Old Azerbaijani Newspapers and Magazines
Ref: 2004-04
PART A-ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
1. Summary
The nomination includes rare and unique magazines and newspapers of Azerbaijan dating
from the 19th-20th centuries. They were widely disseminated and were read not only in
Azerbaijan, but also in other Turkic-speaking regions of the world - Central Asia, Turkey,
Iran, the Balkans, as well as Turkic speaking areas of Russia (Crimea, Tataristan,
Bashkortostan, etc.). These editions deeply influenced the social, political and cultural
development of these regions, and their main objectives were to promote secularization,
public education and create a civil democratic society in the Muslim World. Therefore, these
are editions of global importance. The Institute of Manuscripts in Baku has a unique
collection of these editions which are not available in other places. The items being
nominated are listed below.
a) “Akinchi” newspaper (1875-1877).
b) “Ishiq” newspaper (1911-1912).
c) “Molla Nasraddin” Magazine (1906 - 1931).
These are held by the Institute of Manuscript of the Azerbaijan National Academy of
Sciences (IMANAS) named after Mahammad Fuzuli.
2. DETAILS OF THE NOMINATOR
2.1
Name (person or organization) – Institute of Manuscript of the Azerbaijan National
Academy of Sciences (IMANAS) named after Mahammad Fuzuli
2.2
Relationship to the documentary heritage nominated - Nominated by the organization
preserving the documentary heritage.
2.3
Contact person(s) – Adilov Mamed Musa oglu, the director of the Institute of
Manuscripts of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (IMANAS).
2.4
Contact details ( include address, phone, fax, e-mail)
The Institute of Manuscripts of Azerbaijan National Academy of
Sciences (IMANAS) . 8, Istiglaliyyat street , Baki-1, Azerbaijan
Tel: ( 99412) 92-31-97
e-mail: manuscript@dcacs.ab.az
3. IDENTITY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE DOCUMENTARY HERITAGE
3.1 Name and identification details of the items being nominated.
Old Azerbaijani newspapers and magazines.
These belong to the Institute of Manuscripts of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences
(IMANAS) which possesses a rich collection of old Azerbaijani newspapers and magazines.
There are some rare and valuable titles which are of world importance among these old
editions and newspapers. Some of these documents are presented for inclusion on the
UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.
d) “Akinchi” newspaper (1875-1877). The Institute possesses many issues of this
newspaper. It was the first Azerbaijani newspaper and was published from 1875 to 1877
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by the distinguished Azerbaijani educator and scholar Hasan bey Zardabi (Malikov). Its
main goal was to educate Azerbaijani agrarians by providing them with knowledge on
progressive developments in the field of agriculture and cattle-rising to rebuild national
agriculture on the basis of the latest scientific achievements. In addition, this newspaper
provided information on social and political life. This edition was published for three
years, and had been closed by censors under the Tsar. The newspaper’s readers were
spread beyond Azerbaijan to Iran, Central Asia, the Turkish and Tatar regions. On the
whole, the newspaper played an important role in the development of press in the Muslim
World.
e) “Ishiq” newspaper (1911-1912). A total of 68 issues of this newspaper were published
from 1911 to 1912. This feminine edition supported education of Muslim women, and
their integration in social life. Khadija khanim Alibeyova was the editor of the
newspaper, and Mustafa bey Alibeyov was the publisher. The majority of journalists were
women. At that time, when women in Azerbaijan were still oppressed by the laws of the
Sharia, publication of “Ishig” was a very significant event. As a result of the newspaper’s
activity, a movement towards literacy and education was formed among Azerbaijani
women.
f) “Molla Nasraddin” Magazine (1906 - 1931). This satirical, illustrated magazine was
published from 1906 to 1931 by the famous Azerbaijani intellectual and journalist Jalil
Mammadguluzadeh. Editorial staff of the magazine included representatives of many
nationalities. The magazine enjoyed wide coverage and was known in Azerbaijan, Iran,
Central Asia and throughout the Turkic World. It played an important role in the
education of and progress achieved by oppressed national minorities in the Russian
Empire. Since many people in this region were illiterate, Molla Nasraddin delivered his
ideas with the help of satirical cartoons. The Institute of Manuscripts has a rare collection
of these magazines.
3.2 Description of the documented heritage. Аll items of this nomination represent old
periodical editions – magazines and newspapers. These editions were published in Azeri
using the Arabic alphabet. Their format and style closely resembles that of Russian
newspapers and magazines of the same period. Many editions contain different gray and color
illustrations of the articles. The “Molla Nasraddin” magazine is especially rich in illustrations
of a satirical nature which were made by the famous Azeri artist Azim Azimzadeh and others.
