Qatar National Library and the Embassy of Azerbaijan to Qatar recently hosted an event to honor the great poet and thinker Nizami Ganjavi on the 880th anniversary of his birth. Ganjavi was one of the greatest representatives of the Eastern Renaissance and contributed to world literature and philosophy in his immortal work Khamsa [Five], showing the aesthetic power of his art.
The event was inaugurated by His Excellency Dr. Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari, Minister of State, Qatar and President of Qatar National Library, followed by a speech from His Excellency Mr. Elnur Aliyev, Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Dr. Mael Yagub, a PhD in Philosophy and the founder of the Academy of Philosophy and Sociology in Azerbaijan, also delivered a speech on the topic of “The Image of the Ideal Person and His Features in the Works of Nizami Ganjavi.”
On the occasion, His Excellency Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari, Minister of State, Qatar and President of Qatar National Library, said, “Qatar and Azerbaijan have shared years of cultural, historical and religious values that have strengthened the relationship between the two countries and its people. It is an honor for us to celebrate the great poet and writer Nizami Ganjavi’s literary work today. As a heritage library, we are proud to feature his work and manuscripts in our collections and showcase some of the rare manuscripts that we have. Qatar National Library celebrates its vision of bringing people together through literature and poetry, a vision pursued through our belief that culture is the best ambassador for communication between communities. We believe today’s session will enrich and empower our communities with literary and historical knowledge, which played an integral role in the development of the Arab and Islamic population. We are also pleased to present a digital copy of these manuscripts to our friends in Azerbaijan on the 880th anniversary of the great poet and philosopher.”
H.E. Elnur Aliyev First Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan further added, “On the occasion, H.E. Elnur Aliyev First Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan said "Nizami was not just a poet, he was a man of wisdom who focused on humanity, human beings, justice, gender issues, good neighborhood and the importance of women in society. He said, 'beauty is not something you inherit, but something you can achieve and accomplish'. Nizami's work has inspired us in many ways, acting as the bridge between people as they are today and their better versions tomorrow. His work continues to unite people, nations and cultures across borders. I am thankful for this opportunity to celebrate 880 years of Nizami Ganjavi at Qatar National Library and hope to continue strengthening our joint efforts in the areas of literature and poetry in the coming years.”.
The session explored electronic copies of the Azerbaijani collections of Nizami’s works, as well as manuscripts, miniatures and paintings inspired by Nizami’s work. The Library shed light on some of Nizami’s works that have been translated by Abdulaziz Bakoush into Arabic, such as “Makhzan-ul-Asrar,” “Khosrow and Shirin” and “Haft Peykar.”
The Library’s efforts towards showcasing great poets, writers and artists from the region reflect its commitment to preserving and conserving Arab history and culture. Over the years, the region has played a significant role in contributing to the art, education, culture and heritage fields, and the Library honors these contributions as they shape future generations.
Library events continue to be held in accordance with the national Covid-19 protocols. To learn more about our ongoing events and initiatives, please visit the Events page on the Library’s website (https://www.qnl.qa/en/events).
