and began publish poems with various signatures in brochure "Babayi-Amir", "Nusrat", "East-Russian", "Union", "Molla Nasreddin", before the establishment of Soviet union in Azerbaijan. But after establishment of Soviet in Azerbaijan, he published poems in brochure "Flame of the Revolution", "Eastern Woman".
When his native land Azerbaijan was a part of tsarist Russia, both after two years of independence and after the loss of independence, Mashadi Azerin, who wrote and created under the occupation of the Soviet government, was the author of the series stories and hundreds of poems which called "Oguzname", "Chingizname". "Rustam and Isfandiyar", "Rustam and Sohrab" by Mashadi Azer. He is the author of the poems "Rustam and Burzu", "Sayyad and the Nightingale", a poetic novel, "History of Islam" and etc. Becides that, poet translated Kalila and Dimna into Azerbaijani, which is very popular throughout the Eastern world.
It should also be noted that Mashadi Azer, as the son of Turk -Turk, didn't afraid the pressure of tsarist Russia or the threat of a totalitarian communist regime, and he wrote poetic poems about the great history of the Turks in a number of his works, characterized a strong creative medium, with literary manners, a high artistic level and the identity of a Turk, at the same time, with undeniable poetic plaques, he stated that the Azerbaijani people are the Turkic people and that this holiday is a Turkish holiday in protest against the closure of the "Novruz holiday" on behalf of other peoples on distorted dates: Today is the day of salvation, because, For Turks... is the wedding day today. Two black moles ... lighting stand on the edge of the lips Two black moles lighting stand at the edge of the lips (5, p.33) Mammadagha Jurmu − is one of the founder and chairman of "Majmaush-shuara" ("Party of Poets"), who had special style of poetry. Although, there is no information about the date of his birth and death, it is known that, he founded the " Party of Poets " "Majmaush-Shuara" in 1880. That's a pity, we have got few examples of poetry from the poet's creativity. But only poet's one poem is enough to understand the level of poem. From this point of view, the small number of Jurmu 's poems show that, his poetic power is high. It is no coincidence that, on foundation of this party, he was able to gather around himself the most famous masters of his time and headed this part of poets.
Jurmu, who is very well acquainted with the poetry of classical poets and benefited from Mevlana Fuzuli, like thousands of Turkic-speaking poets of the Muslims East, professionally followed the rules of poetry, didn't violate the tradition of poetry, each line is polished and embroidered with jewelry precision, in a word, never betraying poetry, he could change each of his poems into the priceless poem: My black eyed beloved running away from me, Impossible to do something, which Sayeed has that time, What did I do, Almighty, to this unfaithful, I don't know, She made for me whim, far away, May be promised to other, that's why ... left me, Pretended the word that, she was engaged. (5, p.40) Our intelligentsia, who lived and worked in the end of XIX and beginning of XX centuries, have always had struggled, by exposing two-faced and shown them to people. Everyone knows that, many of our poets and creators, who had pen in hand, prick those with their pen and showed people all their faults in XIX and even XX centuries.
Baba Dzhabrayilov also was one of the creators, who was brought up in Baku and Absheron, which revealing scammer − mullahs.
He was born in the village Shaghan, in Baku, in 1980, studied at the "Russian-Muslim" school at the beginning of XX century, then studied at one of the Baku gymnasiums, after that entered the Easten Faculty of the State University, which founded by Mammad Amin Rasulzade in 1927. He graduated university and taught for a long time at schools in Baku and Ganja. Mainly, Baba Dzhabrayilov -incomparable creator, who follow the path that M. A. Sabir put, wrote mainly satirical poems throughout his career, and in these poems, pseudo-religious figures and hypocrites hard criticized at the end XIX and beginning of XX centuries: Let, sacrificing myself for you, fasting! My dear, honor for me, my religion, my faith, fasting! Free food became a constant habit for me, Dolma, terey, firii-fisinjan,my meals, fasting ! Who is hungry, let him stay, I haven't something with him, Everyday is laid the table for me, my fasting! (5, p.115) Aliabbas Mutallim oglu Muznib is one of the most active representatives of the literary environment of Baku and Absheron. Muznib was born in Baku, in 1883, was educated in the mollakhana in his childhood, but he couldn't continue his education here, because his family moved to outskirts of Absheron in order of spreading illness plague in Baku, then he went to the Russian -Muslim school, after that studied at one of the gymnasium in Baku. Poet trying to make living of his family by building the cart, and at that time he published his first article in "Shaki-Rus" newspaper, in Tiflis (Tibilisy),then took part on newspaper "Teze -Heyat" (New Life) in 1907, then tried to publish journal under the name "Shihaby-Sadiq" in 1011, for publishing this article against Tsarist Russia, he was exiled to Siberia for two years, and after returning he was one of the main authors of the newspaper "Iqbal" in 1913, whose editor was Hussein Sabi, from 1908 year he worked at newspaper "Ittifaq" (Union ), then 1909 began to work as editor at the newspaper "Zanbur", from 1914 till 1916 years he was the main participants of the journal "Dirilik". Aliabbas Muznib was a very patriotic man, and his patriotism made him one of the closely activists "Organization of Muslim Youth" founded by Mohammad Amin Razulzadeh, took him close to the "Muslim Democratic Musavat Society" and "Muslim Social Democratic Organization of Hummat" which emerged from this Society, and formed under the influence of the great educational ideas of the newspaper "Sherqi-Rus" which published in Tibilisi (Geogria) in 1903-1905 years. Poet -who studied at the State University, which was opened on the initiative of Mamed Amin Rasulzadeh in 1919, but he was expelled from the university for not writing poetry praising Bolshevism, as the student after the establishment of Council Government in Azerbaijan, he became a victim of the red terror, was arrested as a "pan-Turkist", "pan-Islamist", "anti-Soviet organization" and "traitor" and exiled to the cold Siberian steppes, where he was tortured by guards of the outcast camp and died a year later in 1937 year.
Poet -which began his literary works with notes of patriotism, independence and freedom, amazed the reader with their harmony and unusual means of expression. Patriotic motives are very strong in his poems.
A. Muznib's poem "Azerbaijan" is written on the basis of patriotic and Turanian motives. Poet appreciated his native land, the tricolor flag, and this is a great work that can play a very important role in educating the younger generation, raising the spirit of patriotism, protecting the earth like the apple of his eye, preparing for jihad and war at every step: Azerbaijan is rose garden of claps, Bakikhanovs are flower garden of this country. Muhammad Khan's, Ahmad Khan's residence, Javad khan's grave is ... this country.
Turans race grew up in this country, ... Had raised the flag of braves, Walked round of the world with the zeal, Satellite of heroes ...is this country (8.p.276) Aliabbas Muznib is also one of the first writers, who wrote a novel in Azerbaijani literature. So, the poet wrote the novel "Yusuf and Zuleikha" based on Surah Yusuf, XII of the Holy Quran, conved to the reader in a very clear and simple speech, that, where Yusuf (as) was thrown into a well by his jealous brothers as a child, and then Egyptian merchants found and took him to Egypt, here the palace vizier brought him to the palace and took care of him, and in his youth, the vizier's wife, Zuleikha, slandered him and he was thrown into the prison, he amazed everyone as an interpreter of dreams, and king of Egypt heard about it and because of the nightmare that he had, he freed him from prison, and the advice of Hazrat Yusuf (as), who at the same time with his deep intellect saved the Egyptian people from disaster seven years of drought and finally, the reunion of Hazrat Yakub (as) with his son, blinded by the separation of his son in literary form.
As known, the Holy Quran was translated by Haji Abu Turab, into our language with the help cash of philanthropetist Hacı Zeynalabdin Tağıyev, at that time, but this version disappeared after the Soviet government began to persecute our religion. Later, Ali Fahmi -the scholar-researcher of Fizuli's poems, translated into the Azerbaijani language two greatest Surah of the Holy Quran, Al-Bakar and Ali-Imran, but at that time Aliabbas Muznib was no alive already. The main purpose of this statement is that Aliabbas Muznib didn't read the Azerbaijani version of the Holy Quran, but despite the novel he wrote, it was fully awared the life, prophecies and events which was happened of the Prophet Yusuf (asa), understanding of Surah "Yusuf" demonstrates his excellent knowledge of the Arabic language. But that's not all. It also shows that the poet is a person devoted to Almighty God and a person who follows all the laws of Islam. However, Aliabbas Muznib, like many creators of his predecessors and contemporaries, throughout his career took an uncompromising position in relation to the hypocritical "religious persons". So, in the number of his poems, poet, whose work is mainly filled with educational ideas, criticizes the swindlers, who stand for the pulpit of the mosque, reproach the people and play tricks on the street: My believer, don't be ashamed of the current mess Say the words of Fazil Allamaddin, from the temple.
Don't take it seriously from birth, let go, Since the day, blessing, don't break up, let go, Passing time with lust, let go, put in order