BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. On April 15, the
presentation of the book "Iravan: Echoes of History and Lost
Heritage" by Doctor of Philology, Professor Farida Safiyeva,
published in Azerbaijani, Russian, English and French with the
support of Leyla Aliyeva, was held at the Magsud Ibrahimbekov
Creativity Center, Trend reports.
Leyla Aliyeva and Alena Aliyeva attended the presentation
ceremony.
Prior to the event, a minute of silence was observed in memory
of Azerbaijan’s prominent ophthalmologist, scientist, academician
and public figure Zarifa Aliyeva.
Then, Anna Ibrahimbekova, Director of the Magsud Ibrahimbekov
Creativity Center, highlighted the importance of the book,
expressing her satisfaction with its presentation in this
particular venue.
Rufat Mahmud, Chairman of the Board of the “Icherisheher” State
Historical-Architectural Reserve Administration, said that
Icherisheher is not only important tourism site, but also serves as
an art, creative and intellectual center.
Speaking at the event, Head of the Western Azerbaijan History
Department of the Abbasgulu Agha Bakikhanov Institute of History
and Ethnology of ANAS, editor of the book Jabi Bahramov mentioned
that the project is of great importance from both a historical and
legal perspective, underlining that Iravan has an ancient history
and that the origin of toponyms in the region dates back to very
ancient times.
Aygun Aliyeva, Executive Director of the Agency for State
Support to Non-Governmental Organizations, stressed the importance
of preparing such publications and presenting them to the
public.
Emphasizing that she hails from Iravan, the author of the book,
Farida Safiyeva, described this book as not just a scientific
activity for her, but also as a moral responsibility and duty.
The event continued with an artistic part featuring rich
cultural program.
The publication seeks to provide a scientific basis for the
claim that Iravan represents an ancient civilization and a primary
cultural hub for the Azerbaijani people. The book extensively
explores the city’s centuries-old history, its rich cultural
heritage, and the lives and creativity of personalities who played
an important role in its formation. Despite attempts to
purposefully erase the Azerbaijani identity of Iravan as a result
of the tragic events that occurred in the 19th and 20th centuries,
its original image has been reflected in archival documents,
photographs, and scientific sources.
This research work is an important scientific source serving to
restore those truths, study the forgotten Azerbaijani national and
cultural heritage of Iravan, and pass it on to future
generations.
