Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku International Multiculturalism Centre Azerbaijani Multiculturalism Textbook for Higher Education
Journalistic Sources of Azerbaijani Multiculturalism
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4.4. Journalistic Sources of Azerbaijani Multiculturalism
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries social and political journalism in Azerbaijan focused on enlightenment and a wide range of issues concerning multiculturalism, the unity of different cultures and tolerance. Articles, poems and reviews by prominent figures in Azerbaijan were published in such newspapers as
such as Abu Turab Akhundzada, Molla Ruhulla, Akhund Yusif Talibzada, Mir Mahammad Karim al-Bakuvi, alongside intellectuals such as Mirza Kazimbay, Mirza Fatali Akhundzada, Hasan Zardabi, Mohammadagha Shahtakhtli, Seyid Azim Shirvani, Huseyn Javid, Uzeyir Hacibayli, Mohammad Hadi, Ahmad Aghoghlu, Ahmad Huseynzada, Jeyhun Hajibayli, Jalil Mammadquluzada and others wanted to save the Azerbaijani people from ignorance and religious prejudice through their articles on the problems of religious sects, enmity towards the secular sciences and the problem of education of women. Sheikh ul-Islam Ahmad Huseynzada Salyani and Mirza Fatali Akhundzada both supported alphabet reform and wrote in articles in Akinchi about the importance of teaching the new secular sciences alongside religious ones. In an article in the newspaper Ishiq (Light), the Mufti of the Transcaucasus Huseyn Qayibov defended the idea of equal opportunities for women and men in education, quoting hadith (sayings of the Prophet Mohammed) on the subject, and said that Christians and Muslims could live in peace. These ideas were also supported by Abdussalam Akhundzada, who said that Muslims should treat non-Muslims with respect. He said that the clergy of both sides bore serious responsibilities for the solution of the Muslim-Armenian conflict. Abdussalam Akhundzada was also one of the clergy who supported the teaching of the secular sciences together with religious ones. Sheikh ul-Islam Movlazada Shakivi, author of The Interpretation of the Koran in Azerbaijani, published a series of articles entitled ‘The Virtue of Science’ in Sharqi-Rus which gave examples from the Hadith and Holy Koran to support the ideas of enlightenment and stressed the need to go to study science even if it meant travelling as far from home as China.
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In an article ‘The Causes of Schism in Islam’ and elsewhere in his work, another progressive religious figure Abu Turab Akhundzada criticised sectarianism as one of the major problems in the Islamic world, stressing the idea of unity expressed in the Koran. His article ‘What Sciences Do We Need?’ published in Hayat noted the importance of the secular sciences. Islamic unity, the issues of religion and secular education were the main topics of articles by Molla Ruhulla published in Irshad. These religious figures thought there could be no development for Muslims without study of the secular sciences.
Mir Mahammad Karim Bakuvi, a prominent religious figure and ghazi of Baku, was the first to interpret the Koran in the Azerbaijani language in his The Discovery of Truth, a masterpiece of Islamic enlightenment. His social action, work and sermons are very rich in terms of multiculturalism. He played a pivotal role in the solution of the Muslim-Armenian conflict in 1906 together with the members of the ad hoc Commission, Alimardan Topchubashov, Ali bay Huseynzada and Ahmad Aghaoghlu, and tried to encourage religious unity. His work The Discovery of Truth and sermons published in Irshad supported unity in Islam, the study of the secular sciences and even the principles of the coexistence of Muslims and non-Muslims. Alongside the various religious figures, the secular thinkers and intelligentsia also made their contributions in their work to the idea of multiculturalism, tolerance, and respect for other religions and cultures. For example, the writing of the prominent orientalist Mirza Kazimbay is of particular interest from the point of view of multiculturalism. He focused his attention on oriental philosophy, literature, and religious freedom. His articles are important sources on multiculturalism; for example, ‘Sheikh Sadi Muslihiddin Shirazi’s ‘Flower Garden’’ published in Kazansky Vestnik (Kazan Herald), ‘Ferdowsi and Persian Mythology’ published in Severnoye Obozreniye (Northern Review), ‘Muridism and Shamil’, ‘Islam, Muhammad’ and ‘Bab and the Babis’ published in Russkoye Slovo (Russian Word). Mirza. Kazimbay, who later adopted Christianity, pointed out the spiritual closeness of the different holy scriptures. He seriously analysed the religion of Islam, criticizing sectarianism. He considered Sufism the most reformist movement in Islam and conducted extensive research into