"LOVE THAT GENERATED GRIEF"

Those who did not know Nigar Rafibayli in life will be introduced to her by her poetry. Vicissitudes of life, heart palpitations, the joy of meetings, the pain of separation and sincere feelings ... She managed to fit all this into her poetry. Through its lines ones sees a gentle, sensual and sublime woman. She dedicates lines imbued with love to her favourite colours. Sometimes grief can be seen in this love. The poetess Nigar Rafibayli herself is embodied in these lines full of lyricism and sadness. Each line cries out: "It's me." Love is the meaning of life and existence itself for her. "Just a day without love will bring me to my grave in one moment," she said. Nigar Rafibayli was in love with the sea. And she loved a poet with a look that was as deep as the sea. Her meeting with Rasul Rza was probably the greatest happiness of her life.

Love inspires

Today Rafibayli Nigar continues to live in bright, unfading memories. Her daughter-in-law and musicologist, Professor Zemfira Cafarova, speaks enthusiastically about her. Even many years later, she remembers very well the day when she first saw Nigar and recalls the meeting with a smile: "It was 15 September 1945. We were in the first grade of a 10-year music school (now the Bulbul School) at the Conservatory (now the Music Academy). The lesson had already started when the door opened and a tall, beautiful woman walked in with her son clinging to her arm. Our favourite teacher Malak Namazova kindly asked the boy, "Son, go take your seat, and let mum go." But the boy did not let go of his mother's hand. And she had to stay with her son until the end of the lesson. Somehow, she sat at a small desk next to her son and left only after the lesson. This was our first encounter with Nigar Rafibayli. Then we met many times, because we were classmates of her son Anar. I called her aunt Nigar. We lived next door. After leaving the secondary school, aunt Nigar arranged a feast at home for us - her son's classmates. Then Anar went to the university and I went to the conservatory... "

But they did not separate. The love between Anar and Zemfira connected their path in life. And one day wedding music sounded in the house of Rasul Rza and Nigar Rafibayli. In the poem "Toy" (Wedding), Nigar described with sincerity the feelings experienced by a mother who brings a bride to her house. She is overwhelmed by memories again, and Zemfira says with a smile on her face: "But she never treated me as a mother-in-law. Nigar was very mild in nature."

... When her first grandchild Tural was born, Nigar's joy was boundless. She and Rasul Rza considered themselves the happiest people in the world. Then their daughter Fidan gave birth to a granddaughter - Aysel while Anar had a daughter - Gunel. Speaking about the birthday of their granddaughter Gunel, they always laughed, remembering a story.

... The Writers' Union of Azerbaijan was having a meeting at which Rasul Rza was sharply criticized. Anar was also criticized occasionally. Suddenly Anar came in and told his father: "Congratulations, you have a granddaughter." Father and son happily hugged each other. The meeting continued to criticize him, but Rasul Rza and Anar laughed. Everyone was surprised, not realizing what was happening. Remembering this story, Nigar Rafibayli always joked: "We should have named Gunel Criticism."

At the end of the poem "My love was not shared", the poetess says that love does not diminish as it spreads, on the contrary, it shines for hearts, brings spring into life, inspires and transforms into a song. Zemfira also agrees with this: "This is true. There is more and more love as it spreads."

She was a talented poet. She became famous and was loved. But, first of all, she was a mother to her family. Zemfira recalls: "My uncle Rasul also had no specific hours for practicing versification. He also wrote poetry when inspiration came. I never saw Nigar writing poetry. She had to take care not only of the family. The house was constantly visited by guests - Sabit Rahman, Abbas Zamanov, Cafar Cafarov, Baxtiyar Vahabzada, Mirza Ibrahimov, Tofiq Quliyev, Qara Qarayev, Niyazi and many others. We always saw Nigar busy with chores at home and in the kitchen. She has 'kitchen poems'. They embody the image of a woman, a mother who is a poet with all her heart and all her being."

Zemfira tells about the love between Rasul Rza and Nigar, "They loved each other very much. They always spoke half-jokingly and half-seriously." In the poem "I asked the sun for youth", Nigar spoke of her happiness, how she and Rasul Rza raised three children and how they - Anar, Tarana and Fidan - created their own families.

From the very first stories, Anar proved to be a talented writer. Life pleased Nigar Rafibayli. But she did not forget the hard trials, hard times and spiritual suffering that befell her. Zemfira said: "I dreamed of a happier life for my children. Therefore I held in all the sorrows and did not place them on the children's shoulders. And when they asked, I just brushed them aside, saying that there is no point in remembering bygone days..."

Vicissitudes of life

Nigar Rafibayli was born in June 1913 in Ganca. The Rafibayli family was one of the most respected in the city. Her grandfather - Alakbar bay Rafibayli was a famous educator and one of the founders of the Difai party. And her father - Xudadat bay Rafibayli - was one of the first surgeons with higher education in Azerbaijan. After graduating from Kharkov Medical University, he returned to his native town of Ganca as an experienced specialist in 1907. There were few doctors in the city at that time, and the flow of people who visited him people did not run dry. Xudadat bay did not refuse anyone, helped everyone as much as he could and provided the poor with free medical care.

She was the youngest of the three children of Xudadat and Javahir. She was named Sugra - the name of her father's aunt who died a long time ago. But even when she was 5 years old, no one dared to call her by that name. Once, after reading a book of poems "Alas" by the Turkish poetess Nigar, Javahir asked her father-in-law: "None of us dares to call this little girl by name. If you allow me, let's give her a new name - Nigar."

