The Department of South Azerbaijan Literature of the Nizami Ganjavi Institute of Literature of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences has republished Seyid Jafar Pishevari’s book “Golden Pages” (From the History of the Struggle of the Azerbaijani People for National Liberation).
The book includes documents related to the establishment and activities of the National Government (1945-1946) in South Azerbaijan, as well as articles and letters from the head of the government, S.J. Pishevari, and political activists of that period reflecting the course of historical events.
“Golden Pages” was published in Baku by the “Elm” publishing house based on the 1946 edition of this book (Tabriz, Elmiyya Printing House).
At the beginning of the publication, it was noted that the idea for this book, which is a collection of materials on the history and establishment of the National Government, was given to Pishevari by his friend Mirza Ibrahimov. In the introduction to the book, Pishevari once noted this: “A friend of ours from the movement told me, ‘Yaz’. It was Mirza Ibrahimov.”
The book “Golden Pages” is a reputable encyclopedia about the history of the National Government. During the Soviet era, the archive of the national movement was classified. The period of independence provided Azerbaijani readers with the opportunity to get acquainted with the true history of the National Government.
In 2012, the website of southern emigrants www.achiq.info posted a version of the book “Golden Pages” converted to Latin script on its pages in PDF format with the note “Selected articles from the book”. That publication was given with the note “Prepared by: açıksöz”. The authors considered it necessary to remain anonymous. About 50 of the 186 articles in the original book were abbreviated in that resource.
This edition presented to readers covers all 186 articles in the original of “Golden Pages” and can also be considered a new edition of the book. The scientific editor of the publication and the head of the project is Rahim Aliyev, Doctor of Philology. The editors are Fikret Suleymanoglu, Doctor of Philosophy in Philology, and Elmira Bagirova. The transliteration and compilation were carried out by Elmira Bagirova, Afag Mehdibeyova, and the Persian texts were translated by Hokume Allahverdiyeva and Ibrahim Guliyev.
In the section of the new edition entitled “S.C. Pishevari’s Testament Book”, it is noted that Pishevari called the national movement of 1945-1946 a heroic epic of Azerbaijanis and compared it with “Shahnameh”. He wrote: “People will die, buildings will be destroyed, cities and villages will be renewed, but the “Golden Pages” will remain the same forever, and not even a single sentence will be changed. Firdovsi died and disappeared, and Sultan Mahmud turned into dust in the turmoil of the world, but the “Shahnameh” has lived to this day and will live again. The “Golden Pages” will live as long as the world stands, like the “Shahnameh” and similar works, and will tell those who come about our movement.”
This book, intended for academics, students and a wide audience, draws attention to the fact that this year, December 12, will mark the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the National Government. This edition of the “Golden Pages” is dedicated to the memory of all our compatriots who were martyred in connection with the movement.