Babism, describing it as the most reformist religious movement of its time. He emphasized the movement’s importance for enlightenment and its struggle against fanaticism. He supported the Babi poet Zerrintaj Tahira khanim who fought for the freedom of women. As a prominent orientalist, Mirza Kazimbay closely studied oriental literature and made interesting comparisons between Persian and Greek literature, Ferdowsi and Homer. The work of the Azerbaijani thinker Mirza Fatali Akhundzada is also of great interest from the point of view of multiculturalism. In his ‘Three Letters from Indian Prince Kemal ud-Dovle to Iranian Prince Jemal ud-Dovle’ he noted the importance of reform in Islam, and as an example mentioned Western culture in the fight against religious fanaticism. In his letters to Hasan bay Zardabi published in the newspaper Akinchi he wrote of the need to put an end to sectarian conflicts so that Muslims could develop. He demonstrated the importance of secular education and the study of foreign languages, citing as an example the Western nations that had developed by relying on secular education. In his Letters of Kemal ud-Dovle and in his article ‘The Babi Creeds’ he wrote about religious freedom and the progressive ideas of Babism, one of the religious movements of the time, which called for unity, and about the views of poet Zerrintaj Tahira khanim and her views on the freedom of women. In his poems published in the newspaper Akinchi the prominent poet Seyid Azim Shirvani noted the importance of the study of
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languages, particularly Russian. He wrote, ‘To me all the nations in the world are equal’ and respected all nations, irrespective of their faith. He did not make any distinction between Shia and Sunni or between Islam and Christianity.
Another leading figure in Azerbaijan’s enlightenment movement was Hasan Zardabi, who published the country’s first newspaper Akinchi. In an article in Hayat newspaper on the building of a Muslim theatre in Baku, Zardabi criticized people who fanned the flames of the Sunni-Shia schism, pointing out that the aim of Muslim festivals such as the Feast of the Sacrifice, of fasting and the Hajj pilgrimage is to unite all Muslims. His article ‘Our songs’ highlights the importance of studying the secular sciences for the development of Muslims. The newspapers Ziya, Ziyayi-Qafqaziyya and Kashkul, published by the Unsizada brothers, are interesting sources on multiculturalism in the late 19th century. For example, in an article entitled ‘Muqaddima’ (Foreword) published in Kashkul Jalal Unsizada wrote that the Christian nations living in the Caucasus had developed because of secular education and emphasized the need for Muslims to follow their path of development. Another leading figure in the Azerbaijani enlightenment movement was Mohammadagha Shahtakhtli, founder of the Shargi-Rus newspaper. In his articles ‘Our Dreams and Medicines’ and ‘How to save Turkey?’ he wrote about the importance of the assimilation of European culture for the development of Muslims. In his newspaper he published articles by distinguished Muslim religious figures such as Akhund Mavlazada and stressed the unity of the secular and Islamic cultures. The satirical magazine Molla Nasraddin founded by Jalil Mammadquluzada, which cooperated with Shargi-Rus, can also be considered a source of social and political journalism on multiculturalism in Azerbaijan. Despite his controversial views on religion, Mammadquluzada defended freedom of conscience and belief, which was a significant issue in religious enlightenment. He fought against those, who created interreligious conflicts and defended freedom of choice in religion. In his article ‘Babi’, published in Molla Nasraddin, he quoted a verse from the Holy Koran that there is no compulsion in religion. He supported the idea that no one should be forced to adopt a religion or belief against his will. The article supported the ideas of Babism and its successor the Baha’i faith, in particular the views of Baha’u’llah, leader of the Baha’i. Mammadquluzada referred to Baha’u’llah’s article ‘On the Unity of the Universe’ published in Baku in 1922, in which he defended ideas that are multicultural, such as that all people are members of one family. The prominent Islamic scholar Ahmad bay Aghaoghlu in his article ‘The Congress of the Orientalists’ in the newspaper Kavkaz, analysed the influence of the ancient Persian and Indian cultures on Islam. In a series of articles entitled ‘The Situation of the Muslim Nations’, he expressed his ardent support for the idea of the unity and social development of the Muslim nations, as he thought that the unity of Islam would lead to national development. Starting with his article published in the very first issue of Hayat newspaper, Aghaoghlu suggested the idea of a synthesis of Islam and Turkism. One of the main problems of that time was the Sunni-Shia conflict. In his work Aghaoghlu defended the principle set out in the Holy Koran that ‘all believers are brothers’. In ‘Iran and Revolution’ he praised the struggle of Nadir Shah against sectarianism and his efforts to unite the Sunni and Shia sects. In articles published in the newspaper Irshad he condemned the conflicts between the Sunni and Shia, giving preference to unity in religious thought. He spread the idea of ‘Turkify, Islamicize and Modernize’ put forward by Ali bay Huseynzada, suggesting it as a national ideology. The idea was multicultural in nature and embraced Islamic morals and
