Lermontov Tree in Ganja

By Vestnik Kavkaza

Azerbaijan is marking the 200th birthday of Lermontov almost as broadly as Russia. The poet visited Azerbaijan and met there the great enlightener Mirza Fatali Ahundov; he wanted to study the Azerbaijani language and even wrote a fairytale “Ashik Kerib” based on Azerbaijani folklore. Yesterday an event and a concert devoted to Lermontov’s works were held in Baku. A round-table discussion “The Creative Heritage of Lermontov as Part of World Culture” took place in the Heydar Aliyev Center.

Azerbaijani politicians and cultural activists, as well as a delegation from Moscow headed by Mikhail Lermontov, the president of the Association “Lermontov Heritage,” the head of the Moscow Public Chamber's Commission for Culture, came to the events, which were organized by the First Lady of Azerbaijan, the President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Mehriban Aliyeva.

Yesterday a delegation of the Federation Council headed by Ilyas Umakhanov, a senator from Dagestan, arrived in Baku to participate in the Lermontov events. Two days ago Leila Aliyeva, the vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the initiator and head of the IDEA, and guests from Russia visited Gandja.

They visited the Heydar Aliyev Park Ensemble. Elmar Valiyev, the head of the executive power in Ganja, told guests that the park occupying 350 hectares is one of the favorite places of the city’s residents. There are such facilities as the Heydar Aliyev Center, the Youth Palace, the Modern Art Museum and entertainment centers.

Admirers of Lermontov’s works from Russia and Azerbaijan climbed to the 41-meter-high Victory Arch and admired the park ensemble; then they walked through the Fountain Parkway to the Heydar Aliyev Center. Near a Christmas tree in the parkway they met Father Frost and Snegurochka. Then they headed to the 3-thousand-seat amphitheater, where mass events and concerts of Azerbaijani and foreign cultural activists are usually held.

Leyla Aliyeva and guests from Russia viewed models of the Maiden Tower demonstrated at the international Maiden Tower Festival. Baku hosts the festival annually, the Heydar Aliyev Fund sponsors it. The guests saw sycamores planted by Heydar Aliyev and planted some trees themselves. Leyla Aliyeva planted a sycamore and named it the "Lermontov Tree."

The guests visited the memorial of Heydar Aliyev and entered a center named after him. The center's square covers 7,000 square meters. It has a conference hall, computer clubs, clubs of foreign languages, dancing and carpet-making, and a 10D cinema center. Leyla Aliyeva opened an IDEA city resource center of Ganja at the Heydar Aliyev Center. IDEA activists welcomed the guests to a carpet-making club. Leyla became the initiator of the landscaping marathon of Azerbaijan. The visitors consider Ganja's status of European Youth Center in 2016 to be a demonstration of the government's special attention and care toward young people.

They observed dance rehersals at the music club of the center and visited the Heydar Aliyev park complex. The guests met public officials of the city taking part in the marathon. 50,000 trees will be planted. 10,000 trees were planted on December 23. Lermontov connoisseurs each planted a sycamore. Poet Rubail read verses, academician Fuad Aliyev thanked the initiators of the marathon.

They visited the reconstructed Nizami Ganjavi Mausoleum. It was expanded and reconstructed in 2011 for the 870th anniversary of the poet.

Azerbaijan organizes Lermontov-related events throughout the year. Teachers and students of Baku State University, Baku Slav University, pupils and compatriot organizations interested in literature and sculpture attended an exhibition called "Love for Homeland Voiced by Mikhail Lermontov and Mirza Fatali Akhundov".

Russian culture and literature have always been a highlight in Azerbaijan. Schools continue studies of the Russian language. The Russian Drama Theater, the Russian Cultural Center, Baku Slav University and the Baku branch of the M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University are open in Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani president ordered translations of works by Russian writers and poets, including Lermontov, into Azerbaijani. "They are donated to the libraries of our country free of charge. Every inhabitant of Azerbaijan who does not know the Russian language may become familiar with the art of the great poet in the Azerbaijani language. The traditions will continue, because the connection of the Russian and Azerbaijani cultures is enduring. This is proven by the humanitarian forums and forums of intercultural dialogue regularly hosted in Baku," Azerbaijani Minister for Culture and Tourism Abulfas Garayev says.