The poem “Karabakh” by Sayat Kamshyger, one of the new generation poets of fraternal Kazakhstan, has been highly acclaimed internationally. The work was awarded the “Best Book of the Year” prize by the International PEN Club (PEN (Poets, Essayists, Novelists) International Club). The award was presented last weekend at a magnificent ceremony held at the Sydney Opera House in Australia.
Modern.az reports that the poem “Karabakh” was published in Azerbaijan in March of this year (“CN-Poliqraf”; ISBN: 978-9952-013-79-5) and was warmly received by the broad literary community in Kazakhstan.
The book, which emerged as a joint project of the World Union of Young Turkic Writers (DGTYB) and the “Regional Legal and Economic Enlightenment” Public Union (RHİMİB) — a poetic voice from across the Caspian Sea — has become another strong link in Kazakh-Azerbaijani literary and cultural ties.
The adaptation of the poem into Azerbaijani was carried out by the renowned poet-publicist Elshan Azim, and its editing by Prof. Dr. Rasmiyya Sabir. The project leader is Akbar Goshaly, laureate of the International “Alash” Literary Award; the author of the foreword is Arzu Baghirova, chair of RHİMİB; the reviewers are Intigam Yashar and Tariyel Ahmadov; the coordinators are Nilufar Latif and Etibar Muradkhanli; and the designer is Jasarat Gasimov.
The work expresses Azerbaijan's national history, Karabakh's path to liberation, its martyrs, and spiritual thoughts calling for the unity of the Turkic world in poetic language. Sayat Kamshyger, an honorary member of DGTYB, remained true to his promise after his visit to Azerbaijan and penned “Karabakh,” which has today become a valuable literary event for both Azerbaijani and Kazakh readers.
Thus, the poetic voice of Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan brotherhood continues to spread throughout the world.
The aforementioned international award once again confirmed that the work “Karabakh” serves not only to foster recognition between two fraternal nations but also to promote the literature and culture of the entire Turkic world at a global level.
