Thanks to the initiatives and support of Yunus Emre Institute in Baku, the “Mehmet Akif Ersoy and Turkish Literature Research Center” has been inaugurated within the Azerbaijan National Academy of Science (AMİA).

The opening program at the Azerbaijan National Academy of Science (AMİA) was attended by Prof. Hüseyin Dalgar, Rector of Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Mehmet Ruyan Soydan, President of Mehmet Akif Foundation for Ideas and Arts, Prof. İsa Hebibbeyli, President of Azerbaijan National Academy of Science, Selçuk Karakılıç, Coordinator of Yunus Emre Institute in Baku, and various academicians. During his address, Prof. Hebibbeyli underscored the significance of Mehmet Akif, the author of the National Anthem, not only for Türkiye but also for Azerbaijan and the Turkic World.   

Scientific Ties Strengthened: Azerbaijan and Türkiye to Forge New Bridges

Stating that the establishment of a center named after Akif will pave the way for new scientific collaborations between Azerbaijan and Türkiye, Prof. Hebibbeyli emphasized, “Mehmet Akif Ersoy is the pioneer of Türkiye’s literature of independence.   He conveyed the ideals of independence to the people through the eloquence of literature.”

Prof. Hebibbeyli extended his gratitude to Yunus Emre Institute in Baku for taking the initiative to establish a center named after the esteemed figure Mehmet Akif Ersoy within AMİA. 

Prof. Dalgar, Rector of Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, emphasized that as a university, they consider it a mission to be actively in any initiative concerning Mehmet Akif Ersoy. 

He emphasized the importance of the Turkic World uniting, collaborating, and sharing knowledge and experiences with one another. 

Soydan, President of Mehmet Akif Ersoy Foundation, highlighted that Mehmet Akif Ersoy was not only a poet but also a profound thinker.

Soydan underscored that Mehmet Akif Ersoy possessed a robust religious belief, a moral sense rooted in this belief, a profound sense of social responsibility, and unwavering determination to contribute through his work.

Mehmet Akif Ersoy and Turkish Literature Research Center to offer access to approximately 500 books and Akif Collection

Selçuk Karakılıç, Coordinator of the Yunus Emre Institute in Baku, announced that the newly established center will offer around 500 books, documents, archival materials, and a distinguished collection of visuals related to Mehmet Akif Ersoy, providing valuable resources for Azerbaijani researchers.

Coordinator Karakılıç delved into the life, works, and struggles of Mehmet Akif Ersoy, portraying him as a “great figure who was solid in both words and actions” who culminated his life with the ideal of a grand Türkiye.

Karakılıç described Akif as a realist poet providing fundamental prescriptions for the issues facing the Turkish and Muslim world, adding, “The primary purpose of establishing the Mehmet Akif Ersoy and Turkish Literature Research Center at AMİA on the 150^th anniversary of his birth is to create a new avenue for Türkiye and Azerbaijan to foster high-level recognition and understanding of each other. The Center for the Study of Mehmet Akif Ersoy and Turkish Literature is set to serve as the ideal platform for fostering genuine analysis and interpretations at the cultural and academic levels between the two countries.”