Almas Ildyrym Azerbaijani emigrant poet. Date of Birth: 24.03.1907 Country: Azerbaijan

1. Almas Ildyrym: An Emigrant Azerbaijani Poet
2. Education and Early Life
3. A Patriot Poet
4. Exile and Persecution
5. Life in Turkey
6. Literary Legacy
7. Final Resting Place

Almas Ildyrym: An Emigrant Azerbaijani Poet

Almas Ildyrym (1907-1952) was a celebrated Azerbaijani poet who lived and worked in exile. Born on March 24, 1907, in the Gala suburb of Baku, he stands among the greats of Azerbaijani literature, alongside notable poets like Huseyn Javid, Jafar Jabbarly, and Mikail Mushfig.

Education and Early Life

Ildyrym began his education at the Ittihad (Unity) school before attending high school. In 1925, he successfully passed the entrance exam for Baku University's Department of Eastern Literature. However, his admission was revoked due to his father's status as a merchant, a social class that was frowned upon at the time.

A Patriot Poet

Ildyrym dedicated his life to the fight for freedom, justice, and the independence of Azerbaijan. He joined the Society of Azerbaijani Proletarian Writers, where he penned poems expressing his views on the complexities of his homeland and the intense class struggles that plagued society. The somber themes of his work drew criticism from those who demanded a celebration of the supposed successes of the proletarian revolution.

Exile and Persecution

In 1927, Ildyrym's poem "Oh, Mountains!" was published in Turkey. At the time, this act was considered treasonous, and he was banished to the North Caucasus. This was the first of several blows that fate would deal him. In Dagestan, Ildyrym continued to voice his bold views through the newspaper "Dagystan Fuggarasy" and published a collection of poems titled "When the Mountains Sing" (1930). However, his writings were deemed counterrevolutionary, and his book was confiscated.

Subsequently, Ildyrym was exiled to Turkmenistan, where he became the principal of a school for children of Turkish immigrants. In 1933, he joined a trading caravan heading to Iran, but was arrested at the border and imprisoned for 25 days.

Life in Turkey

Undeterred, Ildyrym decided to move to Turkey, where he spent the next 17 years. He immersed himself in Turkish literature, collaborating with various publications. He traveled through the country, collecting and recording folk songs that later formed the basis of his book "Gara Dastan."

Literary Legacy

Ildyrym's first collection of poems, "Nezaghlunmush Sesi" (Unquenched Voice), was published in Turkey in 1936. In 1990, "Almas Ildyrym and His Poems" was published in Baku, featuring a selection of his works. In 1994, his epic poem "Gara Dastan" was published, thanks to the tireless efforts of Mahir Teymurov, the director of the S. Mumtaz State Archive of Literature and Art. The search for Ildyrym's scattered works continues, aided by his family, fellow poets, and countless admirers.

Final Resting Place

Almas Ildyrym died on January 14, 1952, in Elazig, Turkey. His son, who lived in Istanbul, visited Baku in 1993 but unexpectedly passed away and was buried in Shuvalan.

Throughout his life, Ildyrym yearned to return to his homeland, and his dream was fulfilled posthumously through his enduring poetry. Today, streets, schools, and works of art bear his name, and his verses continue to inspire generations. A documentary film about his life and work was produced in Azerbaijan, and his poems have been included in the "Golden Fund of Azerbaijan" by President Ilham Aliyev.