Old City Pays Tribute To Great National Poet Aliagha Vahid

A creative evening honoring the great poet Aliagha Vahid (1895–1965) has taken place in Icherisheher (The Old City), Azernews reports.

The event was organized by the Icherisheher State Historical-Architectural Reserve Administration.

The evening took place in Icherisheher, in front of the poet's monument.

Honored Artist of Azerbaijan Loghman Karimov spoke about the significance of Aliagha Vahid's contributions to the Azerbaijani poetry, emphasizing that his literary legacy remains relevant today.

Famous actor, playwright, and TV presenter Kamran Aghabalayev, along with actor Sanan Ellaz, recited samples of Vahid's ghazals.

Well-known mugham singer, Honored Artist Haji Agil Malikov noted the poet's contributions to Azerbaijani literature and noted that his traditions continue to be upheld today.

Talented singer Nisbat Sadrayeva, kamancha player Toghrul Asadullayev, and tar player Sakhavat Mammadov performed musical pieces inspired by Vahid's poetry.

One of the most meaningful moments of the evening was the screening of selected scenes from the full-length film "Ghazalkhan" (1991), directed by Shahmar Alakbarov.

Aliagha Vahid's remarkable talent transformed the figurative language of Azerbaijani poetry across multiple genres from meykhana to ghazal. His poems continue to resonate on stage today, retaining their relevance.

Born on February 17, 1895, in the Baku village of Masazir to a carpenter's family, Vahid began working at an early age to help his father. He received his initial education at a madrasa but left before finishing to join the "Majmaush-shuara" literary circle ("Society of Poets").

In his early satirical pieces, Aliagha Vahid critiqued societal flaws, superstitions, injustice, and tyranny. These writings were later compiled in his first poetry collection "Tamahın nəticəsi" ("The Consequence of Greed"). Over time, inspired by Fuzuli and Seyid Azim, he began writing ghazals, which became extremely popular, earning him the nickname "Ghazelkhani" ("Master of Ghazals").

A devoted follower of Fuzuli's literary traditions, Aliagha Vahid was a key figure in the development of the ghazal genre in Soviet-era Azerbaijani literature. He also translated ghazals by other great poets like Nizami, Fuzuli, and Khaghani into Azerbaijani.

Aliagha Vahid passed away in Baku on the night of September 30 to October 1, 1965, and was laid to rest at the Alley of Honors.

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