Hasan bey Zardabi — the founder of the Azerbaijani national press
Hasan Bey Salim Bey oghlu Malikov was born in 1842 in Zardab, near Goychay.
He received his primary education at a madrasa in the village of Zardab. He studied Arabic and Persian there and was enrolled in a secular school in Russian that opened in the city of Shamakhi in 1852.
In 1858, Zardabi was admitted to the 5th grade of the First Tiflis School. He successfully graduated in 1861 and was sent to study natural sciences at the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of Moscow University on a state scholarship in the same year. He graduated from this university with honors in 1865.
He stood out among the students at the higher education institution during his studies. Therefore, a decision was made to retain him at the university for research work after he graduated from the faculty with excellent grades. However, his endless love for his homeland and desire to serve his people and nation drew him to Azerbaijan.
Upon graduating from university, Zardabi began working at the Land Administration in Tiflis. On February 28, 1868, he left this position to serve as a court clerk in Guba. His employment was terminated on October 4, 1868. Following that, he continued as an independent trial lawyer. On November 18, 1869, he taught natural sciences at the Baku Realny School.
Hasan Bey Zardabi is one of the founders of the Azerbaijani professional theater. In 1873, M. F. Akhundov's comedies "Haji Gara" and "The Vizier of the Khan of Lankaran" were staged under his guidance and with the active participation of playwrights Najaf Bey Vazirov and Asgar Agha Adigozalov.
Zardabi laid the foundation of the national press by publishing "Akinchi," which continued to be released from July 22, 1875, to September 29, 1877. It was published twice a month with a circulation of 300-400. During these years, 56 issues of the newspaper were released.
M. F. Akhundov, S. A. Shirvani, N. B. Vazirov, and several prominent Azerbaijani figures contributed to this newspaper.
Hasan Bey Zardabi’s "Akinchi" was primarily based on one concept. Zardabi and several enlightened and democratic publishers collaborating with him believed the East's backwardness, inertia, and lethargy were due to a lack of true freedom. They could convey their words to the public, albeit indirectly, through this newspaper. "Akinchi"’s language was simple so that the people of that time could understand, and the expression of such views in the newspaper seriously worried the imperial officials who were keeping Azerbaijan in bondage.
On September 29, 1877, "Akinchi" was forced to cease publication. The newspaper was the first flagship of the Azerbaijani national press. It only lasted two years; however, it played a major role in educating the people in a national and modern spirit. A herald of enlightened and democratic ideas, "Akinchi" rendered exceptional services in developing realist Azerbaijani literature. That is precisely why such a progressive newspaper could not survive long under the yoke of a reactionary and occupying regime.
Zardabi moved to his native region, where he taught for 20 years. In 1896, he returned to Baku and began contributing as an editor to the "Kaspi" newspaper. He authored "Soil, Water and Air," "Methods of Maintaining Physical Health," and several scientific and pedagogical works. In 1901, he participated in organizing the first girls' school, and in 1906, he attended the first teachers' congress. He was elected a deputy to the Baku City Duma.
In the last years of his life, Hasan Bey Zardabi worked in an official position in the education department of the Baku City Duma, heading schools in Baku and surrounding villages.
Hasan Bey Zardabi was engaged in intense scientific activity. He became paralyzed due to overwork and exhaustion and died on November 28, 1907. He was buried near the old Bibiheybat Mosque in 1907. The area was destroyed in 1937, and the bones of the deceased remained at home with his family for several years. In 1957, during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Hasan Bey Zardabi's death, his remains were buried in the Alley of Honor.
His daughter, Pari Khanum, was the wife of Alimardan Bey Topchubashov.
The Azerbaijan Museum of Natural History and the district where he was born are named after Hasan Bey Zardabi.
Recommended literature:
- Həsənov, Eldəniz Əli oğlu. Həsən bəy Zərdabi irsi : keşməkeşli həyat yolu: monoqrafiya / E. Ə. Həsənov ; elmi red. J. F. Əliyeva ; red. İ. S. Əliyeva. - Bakı : Zərdabi LTD MMC, 2013. - 384 s.
- Həsən bəy Zərdabi / tərt.-red., ön sözün müəl. T. Ə. Əhmədov. - Bakı : Nurlar NPM, 2015. - 312 s.
- Zərdabi, Həsən Bəy. Seçilmiş məqalələri və məktubları : rus dilindən tərcümə / H. Zərdabi ; rus dilindən tərc. İ. C. Əhmədov ; ideya müəl. L. B. Babayev ; red. T. Aydınoğlu. - Bakı : Zərdabi LTD MMC, 2016. - 912 s.
- Həsən bəy Zərdabi və "Əkinçi" : bioqrafik məqalələr, məktublar, xatirələr, tədqiqatlar / Azərbaycanda Vətəndaş Cəmiyyətinin İnkişafına Yardım Assosiasiyası, Söz Azadlığını Müdafiə Fondu ; red. heyəti: M. Yaqub [et al.]. - Bakı : [n. y.], 2010. - 225 s.