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Academician Bakir Nabiyev as a scholar in literary studies with the weight of literary criticism are
visually proved by the great scholar’s scientific works.
Academician Isa Habibbeyli has also made the first and important step in defining the writing
modes and individual styles of the individual scholars in literary studies. According to his
scientific-theoretical outcomes, in philology Firidun Bey Kocharli is the eminent scholar who
created a literary-historical style, likewise, Mehdi Husein literary-publisistic, Mammad Arif
Dadashzadeh scientific-sociological, Asif Afandiyev literary-philosophical, Mammad Jafar Jafarov
scientific-theoretical style. In the scholar’s view, Yashar Garayev is distinguished by his analytical
figurative mind, “He can see the most austere, pure, authentic details poetically”. The examples
quoted by Isa Habibbeyli from Yashar Garayev’s works prove that reality visually, “Literary
criticism resembles the literary compass. Here also the hand always points to the pole of truth”. Or:
“In our case all the “ism”s have flown away from the single nest by a mother eagle: ... classical
poetry” or “When the writer is likened not to a cosmanaut but a tiller, grain-grower and ploughman,
he becomes mysterious and useful”, “The happiest authors ... are those who spill the white light
onto the white paper also with black ink”... Isa Habibbeyli also substantiated scientifically that
Yashar Garayev was the creator of the national theory of realism studies. He also highly appraised
the professional expression of literary studies and study of art in unison in Yashar Garayev’s works
dedicated to theatre and written very artistically. Isa Habibbeyli spoke of Yashar Garayev as a
literary scholar with broad intellect who can build a bridge between his Ustads Ali Sultanli and
Mammad Jafar Jafarov and new generation of literary scholars. Besides, in his researches Isa
Habibbeyli speaks of the Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of
Azerbaijan Nizami Jafaraov as a scholar characterized by a universal way of thinking and artistic
mind. And the consideration of Professor Gazanfar Pashayev as “the creator of Azerbaijani Karkuk
studies” also reflects the objective reality from the scientific point of view.
Isa Habibbeyli’s activity as a University professor and his delivering lectures on different
subjects (History and Theory of Literature) for many years enabled him to write and publish a
textbook, a number of student’s and teacher’s books. His scientific-theoretical articles published at
different times in the periodicals such as “For the Great Literary Studies”, “The Definition of
Literature”, “A New Glimpse of the Branches of Literary Studies as Science”, “Satire as a Literary
Type”, “... The Genre of Sonnet”, “Anthemes and Marches in Azerbaijani Poetry”, “The Genre of
Short Story – Novellette”, “The Monologue about the Dialogue”, “From Literary Relations to
Comparative Literary Studies”, etc. present the literary scholar as the author of the researches of
great scientific importance in the line of theory of literature. The student’s book “Theory of
Literature” (1985) has maintained its value up to present as a precious guide in teaching the
appropriate subject at the Universities. Most of the definitions in the book “Theory of Literature”
have been developed like a formula by Isa Habibbeyli. In his monograph “The Potentials of
Romantic Lyrics” (1984) Isa Habibbeyli analyzes and generalizes the poeticism and artistic features
of the early XX-century Azerbaijani romantic poetry.
The student’s book “The Early XX-century Azerbaijani Writers” written in answer to the
University needs specifies the writers and poets’ autobiographies and creative activities and
presents them on the basis of a scientific system. This work is also of great importance from the
point of view of introducing Azerbaijani literature. The editions of the book “The Early XX-century
Azerbaijani Writers” in Russia, Turkey and Ukraine also prove it visually. This book is the first of
its kind to classify the early XX-century Azerbaijani literature according to literary movements and
to present the lives and creative activities of their representatives to the readers. Also, the book
extensively elucidates for the first time the lives and literary activities of less-studied authors who
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are not included in the course programs such as Haji Karim Sanili, Eynali Bey Sultanov, Omar Faig
Nemanzadeh, Aliabbas Muznib, Ahmad Javad, Ahmad Bey Aghayev, Abdulla Sur, Mammad
Amin Rasulzadeh and others.
The textbook “Literature” for the XI grade of secondary schools, which is co-authored also
by Academician Isa Habibbeyli, has long been giving the necessary knowledge and world-outlook
to the new generation in the period of independence.
Academician Isa Habibbeyli is also one of our scholars who are distinguished not only by
their scientific, scientific-pedagogical achievements but also high organizational ability,
communicative skill allowing to work with people. The leadership at the Students’ Scientific
Association for many years by Isa Habibbeyli, who was very closely involved in social activities
back during his studies at Nakhchivan State University, led him to the position of vice-rector for
scientific affairs in 1991. The animation and development generated by the scholar at the University
played an important part in his fate further. Consequently, on 16 October 1996 Isa Habibbeyli was
appointed Rector of Nakhchivan State University. Professor Yavuz Akhundlu, who once was
replacing the rector of Nakhchivan State Pedagogical Institute, pointed out, “The destructive
impacts of the early 1990s did not pass by Nakhchivan State University. This centre of education
was experiencing difficult and complicated conditions. The teachers were divided into political
groupings, there was no end to mismanagement and neglect. Isa Habibbeyli became the best
candidate to develop the University... He maintained good traditions at the University, recollected
his predecessors’ merits and declared himself their successor to continue their activities, summoned
the staff around himself and promoted the University with his kindness, sincerity and proactivity,
inexhaustable activity, and determination”.
In 1996-2013 when Isa Habibbeyli was the rector of the University, serious positive changes
took place there in education, scientific-research affairs and cultural-public activities. Dissertaion
Board was established at this University, the material and technical resources were considerably
consolidated, some new multi-storey buildings, e-library, Olyimpic Sports Cenre, Medical Faculty,
the building of the Conservatoire were constructed, a new type of modern campus was set in the
area of 108 hectares. The scientific relations of the University in international sphere were
developed fast, the integration processes to the world education system were expanded. The project
on “The Administration of Universities and Organization of International Relations at the Modern
Stage” developed by Isa Habibbeyli was accepted by TEMPUS Program of the Council of Europe.
Thus, “A Window to Europe” has been opened for Nakhchivan State University, which established
relations with over 70 Universities in four continents of the world.
As a scholar, Academician Isa Habibbeyli is known internationally as well. In different years
he decently represented the science of our country in Turkey, Russia, the People’s Republic of
China, France, Germany, Bulgaria, Poland, South Korea, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Arab
Republic of Egypt, Kazakhstan, Turkmenia, Uzbekistan, Kirgyzia. Isa Habibbeyli is the member
of the International Informatization Academy, the Republic of Turkey Ataturk Supreme Council
for Culture, History and Language. His works were also published in the English, Turkish, Russian,
French, Arabic, Urdu, Polish, Hungarian, Georgian, Lithuanian languages, along with the
Azerbaijani language. He carries out an extensive and productive activity as a member of the
Commission on State Prizes of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan’s National Commission for
ISESCO.
Since 24 April 2013 Isa Habibbeyli has been the Vice-President of the National Academy of
Sciences of Azerbaijan. Since 19 June 2013 he has also been Director of the Institute of Literature
after Nizami. In 2013-2014 the Statutory Commission chaired by him at the Academy managed to