THE SOUL OF A POET

Huseyn Arif is a poet whose poems are still widely known in Azerbaijan. Many songs are written on their basis. The famous Qonsu Qizi (The Girl Next Door), which was sung by Zeynab Xanlarova many years ago, suddenly made the song, as we would say today, a huge hit. His poems are still relevant today - people love to read the works of Huseyn Arif. Recently, Xalq Bank made its own modest contribution to the preservation and handover to future generations of the cultural heritage of our people. As part of the Public Heritage project carried out by the bank, a collection of poems by the people's poet and laureate of the State Prize, Huseyn Arif, Selected Works, saw the light of day. The launch of the book brought together members of the public and cultural figures, among whom were many of those who had known Huseyn Arif personally. According to the member of the National Academy of Sciences and chairman of the Milli Maclis Committee on Culture, Professor Nizami Cafarov, Huseyn Arif will live forever in the people's memory as a poet who exalted his native land.

Cafarov spoke of the poet's place in Azerbaijani literature and the originality of his pure, open and sincere poetry. He also stressed that the poet served the development and purity of the Azerbaijani language. Participants in the event described Huseyn Arif as a master in love with nature and inspired by it. In his poems, Huseyn Arif not only portrayed nature as an artist, but was also able to show its philosophy. The national poet Nariman Hasanzada, who spoke about his sense of humour, also shared his memories of the poet.

Huseyn Arif (Huseyn Camal oglu Huseynzada) was born on 15 June 1924 in Qazax. After graduating from Baku Pedagogical School in 1940, he taught in rural schools in Tovuz and west Azerbaijan. In 1943-45, he fought for the liberation of Ukraine, Poland and Czechoslovakia and reached Germany. After the war, he successfully graduated from the Faculty of Oriental Studies at Baku State University and a post-graduate course at the Gorky Institute of Literature in Moscow. From 1949, he was a member of the Writers' Union of Azerbaijan. From 1950, he continuously published his works in newspapers and magazines. The total print run of his books is more than 250,000. His works won readers' love and wide recognition, while his poems were translated into many languages and performed in theatres. Song lyrics based on his poems do not age and are still sung with love. Along with literature, Huseyn Arif was also engaged in scientific work - his work on the history and development of asuq (minstrel) music still remains the most serious research in this area. In 1978, Huseyn Arif won the State Prize of Azerbaijan. In 1984, he founded the Association of Azerbaijani Asuqs, which he headed until his death. In 1989, he received the honorary title of People's Poet. On 14 September 1992, Huseyn Arif died at the age of 68 and was buried in Agstafa District.

In a conversation with R+, the chairman of the State Commission for Students Admission, Maleyka Abbaszada, whose father was a close friend of the poet, said that as a child, she could not imagine what a poet "Uncle Arif" was. "At that time, in Soviet schools we did not study Azerbaijani poetry and literature." Maleyka's father often said that Huseyn Arif was a great poet and would live forever in the memory of the Azerbaijani people. According to Abbaszada, not everything Huseyn Arif wrote was clear to her 20-30 years ago. But after a while, she began to realize that his art was not tied to the time in which he worked, because the poetry of Huseyn Arif touches the strings of the soul and human feelings. These are lines from the heart.

Huseyn Arif's daughter Zohra Huseynzada remembers him as a wise, calm and very soulful man. She shared her memories with us, saying that her father's first audience was his household. He taught the girl to read and write long before entering first grade. From childhood she was surrounded by books and is still in love with poetry.

As for the Xalq Bank project, it has been under way since last year. Its goal is to preserve and transmit to future generations the cultural heritage and spiritual values of the Azerbaijani people. As part of the project, works of prominent figures of literature, art and science of Azerbaijan and priceless examples of folk art and folklore are published. Publications devoted to the popular artist of Azerbaijan Boyukaga Mirzazada, the popular poet Mammad Araz and first professional woman painter of Azerbaijan, People's Artist Maral Rahmanzada, were enthusiastically received by fans of national art and poetry due to their high artistic value and print quality.

Books published as part of the project are donated to higher and secondary educational institutions, orphanages and libraries, foundations, government agencies, foreign embassies and consulates outside the country and are distributed among connoisseurs of culture of Azerbaijan.