Eminent Scientist and Public Figure Kamran Rahimov

Kamran Nabi oghlu Rahimov, who made valuable contributions to Azerbaijani science, education, and public administration, was born on July 4, 1928, in the village of Garabaghlar in Kangarli district of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. From an early age, his exceptional abilities and profound interest in science and knowledge determined his life path.

Due to his academic achievements in early education, Kamran Rahimov was admitted to the History and Philology Faculty of the Nakhchivan Two-Year Teachers’ Institute. In 1945, he graduated from this institution with honors. To continue his scholarly pursuits, he enrolled in the History Faculty of Azerbaijan State University (present-day Baku State University). After completing his higher education, he worked as a senior lecturer at the university’s newly established Department of Modern History.

In 1954, Kamran Rahimov was admitted to the graduate program of the Institute of Party History. Simultaneously, he was appointed as department head at “Azerbaijan Communist” journal, the theoretical-political organ of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan. Successfully combining journalism with scholarly activities, the academician served as deputy editor-in-chief of the journal from 1959 to 1962, and subsequently as editor-in-chief from 1962 until 1975.

During these years, he continued his scientific-pedagogical activities by delivering hourly lectures at the university. In 1958, he defended his Candidate of Sciences dissertation, and in 1966, he defended his doctoral dissertation before the Academic Council of Azerbaijan State University. In 1967, his doctoral degree was formally confirmed by the plenum of the USSR Higher Attestation Commission.

Kamran Rahimov was also a prolific scientific publicist. He authored several monographs and textbooks, along with numerous theoretical-scientific and publicistic articles. His theoretical contributions appeared not only in Azerbaijani press but also in prestigious publications in Moscow, former Soviet republics, and other countries. It bears special mention that he was the only Azerbaijani scholar to have two theoretical-scientific articles published in Moscow’s authoritative “Kommunist” journal.

Kamran Rahimov served as First Secretary of the Nakhchivan Regional Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan from 1975 to 1983. During his leadership, the region saw the establishment of industrial facilities, irrigation systems, fruit and grape orchards, and livestock complexes, while the activities of the Nakhchivan Scientific Center of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences were revitalized.

Significant advancements were also made in the cultural sphere during these years. New cultural palaces were constructed and put into operation in the cities of Nakhchivan and Ordubad, the town of Shahbuz, and villages across the region. Local history museums were established in all districts, measures were taken to prevent the theft of our ancient historical artifacts by Armenians, and these exhibits were systematically collected and preserved in museums.

In 1983, Professor Kamran Rahimov was appointed Minister of Public Education of the Azerbaijan Republic. From his earliest days in office, he initiated several fundamental projects. At his proposal, the teaching of Azerbaijani history, language, literature, and geography in Armenian and Georgian schools was placed on the agenda. Citing Decree No. 230 (1962) of the USSR Council of Ministers, official instructions were issued mandating instruction of these subjects in Armenian and Georgian schools, with textbooks being translated into these languages. The upper-grade textbook “History of Azerbaijan” was translated into Armenian and distributed to Armenian schools.

In 1986, while leading a Soviet delegation of educators on an official visit to Belgium, Kamran Rahimov conducted an in-depth study of the country’s general education system, teacher training programs, and particularly the computerization of schools. This experience led him to prioritize school computerization in his subsequent educational reforms in Azerbaijan. He paid special attention to establishing computer classrooms in district schools, forming a specialized group of experts under the Ministry of Education’s construction trust. Within a short period, computers imported from Japan and Moscow were installed in numerous schools.

The necessity of mass computerization in educational institutions brought to the forefront the issue of specializing the Baku Radio Factory in this direction. The initiative was supported by relevant authorities, leading to the development of the first prototype of the “Baku” computer.

In 1988, the Republic’s Ministries of Public Education, Higher and Secondary Specialized Education, as well as the Committee for Technical Vocational Education, were merged to form the Ministry of National Education of the Azerbaijan Republic. Professor Kamran Rahimov was appointed First Deputy Minister of National Education in the new ministerial structure.

Concurrently, as a member of the National Assembly, Kamran Rahimov participated in numerous foreign delegations, representing our country with distinction.

The Honored Scholar, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Kamran Rahimov, who left an indelible mark on Azerbaijan’s public, scientific, and educational life passed away in 2007.

Recommended literature:

1. Əsgərov, Şahlar Qaçay oğlu. Təhsilimiz dünən, bu gün, sabah / Ş. Q. Əsgərov ; red. S. Ağababayeva. - Bakı : Azərbaycan nəşriyyatı, 2003. - 280 s.
2. Mahmudov, Müdafiə Cəmil oğlu. Dünyada və Azərbaycanda təhsil sistemi / M. C. Mahmudov ; red. L. N. Qasımova ; Azərbaycan Texniki Universiteti. - Bakı : AzTU-nun nəşri, 2005.
3. Əhmədov, Hümeyir Hüseyn oğlu. Azərbaycan təhsilinin inkişaf strategiyası : monoqrafiya / H. H. Əhmədov ; elmi red. Ə. Ə. Ağayev ; Azərbaycan Respublikası Təhsil Problemləri İnstitutu. - Bakı : Elm, 2010. - 800 s.
4. Həmidov, Habil Ağanemət oğlu. Azərbaycanda təhsil siyasəti : mərhələli inkişaf və konseptual aspektlər: monoqrafiya / H. A. Həmidov ; elmi red. A. Bəşirov ; red. C. Alıyev ; AMEA Fəlsəfə, Sosiologiya və Hüquq İnstitutu. - Bakı : Təknur MMC, 2010. - 160 s.
5. Tağıyev, İlqar Tağı oğlu. Heydər Əliyev və müasir Azərbaycanda təhsil / İ. T. Tağıyev ; elmi red. H. M. Hacıyeva. - Bakı : Zərdabi LTD MMC, 2014. - 312 s.