Azerbaijani Literature

The First Azerbaijani Newspaper

The press has a unique part to play in the progress of a nation and in the process of awakening a national consciousness. The media’s impact on all classes of society is so strong that it is generally accepted as the fourth estate, although it is a frontline priority for government. It is no coincidence that Azerbaijan’s intellectuals and literati call the press “the people’s eyes, ears and tongue”. The role of the national press is a great one, and indispensable to the Azerbaijani people as they embark on the path of national revival, develop their concept of statehood and prepare for active social relationships.

It is a fact that the origins of the Azerbaijani press coincide with the development of a public and national consciousness. The reason is that sections of the national press create this consciousness and its substructure. Global developments and revolutionary events taking place within the Russian empire from the middle of the 19th century did not bypass Azerbaijan. The process of a national-spiritual awakening began within the peoples of the empire.

The following Azerbaijani intellectuals tried to protect the national identity of a people that Russia and Iran had split into two: Abbasqulu Aga Bakikhanov, Mirza Fatali Akhundov, Hasan bey Zardabi, the brothers Said and Jalal Unsizade, Mammad Amin Rasulzade, Mammadtagi Sakhtakhtli, Jalil Mammadguluzade, Alimardan bey Topchubashov, Ahmad bey Agaoglu, Suleyman Ganizade etc.

Stages in the Azerbaijani press

The Azerbaijani press has gone through the following phases:

- Newspapers and magazines published under tsarist Russian rule (1832-1917);
- Printed organs published during the Azerbaijani Democratic Republic (1918-1920);
- Printed publications of the Soviet era (1920-1991);
- Emigrants’ press;
- Publications printed since the restoration of independence (from 1991 to the present). 

‘Ekinchi’ and its founder

In the early 19th century, the Azerbaijani people began to expand cultural relations, not only with the Trans-Caucasian peoples but also with the people of Russia, Iran and other countries, and they had to struggle for many years to create their own national press. 

Ismayil bey Gaspirali (left), H.B. Zardabi and Alimardan bey Topchubashov

It was the result of this struggle that in the second half of the 19th century a newspaper, ‘Ekinchi’ (Farmworker – ed.), appeared, which was connected to the destiny of the Azerbaijani people and which was to contribute significantly to their development and revival.

‘Ekinchi’ was the first national Azerbaijani-language newspaper. It first appeared in Baku on 22 July 1875. Undoubtedly, this very fact was a significant event in the public, political and spiritual life of the Azerbaijani people. The creation of a national newspaper is the strongest indication of the national existence of any people and is an important condition for progress and evolution. It is to Hasan bey Zardabi’s credit that he took the first practical step along this very difficult path. There is no doubt at all that by its very existence, ‘Ekinchi’, considered to be the “first swallow” of the Azerbaijani press, gave a powerful impetus to the formation of a national press.

Hasan bey was one of those prominent sons of the Azerbaijani people, a true patriot with a profound education, who had a complete grasp of the history and culture not only of Azerbaijan but of foreign countries, too. He was an active enlightener who tried to convey to the broad masses the richness of their national-spiritual wealth and ideas of freedom and progress. He realized that a periodical publication appealing to both villager and intellectual was the best way to achieve this important task.

Hasan bey believed that the lack of enlightenment and science, as well as limited opportunities for education, was behind the many troubles that afflicted the Azerbaijani people. He said in an article published in ‘Ekinchi’ that when discussing troubles and difficulties there had been no mention of general illiteracy, although that was the main cause.