In memoriam: Ziya Bunyadov. Part 2

The famous Azerbaijani orientalist died 15 years ago: on February 21, 1997, he was murdered at the entrance to his apartment in Baku. Ziya’s father was Azerbaijani, his mother was Russia. A brilliant scholar, he also translated the works of his colleagues from English, Arab, Russian and Turkish. His own books were published in many countries. The scholar’s widow, Tagira Buniyatova, shared her memories of him with our ‘VK’ correspondent.

-       Did he tell you about battles?

-       Of course. He told not only me, but also students in the university. He fought for Bendery, lost his friend there and suffered it painfully. There were a lot of gypsies in Bendery. A gypsy offered him fortunetelling. He said: “I don’t want it, I don’t believe in it.” The gipsy didn’t yield and told him: “Twice you will be hurt, once – contused, then the star will shine for you and you will live.” Ziya didn’t believe her, but when the battle began, he was inspired by her words. He was brave and sure that wouldn’t die. He was hurt twice and contused once. In May he received the Hero's Star.

-       How did he get into a penal battalion?

-       When Ziya was sent to reconnoitre, he was the leader of the group. They sneaked behind enemy lines, and at this moment the Soviet army began an attack. The commanding officer asked the commander of the reconnaissance group: “Why did the group go to reconnoitre if the army is attacking?” He said he didn’t send anyone. Ziya broke down: “You didn’t send us?!” He took his gun and shot at the commander’s shoulder. Ziya was a Hero of the Soviet Union. Stalin was reported to about the incident. Stalin said: “Make no noise, settle the affair.” After that, Ziya was proposed to become a commander of a penal troop. Ziya agreed at once.

-       When did you feel the young hero fall in love with you?

-       Men respected him, girls adored him, and I was afraid of him. He used to appear right in front of me, serious, grim and silent. I was tiny and fragile. I tried to avoid him. I told my mother about this guy I was afraid of. And she said I should be nice to him. Next time he stood in my way I said “Hello!” He was shocked and didn’t know what to do. Later I understood that the hero expressed his interest in me by such strange behavior, as I was one of the few Azerbaijanis at the university. Ziya was brave, but shy. When we had dances, young men avoided me. It appeared Ziya punished every guy who dared to dance with me. Once he came to our dormitory with a bag in his hands. He said: “Girls, I have brought food for you.” We were surprised and kept silent, and Ziya thought we were not glad to see him. But it wasn’t so. Later he got a parcel from Azerbaijan. All the students gathered in his room. There were boots and apples inside. We ate them all together.

The permanent mission of Azerbaijan in Moscow paid a special scholarship for Azeri students, and Ziya was working as a curator there. He settled various problems of Azeri students in Moscow and gave scholarships to them. I decided that I could have this scholarship too, as I am Azerbaijani. The envoy sent me to Ziya, who refused to pay me the scholarship, as I came to Moscow from Uzbekistan. I was disappointed.

Once in spring we faced each other near a classroom and he complimented me that I was pretty. We laughed and I forgave him.

-       How did Buniyatov propose to you?

-       He proposed to me simply. My neighbour Valya fell in love with a pilot and they decided to get married. The wedding was celebrated in our room, we laid a rich table. Zia was there. He entered the hall to wash his hands. I helped him to pour water. He washed hands and then looked at me and said: “Tagira, be my wife.” I was confused. I didn’t say “yes” or “no.” “I will think about it, ask my mother and relatives,” I said. I wrote to my mom. Despite all the difficulties, my mother sent my sister Khaver to me. My sister came with the intention of persuading me from marriage with a poor student. But when she met Ziya, she changed her mind. We got married in May 1947. The wedding was celebrated in our dormitory. Our child was born in our dormitory too. However, it was a very difficult period in our life. I fed my son with breast milk for three years, as we had no other food for him.

-       What was Ziya like in your family life?

-       He was a very kind person. If he visited other countries, he brought everything for everyone, but not for himself. People tried to bribe him for their children to finish university successfully. Ziya didn’t take money. Only books were valuable to him, and money wasn’t important. He had been translating the Koran for 4.5 years. We have all the Korans of the world at home. Why do people like the Koran translated by Ziya Buniyatov most of all? Because he uncovers each word written in the holy book. There is the museum of the Koran in Jordan and the best item is the Koran translated by Zia Buniyatov.

Interview by Ramin Naziev, Baku. Exclusively to VK