Timbre, color, and pattern

I have been in Baku for a few days now to hold various meetings to strengthen academic cooperation between Üsküdar University, where I am a faculty member, and universities in Azerbaijan. In addition to academic discussions, we also have the chance to observe the country's social and cultural environment. I truly enjoy discovering the details. Because every single detail reveals the cultural richness, intellectual depth, and aesthetic taste of the Azerbaijani people.

The fact that they remained under Soviet rule for nearly a century has not weakened their national values; in fact, it has strengthened them even further. Upon gaining their independence, they managed to preserve the cultural, artistic, and intellectual gains remaining from the Soviet era through a subtle selection process rather than rejecting them. They have protected not only the Soviet era but also everything related to culture and art from before that, regardless of who it was left by. It is possible to see this cultural and artistic richness in all its subtlety and beauty while walking through the streets, avenues, and parks of Baku. 

Azerbaijanis love art. For this reason, they carefully protect all their values related to art. The city's squares, streets, and parks are adorned with statues of those who add value to art. While walking in Baku, it is possible to encounter a statue of a poet and lines from their poems at every turn. Every melody that catches your ear can find a place in our minds with the statue of a musician. 

Walking amidst the green of the trees, the serenity of the Caspian Sea, and the sounds of birds and musical performances is so peaceful. At the same time, I wonder, is it so hard to do this? In fact, the same beauty, the same serenity, and the same aesthetic environment could be created everywhere. For example, wouldn't it be beautiful if there were statues of Itri, Dede Efendi, and Hacı Arif in Gülhane Park in Istanbul, and if their melodies were played for us? Would it be bad if the voice of Zeki Müren accompanied the waves of the sea on the shores of Aşiyan or in İstinye? Wouldn't it be good to see statues of our famous painters and architects in the squares, streets, and avenues of our cities? Protecting artists, intellectuals, and those who produce value, and making them visible, is also of great importance in terms of intergenerational cultural transmission. 

Timbres, patterns, and colors nourish the human soul, emotions, and mind. Emotional richness, spiritual peace, and intellectual satisfaction are the characteristics that make a human being human. For this, art and intellectual equipment are important. For a society to become stronger, all the individuals who make up that society must be bonded to one another. This is only possible with a common culture. Culture is the mortar of society; it keeps society standing and makes it continuous. Culture also forms the character of society. Cultural identity can only be formed in this way. Every individual in society can only possess a cultural identity by reflecting the character of the society in which they live. The formation of cultural identity is only possible with artistic and intellectual equipment. A society that protects its own cultural values and artistic accumulation is also much more open to universal values. Protecting one's own essence, taking ownership of it, but also being nourished by universal values adds richness. The stronger the foundation, the more confident one is in opening up to the outside world. 

I observe that Azerbaijanis are on the right track in this regard. They proudly commemorate and talk about their poets, painters, and musicians. The subtle aesthetics of literature, music, poetry, painting, and, of course, architecture have permeated the fabric of the city. For this reason, the city breathes and makes people breathe as well. The location and aesthetics of the buildings, and their measured distances from one another, give the city a sense of spaciousness. Perhaps this is why Baku is so peaceful. People are calm and peaceful. Most importantly, there is no aggression or rudeness in the language of the street. The peace, serenity, and courtesy of the people are reflected in the city's streets and squares. Life is not without problems for them either. It has not been long since they emerged from a serious war. Its effects are still ongoing. Economically, they have not yet reached the targeted level and are struggling with problems. But their aesthetic sensitivity, intellectual depth, and, most importantly, the cultural identity and national values to which they are tightly bound, provide them with great morale. 

I have the opportunity to meet and talk with young people at education fairs and schools. Some of them aim to study abroad, to pursue master's and doctoral degrees, but none of them think about continuing their lives abroad. Their main goal is to get an education, return to Azerbaijan, and serve their own country. This shows how strong a common consciousness they have formed as a society. 

They place serious importance on education. There is a nine-year compulsory education requirement for every Azerbaijani citizen. Every individual, whether girl or boy, must spend their childhood and adolescence in school. For this reason, the level of intellectual, artistic, and aesthetic consciousness of the society is quite high. It is possible to see this in the courtesy, tolerance, and language of the people reflected in the city's streets.