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spirituality, a modern Western scientific outlook and Turkic culture. Aghaoghlu studied Azerbaijanis’ relations with neighbouring nations. In his article ‘The Truth about Baku’ published in the Russian newspaper Sankt-Peterburgskiye vedomosti he wrote that Armenians and Azerbaijanis had historically enjoyed friendly relations and condemned those who created conflict between the two nations. In a series of articles entitled ‘The General Character of Russian Literature’ published in the newspaper Cumhuriyyet (Republic) in Turkey, he wrote extensively for Azerbaijani readers on the history of Russian literature and classic Russian authors and their work.
The work of Ali bay Huseynzada, another prominent member of the intelligentsia of that period, is of great interest from the point of view of the study of multiculturalism, national and religious unity. In his article ‘An exemplary school’ published in the newspaper Hayat the author presented Turkic nationalism as an integral part of Islam; to him Turkism and Islam were equal and he saw them as the ideals of life. Huseynzada edited and published the journal Fuyuzat, where he focused attention on the ideology of Turkism; at the same time, he wrote about Western scientific methodology as well, encouraging its use. His articles ‘Our Writing, Our Language, Our Second Country’ published in the newspaper Taraggi (Progress) and ‘We criticize and are criticized’ published in Fuyuzat saw the salvation of the Islamic world in Muslim-minded patriots, who had absorbed European thinking, science and technology. By ‘Europeanization’ he did not mean the assimilation of Muslims, but the acquisition of European scientific and technological achievements. He also praised the efforts of Nadir Shah to put an end to the Sunni-Shia confrontation. The symbolic value of the three colours of the Azerbaijani flag (blue, red and green) of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and today’s independent Republic of Azerbaijan comes from Huseynzada’s idea of ‘Turkify, Islamicize and Europeanize’. Articles by the Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibayli are also rich in the ideas of multiculturalism. In his article ‘Here and There: a Warning’ published in the newspaper Taraqqi, he severely criticized those who called the enlightenment intelligentsia ‘Babis’ and blasphemers. In his article ‘Their Eminences the Sheikhs ul-Islam and Education’ published in the newspaper Haqiqat (Truth) Uzeyir Hajibayli recommended the institution of higher religious schools in the south Caucasus to produce genuinely educated Muslim clergy. He also encouraged the spread of secular education for Muslims. His brother Jeyhun Hajibayli (1891-1962) also produced social and political journalism, promoting enlightenment and multiculturalism. His articles in Kaspi (Caspian) newspaper are especially interesting. In one, ‘On the translation of the Koran’, Hajibayli wrote that the cause of religious conflicts was the lack of a single interpretation of the Koran. He put forward the idea of Muslim solidarity and the desire of Muslims to live together with other nations. According to Jeyhun Hajibayli, the reason for the illiteracy of most mullahs was the lack of higher ecclesiastical schools. He thought it important to open a seminary not just for one Islamic sect, but for all. He saw the philosophy of the unity of Islam as the only way out of the situation. Azerbaijani playwright Husein Javid had a complete madrasa (Islamic school) education and worked as a teacher of Shariah (Islamic law). He criticized the illiterate mullahs for their limited intellect and the damage they inflicted on religion and the nation in his articles ‘Urmiya’ and ‘Revealing the heart’ published in the newspaper Sharqi-Rus. He said the study of the sciences knows no borders and stressed the need to study not only the religious sciences, but also the secular ones such as history and philosophy. He advised students to benefit from the learning of foreign countries and quoted hadiths from the Prophet Muhammad:
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‘Seek knowledge even if you have to go as far as China’ and ‘Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave’.
