Nizami Ganjavi - an unattainable example of human genius

By AzerNews

By Dr. Murad Najafbayli

The richness of world culture is a reminder of eternal infinity. This endless ocean is embodied by the unique scientific, philosophic and artistic pearls that originate from the human intellect. The humanist creativity of Nizami Ganjavi, the most prominent figure of medieval Azerbaijani philosophical poetry, who enchanted the East and West for centuries, occupies a special place in this moral cultural treasure, and humanity has preserved and immortalised his works with deep respect and love.

The Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi was born in 1141 in the city of Ganja. This is where he lived his whole life and died. All ancient and reliable sources also indicate that this is where his family originated from. As is well-known from the works of the poet, he received an education in his native city. Extensive opportunities for study existed in Ganja during this period.

The rich creative work of the great poet is one of the most luminous phases in the development of ancient Azerbaijani culture. Nizami Ganjavi launched a new chapter in the consideration of Eastern public art. He incorporated eternal traditions into his artistic creativity, was appreciated and followed with love for centuries and has not lost his significance even today. Nizami Ganjavi brought a quite new poetic voice and impulsion to world literature with five poems, which have lost none of their impact ("The Treasure of Secrets", "Khosrov and Shirin", "Leyli and Majnun", "Seven Beauties" and "Iskandarname"). These substantive lyrical verses and poems, a new genre in their time, were later glorified as "Panj ganj" (Five Treasures) and are like precious pearls adorning the treasury of world literature.

Because of the creativity of Nizami Ganjavi and his followers, the XIIth-XVIth centuries are considered to correspond to a period of Renaissance in Azerbaijani literature. The influence of Nizami Ganjavi, known as 'The genius of Ganja', is global. He had an impact on the literary and cultural values of the East, and on those of the West, which were inspired by the heritage of the Azerbaijani poet. Indeed, the creativity of Nizami Ganjavi was a new step in the classical period, an awakening from the mysticism of the Middle Ages. Through healthy and vigilant thinking, he testifies to a rational and logical attitude towards events and processes, human beings and the meaning and importance of society using highly evolved humanist ideas. It was considered that a human being was created to live a happy life and no evil power could change this divine fate and godlike destiny. This is the main idea throughout all of Nizami's works. The same idea later revealed itself in the works of the masters of the European Renaissance.

Nizami Ganjavi brought the most sophisticated humanist ideas and new creative achievement to the literature of the peoples of the Middle East, leading a new trend in Eastern literature. As a great humanist poet, Nizami Ganjavi always strived to link literature with life itself. Whilst reviving his favourite themes from history, he modernised them, portraying humans and human dignity. He described the wishes and aspirations of the people and also included wise ideas derived from folk art and thinking. His highly skilful language created ideal masterpieces in terms of concept and creativity.

Nizami Ganjavi noted the richness of the world, its constant evolution and gradual blossoming with a great deal of admiration. According to the poet, life is continuously moving forward, advancing and progressing. There is always motion and room for improvement as far as thoughts and views are concerned. Obsolescence and innovation come face-to-face with this development and advancement. The genius poet took a brave stance in rejecting this obsolescence. For innovation to triumph, the obstacles before it must be eradicated and eliminated.

The works of Nizami Ganjavi have been translated into many languages. The rare manuscript copies of his works are kept and preserved like precious pearls in famous libraries, museums and literary foundations in cities such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Baku, Tashkent, Tabriz, Tehran, Cairo, Istanbul, Delhi, London, Paris and others. His creative works played an important role in the further development of Eastern art. Since the end of the XVIIth century, there has been growing interest in the heritage of Nizami Ganjavi in Europe and Russia. His masterpieces have been translated into English, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Japanese and other foreign languages and his lifetime and creative output have been thoroughly studied.

The great volume of Nizami Ganjavi's art and the purity of his aesthetic ideal greatly influenced the ensuing development of Azerbaijani literature. The principles of humanism and democracy defined by this great genius extended humanistic trends not only in Azerbaijan, but also in the whole Near and Middle East, and in Western literature.

Placing great emphasis on freedom of speech and expression and inviting people, especially the rulers of his time, to work for peace and security, Nizami Ganjavi laid the foundations of the concept of "pacifism" reflected in the UN Charter.

Nizami Ganjavi passed away in 1209 in his native city of Ganja. A grandiose tomb has now been raised over his grave. The name of the genius poet and thinker was eternalised in his native homeland - Azerbaijan. His works have been published repeatedly and are in mass circulation. The 800th and 840th anniversaries of the birth of Nizami Ganjavi were widely celebrated and now various events and ceremonies are being held in Azerbaijan and abroad on the occasion of the celebration of the 870th anniversary of his birth.

Dr. Murad N.Najafbayli, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva.