On April 22, the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University (ASPU) hosted the “Suleyman Sani Akhundov – 150” Republican Scientific and Practical Conference dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of Suleyman Sani Akhundov, a prominent representative of Azerbaijani enlightener-realist literature, writer, educator and public figure.
The opening of the conference was attended by the leadership of ASPU and the Faculty of Philology, the faculty’s teaching staff, as well as scientists from other higher education and research institutions. The scientific secretary of the Nizami Ganjavi Institute of Literature of ANAS, Associate Professor Aygun Bagirli, delivered a report on the topic “The Literary Identity of Suleyman Sani Akhundov: in the Context of History and Modernity”.
Speaking at the plenary session of the conference, which aimed to discuss the writer's multifaceted creativity and enlightenment ideas in a modern scientific context, the rector of the Azerbaijan State University of Literature and Education, Professor Jafar Jafarov, spoke about the position of Suleyman Sani Akhundov in Azerbaijani literature and enlightenment, emphasizing that his ideas remain relevant today. In his speech, the rector noted that the promotion of education, morality and patriotism in Akhundov's works is an important example for future generations.
Speaking, the vice-rector for international relations of the Pedagogical University, Professor Mahira Huseynova, noted the importance of the conference and said that such scientific events play an important role in conveying the heritage of enlightening writers to the younger generations.
At the plenary session, Professor Yagub Babayev of the Azerbaijan State University of Education delivered a report on the topic “The Role of Suleyman Sani Akhundov in the Development of Azerbaijani Enlightenment-Realist Prose”, and Academician Mukhtar Imanov (ASU), Professor Tayyar Salamoglu and Associate Professor Gudrat Umudov shared their views on Akhundov’s creative heritage.
The conference then continued its work with parallel section meetings. In the sections titled “S.S. Akhundov’s Children’s Prose”, “S.S. Akhundov’s Dramaturgy” and “S.S. Akhundov’s Language and Pedagogical Views”, the writer’s creativity and pedagogical views were discussed in detail in various directions.
The reports presented in the sections examined Suleyman Sani Akhundov’s contributions to children’s literature, his innovations in the field of dramaturgy, as well as the educational ideas he put forward as a teacher and educator.
The conference not only serves to study and promote the rich literary and pedagogical heritage of Suleyman Sani Akhundov, but also once again reveals the relevance of his ideas today.
