February 14 is the birthday of Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur.

Ramiz Asker is an active, tireless professor at Baku State University who promotes Uzbek literature worldwide.

The world literary community also knows the scientist, Navoi scholar, and Doctor of Philology Mr. Asker as a talented publicist, translator, and excellent connoisseur of classical literature. Ramiz Asker is an active participant in international literary symposiums, forums, and conferences held in Uzbekistan and is the author of almost 100 books and more than 1000 articles. He has translated the works of Yusuf Khos Khojib, Alisher Navoi, Husayn Bayqaro, and Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur into Azerbaijani. For his contribution to the development of Turkic literature, Mr. Asker was awarded the orders “Shukhrat”, “For Services to the Motherland” of Azerbaijan, “Dustlik” of Uzbekistan, and 22 prizes of Turkic states.

Ramiz Asker shared his opinion on translating Babur’s works into Azerbaijani.

“Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur has a significant place in the history of Turkic literature”, says Ramiz Asker. “His famous work “Baburnama” has been translated into many world languages. This unique work has been translated into individual languages several times. Such translations are needed since each is unique from a cultural, educational, and artistic point of view. At the same time, the historical period plays a unique role. If much time has passed after the first translation, specific changes have occurred in the views of readers and the dictionary of the language, then a second translation follows. Sometimes, the appearance of a second or another translation is associated with a feeling of love for the work and the author. It was the same in Azerbaijan.

At that time, I worked as the Head of the Department of Literature of the Turkic Peoples at Baku State University and thought about ways to solve specific current issues related to the works of famous writers and poets of the Turkic world, such as Mahmud Kashgari, Yusuf Khos Khojib, Alisher Navoi, Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur, Sultan Husayn Bayqaro, Andalib, Ozodi, Makhtumkuli, Mulla Nafas, Abdulla Tuqay, Tukhtagul and others. Previously, there were no works of poets in the original language in libraries, and there were no translations. Starting in the 90s, I started translating the most necessary books into my native language. The work of the great Babur attracted me. The fact is that, unlike the works of Alisher Navoi, none of Babur’s works have been translated into our language. At first, I decided to translate his selected works and called the book “Seçilmiş əsərləri”. The book of translations includes the works of “Qobul Devoni”, “Hind Devoni”, as well as ghazals, masnavis, rubai, tuyuki, beyts. I wrote a detailed introduction of 20 pages to the book about the poet’s life, work, and personality. A dictionary of compound words is also included in this edition.

Azerbaijan’s scientific and literary community warmly welcomed the first book, which inspired me to translate “Baburnama”. Before starting work, I got acquainted with translations of this work into Uzbek, Turkish, Russian and German. In 2011, “Baburnama” was published twice in my translation. Six months later, “Baburnama” was published in translation by Professor Bayat Fuzuli. It became a model of boundless love and reverence for the work of the great master of the word, Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur.

I sent two copies of my translations to the First President of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov. Later, I found out that he donated one copy to the Babur International Public Foundation in Andijan. A presentation of this publication in the Azerbaijani language took place in Andijan with the participation of the Presidential Adviser, famous writer, and Babur scholar Khayriddin Sultanov. After a while, I was invited to Andijan and was awarded the Babur International Prize.

I have written several articles about Babur. For example, my article on the life and work of Babur was published in Turkish in the magazine “Ege Güneşi” (Izmir). I made presentations on the poet and the great ruler Babur at international symposiums in Andijan and Kocaeli (Türkiye).  In my book “Essays on the History of Turkic Literature”, a separate chapter is devoted to the life and work of Babur. I will continue to study and promote his work because my love, respect, and reverence are boundless.

Babur is a significant representative of Uzbek classical literature, poet, historian, geographer, statesman, talented commander, founder of the Baburid Dynasty, and ruler. Last year, at the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the 540th anniversary of Babur’s birth was widely celebrated in Uzbekistan. Attention to studying the poet’s life, activity, and works has increased. His work is multifaceted, so his legacy attracts the attention of scientists worldwide.

Azerbaijan is also interested in the works of the great Uzbek poets Alisher Navoi and Babur. On February 15, a conference dedicated to Babur’s work will be held at the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences”.

Nazokat Usmanova, UzA