Samad Vurgun

Samad Vurgun (Azerbaijani: Səməd Vurğun; born Samad Yusif oghlu Vekilov; 21 March 1906 – 27 May 1956) was an Azerbaijani and Soviet poet, dramatist, and public figure. He became the first People's Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR in 1943 and was later an academician of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences in 1945. Vurgun received two Stalin Prizes of second degree in 1941 and 1942 and joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1940.

He was known as the first poet in Azerbaijan's literature history to earn the title “The Poet of Public.” The Azerbaijan State Academic Russian Drama Theatre and streets in Baku and Moscow are named after him, as was the city of Hovk in Armenia before it was renamed.

Biography

Samad Vurgun was born on 21 March 1906 in Salahly village in Azerbaijan Republic. After his mother passed away when he was young, he was raised by his father and grandmother. He went to school and later studied to become a teacher. He also studied for a short time at Moscow State University and at the Azerbaijan Pedagogical Institute.

In 1945, Vurgun became a full member of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan. He worked to connect Azerbaijan with Iran through his writing. In 1953, he took on an important role in the Academy of Sciences. Sadly, he fell ill during a visit to Vietnam in 1955 and was hospitalized in Beijing, China, but he returned to Azerbaijan shortly after. His health continued to decline, and he passed away on 27 May 1956. He was buried in Baku, in the Alley of Honor.

Works

Samad Vurgun's first poem, called "Appeal to the youth," was published in 1925 in a newspaper in Tiflis. His talent grew in the 1930s and 1940s. He published collections of poems like "Könül Dəftəri" (The Soul's Book) and "Şeirlər" (Poems) in 1934. His poem "Azerbaijan" is considered a treasure of Azerbaijan's literature. His works talk about the country's history, beautiful nature, and the kindness of its people.

During the Great Patriotic War, Samad Vurgun wrote more than 60 poems, including "Bakının dastanı" (Legend of Baku). His poem "Ananın öyüdü" (Farewell speech of mother) was recognised as one of the best antiwar poems in the US in 1943. It was even chosen as one of the top 20 war-themed poems in the world and shared with soldiers. In the same year, he helped open a special house in Baku for events with soldiers, named after Fuzuli.

Collected verses

Samad Vurgun wrote many beautiful poems during his life. Some of his well-known collections include The Poet's Oath from 1930, The Lamp from 1932, and The Parched Books from 1947. His poems are still remembered and loved by many people today.

Poems

Samad Vurgun wrote many poems. Some of his well-known poems include The Komsomol Poem from 1933, Even from 1932, and Muradkhan from 1933. He also wrote Khumar, Lokbatan, and Village morning, all in 1933. Later works include Rebellion from 1936, A Negro tells from 1948, and Reading Lenin from 1950.

Here are the titles and years of some of his poems:

• The Komsomol Poem (1933, unfinished)
• Even (1932)
• Muradkhan (1933)
• Khumar (1933)
• Lokbatan (1933)
• Village morning (1933)
• Death place (1934)
• Bitter memories (1935)
• 26 (1935)
• Gallows (1935)
• Dead love (1935)
• Rebellion (1936)
• Basti (1936)
• A Negro tells (1948)
• Mugan (1949)
• Reading Lenin (1950)
• Aygun (1951)
• The Standard Bearer of Century (1954)

Dramas

Samad Vurgun wrote several famous plays. Some of his well-known dramas include Vagif from 1937, The sun is rising from 1938–1939, Two Lovers from 1940, Farhad and Shirin from 1941, and The Man from 1945. His play Farhad and Shirin is especially famous and is linked to the story of Farhad and Shirin.

Plays

Samad Vurgun wrote several plays. One is called Vagif from 1937, which tells the story of Molla Panah Vagif. Another play, Khanlar from 1939, is about the life of Khanlar Safaraliyev. In 1941, he wrote Farhad and Shirin, a poetic drama inspired by Nizami’s poem "Khosrow and Shirin". He also wrote a play titled Human in 1945.

Translations

Samad Vurgun loved sharing great poems with people in Azerbaijan. In 1936, he translated A.S. Pushkin’s poem “Eugene Onegin” into Azerbaijani and received a special medal. That same year, he also translated part of Shota Rustaveli’s “The Knight in the Panther's Skin” and got an honorary diploma from the Georgian SSR. In 1939, he translated Nizami’s “Layla and Majnun” poem. He also worked on poems by Taras Shevchenko, Maxim Gorky, Ilia Chavchavadze, and Zhambyl.

Awards

Samad Vurgun received many important honors for his work. He was named People's Poet of the Azerbaijan SSR in 1956. He also won two Stalin Prizes, one in 1941 for his play "Vagif" and another in 1942 for "Farhad and Shirin." Additionally, he was awarded two Lenin Orders.

Family

Samad Vurgun was married to Khaver khanim Mirzabeyova, and they had three children. His sons, Yusif Samadoglu, became a People's Writer of Azerbaijan, and Vagif Samadoglu became a National Poet of Azerbaijan in 2000, receiving the Istiglal (Independence) Order in June 2014. Their daughter, Aybeniz Vekilova, was honored as a Culture Worker.

Poems dedicated to Samad Vurgun

"Speech of my friend Samad Vurgun at lunch in London" – Konstantin Simonov
"To Samet Vurgun" – Nâzım Hikmet

Memory

In 1976, a postage stamp from the USSR honored Samad Vurgun. Another stamp from Azerbaijan appeared in 2006 to remember him.

Many places bear his name. In Azerbaijan, 70 streets, 7 libraries, 20 schools, 5 culture centers, 5 parks, and 4 movie theaters are named after him. There is also a street in Moscow, [Russia], and another in Derbent in Dagestan. You can find his name on a library in Kyiv, [Ukraine], a school in Dushanbe, [Tajikistan], and a technical school in Plovdiv, [Bulgaria]. The Azerbaijan State Academic Russian Drama Theatre also carries his name.