From Nizami to Navoi: the Binding Thread of Times

11/02/2022 01:26

On February 9, the International Scientific and Practical Conference “From Nizami to Navoi: the binding thread of times” took place, It was organized by the Institute of Asian and African Countries of M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University and supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the representative office of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in the Russian Federation and the International Turkic Academy. The partners of the conference were, in particular, the Eurasian Peoples' Assembly and the Assembly of peoples of Russia.

At the opening, the participants were addressed with a welcoming speech by: Director of the Institute of Asian and African Countries of M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University Aleksey Maslov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Russia Polad Bulbul Ogly, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Russia Botirjon Asadov, First Deputy Secretary General - Head of the General Secretariat of the Eurasian Peoples' Assembly, Chairman of the Council of the Assembly of Peoples of Russia Svetlana Smirnova, President of the International Turkic academy Darkhan Kydyrali and other distinguished guests.

Emphasizing the importance of the heritage of Nizami Ganjavi and Alisher Navoi, Svetlana Smirnova noted:

“Despite the fact that they lived at different times, worked in different conditions, the aspirations of both geniuses were aimed at asserting humanism, universal values, and improving the individual and society. Hundreds of years later, the works of Nizami and Navoi are relevant; they continue to be an invaluable guide for philosophers, writers, historians, for everyone who is looking for the meaning of life and ways to improve it. Who understands the value of spiritual culture and seeks to comprehend the heritage of its best representatives.”

The conference was held in the form the plenary session and in four sections, where representatives of science, culture, education from Azerbaijan, Great Britain, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Portugal, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan and other countries made meaningful presentations.

The speakers unanimously noted the humanistic orientation of the work of the great oriental thinkers Nizami and Navoi, their outstanding role in the spiritual and educational development of mankind, in the processes of cultural unity of peoples.

The main initiator and organizer of the conference Zhibek Syzdykova, Head of the Department of Central Asian and Caucasian countries, ISAA M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, thanked all the participants and noted that such close cooperation between representatives of science and the public from different countries will serve to unite the peoples of the vast Eurasian space.

Thanks to the well-coordinated work the conference was rich and interesting, and proposals were made to make it an annual event. Based on the materials of the conference, a collective monograph will be published.

Conference program (PDF)