Mirza-Fatali Ahundov

Mirza-Fatali Ahundov

Azerbaijani writer
Date of Birth: 30.06.1812
Country: Azerbaijan

Content:
  1. Azerbaijani Writer Mirza-Fatali Akhundov (1812-1878)
  2. Early Life
  3. First Significant Work - "Eastern Poem on Pushkin's Death"
  4. Contributions to Azerbaijani Literature
  5. "Deceived Stars" - Realistic Novel
  6. Reform of the Arabic Alphabet

Azerbaijani Writer Mirza-Fatali Akhundov (1812-1878)

Mirza-Fatali Akhundov was an Azerbaijani writer, philosopher, materialist, and public figure. He is considered the founder of Azerbaijani realistic literature.

Early Life

Mirza-Fatali Akhundov was born in 1812 in Sheki, which was part of the Russian Empire at the time (nowadays known as Nukha, the ancient name of the city was later restored). He was raised by his grandfather, Ahund Alesker, who held a high religious position. Akhundov received a religious education in a madrasa, where one of his teachers was Mirza-Shafi Vazeh. However, Vazeh steered Akhundov away from the religious path, which he later recalled: "This was the same Mirza Shafi, whose life and talented poetry were widely discussed in Germany (known as the 'plagiarism of F. Bodenstedt'-Ch.G.). Once he asked me, 'What goal do you pursue by studying sciences?' I replied that I wanted to become a mullah. Then he told me, 'Do you also want to become a hypocrite and a charlatan?.. Do not waste your life among this rabble. Find another occupation.'". Akhundov learned Azerbaijani, Persian, Arabic, and later Russian, and worked as a translator in the Russian administration in Tiflis, eventually reaching the rank of colonel.

First Significant Work - "Eastern Poem on Pushkin's Death"

Akhundov's first significant work was the "Eastern Poem on Pushkin's Death." It was written in early spring 1837 when the news of Pushkin's death reached Tiflis. The poem, signed under the pseudonym Sabuhi, was translated into Russian by the exiled Decembrist A.S. Bestuzhev-Marlinsky shortly before his own death. It was published in November of the same year in the "Moskovsky Nablyudatel" newspaper. The poem is an elegy mourning Pushkin's death and also serves as a poetic history of Russian literature, finding its perfect expression in Pushkin's poetry. The journal introduced the publication with an introduction, calling the poem a "beautiful flower" laid on Pushkin's grave and wishing success to the "remarkable talent." Akhundov was the first to realize, by translating many of his own works into Russian, that the path of Azerbaijani culture to global recognition goes through the Russian language, which proved true throughout the 20th century.

Contributions to Azerbaijani Literature

Akhundov had interactions with prominent figures of his time, such as Decembrists, participants of the Polish uprisings in the 1830s and 1860s, intellectuals from Georgian and Armenian cultures who lived in Tiflis. He was acquainted with M.Yu. Lermontov, who lived in Tiflis for some time and learned "Tatar" (Azerbaijani) language from Akhundov. There is a version that the plot of "Ashik-Karib" was suggested to him by Akhundov. In the 1850s and 1860s, Akhundov created six plays in the Azerbaijani language, which portrayed the life and customs of contemporary society. These plays laid the foundation for Azerbaijani drama and theater. Akhundov mocked prejudices, fanaticism, ignorance, hypocrisy, and bigotry. He spoke out against bureaucratic corruption, bribery, and oppression and advocated for honest work, high spiritual qualities, nobility, and secular education.

"Deceived Stars" - Realistic Novel

Akhundov is the author of the first realistic novel in Azerbaijani literature, "Deceived Stars," which has an original plot inspired by a short phrase taken from the ancient chronicle "History of the Adornment of the World, Shah Abbas." The novel expresses democratic beliefs. In the story, the tyrant Shah Abbas learns from an astrologer that the alignment of stars threatens his life. He installs a false Shah on the throne, and on the day predetermined by the stars, the false Shah dies, allowing Shah Abbas to reclaim his throne. However, the astrologer advises Shah Abbas to voluntarily renounce the throne and live as a commoner named Abbas, thereby avoiding the fatal influence of the stars. He should let a sinner, whose life is worthless, rule in his place. When the destructive action of the stars occurs above the false Shah, Shah Abbas can return to the throne. But the astrologer warns that if the people do not regard the sinner as the true Shah, the stars will discover the deception and find Shah Abbas, no matter where he hides, and destroy him. The sinner turns out to be a commoner who dreams of the well-being of the people and just rule, a "wicked man" who denounces tyranny. He is ceremoniously raised to the throne and, as the ruler, begins to enact democratic laws, cares about the happiness of the people, their education, purges the government of any impurities, foolish nobles, idlers, bribe-takers, and advocates for honest work and more. However, paradoxically, the more he strives for the people, the more their irritation, confusion, and murmurs grow. They question the legitimacy of the new Shah and wonder who rules them. The people cannot comprehend a ruler who is not tyrannical and powerful. Eventually, the people revolt against the incomprehensible Shah, and he is overthrown. At that moment, the astrologer reappears and, upon witnessing the destructive fate that fell upon the false Shah, triumphantly brings Shah Abbas back to the throne. Shah Abbas rules the country for many years, tormenting his own people. The story powerfully conveys democratic ideas about the structure of the state, criticizes religious dogmas, and challenges superstitions, primarily associated with Islam, although the author considers all religions as "empty phantoms." The publication of the novel faced obstacles, and Akhundov even faced familial problems due to the criticism of religious doctrines and his atheism.

Reform of the Arabic Alphabet

In the 1860s and 1870s, Akhundov advocated for the reform of the Arabic alphabet, suggesting its replacement with a Latin-based script adapted to the phonetic peculiarities of Turkic languages. This reform was only implemented briefly from 1927 to 1939 and later restored during Azerbaijan's independence. Akhundov also authored articles on philosophy, aesthetics, and poetics, where he advocated for realistic ideas. He criticized didactic works, stating that "today, such works can no longer benefit the people. Drama and novels are now considered useful and appealing to the taste of readers and the interests of the nation." He believed that truths written in the style of tender paternalistic sermons have no effect on people accustomed to bad behavior. These sermons and preachings only evoke disgust in the reader. Most of his works were published during his lifetime in both Russian (Comedies by M.F. Akhundov, 1853) and Azerbaijani languages (Comedies of Captain Mirza Fatali Akhundzade, Tiflis, 1859), as well as Persian, French, English, and German.

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