4. JUSTIFICATION FOR INCLUSION /ASSESSMENT AGAINST CRITERIA
4.1
Authenticity.
All items of the nomination are completely original. Issues are stored in the Periodical Edition
Division of the Institute’s library. They have been used in IMANAS in research studies by specialists
in history, sociology and philology. The documents were examined by an expert group consisting of
Dr. Mamed Adilov, Arif Ramazanov, Dr.Kamandar Sharifov, Dr.Mehri Mammadova, Dr. Mohsun
Naghiyev, Dr. Aydin Khalilov. Information about these may be found in the sources below.
REFERENCES:
a) Pashayeva Marziyya. The Molla Nasraddin Magazine And Its Stuff. Materials of the Republican
Fund Of Manuscripts. Part 2, 1963, pp.126-130 (in Azeri).
b) Mamedova Shargiya. The Satirical Magazines of the Beginning of the 20th century. Materials of
the 7th National scientific-practical conference “Medieval Manuscripts and history of culture in
Azerbaijan”. Baku, Ornak, 2000, pp.313-314 (in Russian).
4.2
World significance, uniqueness and irreplaceability
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The nomination concerns very rare and valuable periodical editions of Azerbaijan. All these
magazines and newspapers influenced social, political and cultural life not only in Azerbaijan, but
also in many other neighbouring countries which serves to demonstrate that this collection is of world
significance and consequently requires special care and attention.
4.3
Criteria of (a) time (b) place(c)people (d) subject and theme (e) form and style
Time: Satisfactory. The editions were published in the 19th-20th centuries.
Place: Satisfactory. The editions was printed and distributed in Azerbaijan and other countries
of the Turkic world.
People: Satisfactory. These magazines and newspapers were widely spread in Azerbaijan and
neighbouring countries. They influenced social life and culture of Azerbaijan at the end of the 19th
and beginning of the 20th century. Some parts of this nomination such as "Molla Nasraddin"
Magazine were circulated and read not only in Azerbaijan but also in many Turkic-speaking lands
such as Turkey, some parts of the Balkans, Iran and Central Asia.
Subject and theme: Satisfactory. An old periodical edition which corresponds to the
theme of the nomination “Old Azerbaijani newspapers and magazines”.
Form and style: Satisfactory. The nomination includes rare and unique Azerbaijani periodical
editions dating back to the second part of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. All these
newspapers and magazines were educational editions for a wide range of readers. In “Akinchi” can be
found many popular articles about modern technologies in agriculture, and many educational
materials on zoology, botany, mineralogy and Darwin’s theory of evolution. Therefore, the magazine
tried to spread European scientific ideas in Azerbaijan and other countries of the region. The “Ishig”
newspaper was a magazine fighting for the emancipation of women in the Muslim East. “Molla
Nasraddin” Magazine was published in a satirical style and criticized backward traditions and
conservatism, and called for cultural and technological progress.
4.4
Issues of rarity, integrity, threat and management
The documents are under proper supervision and are well preserved
5. LEGAL INFORMATION
5.1
Owner of the document heritage
Republic of Azerbaijan
5.2
Custodian of the documentary heritage (name, and contact details, if different
to owner) The documents are protected by the Republic of Azerbaijan. IMANAS
is directly responsible for their preservation.
5.3
LEGAL STATUS
а) Category of ownership. The property of the state.
b) Accessibility –Satisfactory.
c) Copyright status – Institute of Manuscripts of the Azerbaijan National
Academy of Sciences (IMANAS)
d) Responsible administration - Institute of Manuscripts of the Azerbaijan
National Academy of Sciences (IMANAS)
6. MANAGEMENT PLAN
6.1 Is there a management plan in existence for this documentary heritage? Yes/No –
No, there is no specific plan. As all documents in the Institute of Manuscripts are managed
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according to the same plan, there is no separate management plan for this documentary
heritage.
7. CONSULTATION
7.1 No consultations were necessary as the owner is the nominator.
B – SUBSIDIARY INFORMATION.
8 ASSESSMENT OF RISK
8.1
There are no direct threats to these heritage documents.
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9.1
ASSESSMENT OF PRESERVATION
It is preserved in IMANAS.
C. LODGEMENT.
M.M.ADILOV
(signature)……………………(date)……………………..
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