 With the blessing of Alakbar bay, the name Sugra was replaced by Nigar ... Like his father Alakbar bay, Xudadat was also a political and social activist who fought for the freedom of his people. In 1918 in Ganca, he became the first Minister of Health and Social Welfare of the independent Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. A year later he was appointed Governor-General of Ganca. After the Bolshevik coup of 28 April 1920, he resigned from his post. He was arrested on 12 May of the same year. Xudadat - a loyal and worthy son of his people - was accused not only of organizing an uprising in Ganca, but also on several other counts. The Armenians did everything to ensure that he was convicted. And they achieved their goal - the court sentenced 43-year-old Xudadat to death. His sons Kamil and Rasid were only 11 and 9 years old, and daughter Nigar only 7. The hardest tests awaited the bereaved family...

After the death of Xudadat, his family had its share of trouble. Children scattered around the world - Kamil went to study in Turkey, and Rasid - in Russia. This saved their lives. Rasid later moved to Baku, and Kamil remained until his death in Istanbul.

Many years later, maestro Niyazi brought Nigar good news: "I have seen your relatives." Her son and daughter were the first to go to meet with the family of her brother. Zemfira recalls: "In Turkey, we had to meet uncle Kamil's son Aydin. Anar was very worried. I saw a tall, attractive young man in the arrivals hall. I thought it was him. We went down to the shore. I quickly grabbed his hand so that he did not ask about us. After all, he spoke Turkish. It was a difficult time. KGB officers watched our every move, and treated such matters extremely hard ... I quietly asked, "Aydin?" "Yes. Zemfira?!" he said. We greeted each other. We asked for permission to leave and went to visit Aydin. Later Nigar met with her brother and his family."

Harassment

... Nigar arrived in Baku in 1927. She worked as a translator at a cinema studio. In 1930 she met Rasul Rza in the House of Education. She recognized him. Then they met at various literary events. In 1932, Nigar went to study at the Institute of Literature in Moscow. Fate decreed that Rasul Rza also went there to complete his education. In 1937 they returned to Baku and got married.

She was the daughter of a bay. Besides, her father Xudadat bay was one of the fighters for the independence of Azerbaijan. The Soviet government could not ignore and leave alone a person with such a biography, no matter how talented he may be. Zemfira says: "In one of his poems poet Mikayil Rzaquluzada wrote that the sun rises in the East. But they began to criticize Nigar Rafibayli: 'Mademoiselle Nigar is in anticipation of the sun from the east.' She said nothing. Soon Mikayil Rzaquluzada acknowledged his authorship, but Nigar was criticized for this poem thoroughly. The main thing is that it was unfair. Had it not been for uncle Rasul, she would have been sent into exile. After all, Nigar's name was even included on the list submitted to Bagirov."

During the Great Patriotic War, Rasul Rza went to the front. Nigar Rafibayli went to the chairman of the Union of Writers of Azerbaijan, Samad Vurgun: "I want to go to the front." Samad Vurgun replied jokingly: "Nigar, where will I find a battalion that will accompany you at the front?"

Without each other

Rasul Rza's return from the front put an end to her suffering from separation. Together they spent many unforgettable years, and even the shortest separations during various trips were painful for them. They missed each other very much. Sometimes this longing turned into fine, sincere poems. So there appeared Nigar Rafibayli's poem "What am I to do?", which composer Emin Sabitoglu set to music later. But the story of this song was sad...

At the beginning of 1981, the health of Rasul Rza deteriorated and he was admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of hypertensive crisis. Fatigue accumulated over many years, and countless tests also knocked down Nigar who never complained about her health. She had a terrible diagnosis - cancer. The disease had already progressed. And doctors advised her to go to Moscow for treatment. On 1 April Rasul Rza was informed about it. On hearing this news, Rasul Rza started to pack to accompany Nigar to Moscow ... At this time doctors failed to reduce his pressure which had sharply jumped...

Nigar was not informed about his death. Zemfira Khanum recalls: "First we were going to do it. But then she got so bad that we decided not to tell Nigar about this sad news. We were afraid that someone could tell her about it. That's why we remained on duty at the hospital day and night."

It was in those days that Emin Sabitoglu composed a song based on Nigar's poem "What am I to do?". Nigar never got tired of listening to it. She listened to the melody, not knowing that Rasul Rza was no more and that this song was dedicated to their separation forever. She was surprised that Rasul Rza, who was so impatient, did not call her. They calmed her down, saying that he had very high pressure and the doctors had ordered the removal of the telephone from his ward. 29 June was Nigar's birthday. Anar brought a huge bunch of lilacs, "Rasul has sent it to you from Mardakan"...

Doctors already realized that there was no point in leaving her in the hospital. Nigar was brought home. She asked her daughters to bring her a black dress. Surprised at the question, "What do you need it for?", she insisted, "Bring it". She changed her dress. Although nothing in the house testified to mourning, she felt that Rasul was no more and mourned him. A week later, Nigar closed her eyes forever departing this life to meet with her faithful companion of life... 

2013 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Nigar Xudadat qizi Rafibayli. The decree of the Azerbaijani president on the 100th anniversary of the national poet says: "Nigar Rafibayli is a master that enriched national literature with valuable samples of gentle lyricism. Praising love for the homeland, the spiritual greatness of man and the unique natural beauties of the region in a peculiar style were the ideological and artistic leitmotif of her career."