UNESCO marks 900th anniversary of Azerbaijani poetess Mahsati Ganjavi
Paris, May 17 (AZERTAC). The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) with the organizational support of Azerbaijan`s permanent representation at this organization and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan have marked the 900th anniversary of the Azerbaijani poetess Mahsati Ganjavi (12th century).
Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Elchin Efendiyev spoke of the creativity of Mahsati Ganjavi, noting, that as the world coryphaei Dante, Rabelais, Fizuli, Shakespeare, Cervantes, Voltaire and Tolstoy, the Azerbaijani poetess Mahsati belongs to the entire humanity, with her literary heritage.
“Not by chance that President of Azerbaijan has issued a special decree on celebration of Mahsati Ganjavi`s 900th anniversary”, Efendiyev underlined. “Such respect for national literary heritage was established still by the late national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev”, he said.
Elchin Efendiyev stressed the role of Azerbaijan`s First Lady, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva in development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and UNESCO.
The ceremony was addressed by Dr Tang Qian, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, Azerbaijani MP, correspondent member of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, the researcher of Mahsati Ganjavi`s creativity Rafael Huseynov.
Rafael Huseynov in particular said: “Mahsati Ganjavi was a 12th century poet, born in Ganja, Azerbaijan. She received education, closely acquainted with Eastern literature and music.
Mahsati Ganjavi was a famous rubai writer recognized not only in her epoch, but much later also. Her most productive period of creation was spent in the palace of Sultan Mahmud Seljuk and that of his uncle Sanjar Seljuk. Mahsati Ganjavi commonly wrote rubai in Persian. The love plot holds the main place in her creations. The rubais are marked out by their worldliness, humanism, epicurism and optimism. Mahsati Ganjavi describes love as a fragile natural feeling, which makes a man`s fame higher. The poetess protested against religious prejudices, hypocrisy and conservatism, and protected a man`s moral freedom. Her poems reflected the people`s, especially, the women`s romantic dreams of a free and happy life.”
The event culminated with a concert of Azerbaijani masters of art.
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