In the early 20th century there was a great need for a journal that addressed women and their problems. Khadija khanim Alibayova (1884-1960) took up this task: she edited the newspaper Ishiq (Light), with the financial support of Zeynalabdin Taghiyev. From 12 January 1911 to the end of 1912 the newspaper published 68 issues. Although it was in Azerbaijani, some articles appeared in Russian too. The newspaper came out weekly and dedicated its first issues to housekeeping, although there were columns on other topics too such as Islamic laws and secular issues. From its first issue the newspaper emphasized the importance for Muslim women of studying secular sciences along with religious sciences, noting that secular education would help Muslim women to protect their rights. Articles by the Mufti of the Caucasus Huseyn Afandi Qayibov and progressive cleric Molla Ruhulla also appeared in Ishiq. The media in the late 19th and early 20th centuries investigated the Azerbaijani people’s relations with their neighbours and their cultural ties. They wrote about the impact of Azerbaijani multiculturalism on the culture of the neighbouring nations. From the second half of the 19th century the newspapers Mshak (Labourer), Murj (Hammer) and Nordar (New Century) published in Armenian wrote about the literary and social atmosphere of Azerbaijan. For example, in his newspaper Mshak ethnic Armenian writer Aleksandr Shirvanzada, who lived in Azerbaijan, praised the publication of Akinchi. In a letter to the editor of Mshak, the editor of Akinchi, Hasan bay Zardabi, expressed his desire to develop cultural relations. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries relations between the Georgian and Azerbaijani peoples are also interesting from the point of view of multiculturalism. The newspaper Sakhalkho (The nation) published in Georgian at the beginning of the 20th century, and the magazine Teatri da sxovreba (Theatre and life), reported on the successful performance of the operettas of Hajibayli. The newspaper Ishari contained news about Azerbaijani culture and praised the talented people of Azerbaijan. Literary critic Abdulla Tofiq Shur noted the importance of translations both ways of Azerbaijani and Georgian literature. In his article ‘A look at the literature of our Georgian neighbours in the Caucasus’ published in the newspaper Hayat he wrote widely for Azerbaijani readers about the Georgian national poet Shota Rustaveli and the Georgian writer Ilia Chavchavadze. In his articles in the newspaper Iveria Chavchavadze in turn praised the Azerbaijanis and wrote about their positive traits: ‘The Azerbaijanis are frank, calm, discreet and noble.’ Firudin Kocharli conveyed his positive impressions of the Georgian people in an article in Irshad newspaper ‘The knanate of Karabakh under the rule of the Javanshirs’. Azerbaijani-Georgian relations developed further in the Soviet era, especially through the work of Azerbaijani poets Samad Vurghun, Suleyman Rustam and others. In the early 20th century the Azerbaijani media also wrote about the work of prominent Russian writers, as well as their Armenian and Georgian counterparts. For example, Hashim bay Vazirov published a series of articles in the newspaper Ittifaq (Union) about the work of the Russian authors Tolstoy, Gogol, Griboyedov and Nekrasov. Tolstoy was translated and published in the newspapers Fuyuzat and Shargi-Rus. The Kashkul publishing house printed Lermontov’s ‘The Heavenly Ship’, and the books Mother Tongue and Kalila and Dimna by Aleksey Chernyayevskiy and Safarali Valibayov. The promotion of famous Russian writers continued during the Soviet era in Azerbaijan because of their importance for friendship among the nations. We can say in conclusion that the journalistic work of both the religious and secular intelligentsia of the time was based on
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traditions of religious and national unity, integration into world culture and multiculturalism, and that it can serve as a source and example for the younger generation on how to tackle the problems of the modern era.
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