AZƏRBAYCAN RESPUBLİKASININ ELM VƏ TƏHSİL NAZİRLİYİ Bakı Dövlət Universiteti

A year after the University was closed, the Soviet and party leadership of the Azerbaijan SSR concluded that such a step was wrong. The Republic needed highly qualified specialists and researchers with a university education. The decision "On the Main Tasks of Universities" adopted by the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) in April 1931 had a great influence on the decision of the Republic's leadership. The decision recognized that the previously prevailing view that there was no need for university education in higher education was wrong. It acknowledged that universities should play a leading role in this area. In the letter of the leadership of the Higher Pedagogical Institute to the Department of Culture and Propaganda of the Central Committee, as well as to the Board of the People's Commissariat of Education of the Azerbaijan SSR entitled "Proposals from the Higher Pedagogical Institute on the Organization of the Azerbaijan State University", it was stated that it was necessary to open a university for the training of high-level scientific and pedagogical personnel, as well as for the better study of the process of socialism construction. 

Finally, on 25 May 1934, the Council of People's Commissars of the Azerbaijan SSR adopted a resolution "On the Opening of the Azerbaijan State University." According to the decision, to train high-level specialists in general scientific disciplines as well as teachers, a University consisting of the Physics and Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and History faculties began operating on 1 September 1934. Mammadkazim Alakbarov was appointed Rector of the newly opened University. After the restoration of the University, the number of instructors, including Azerbaijani teachers, working in it increased every year. In 1935 the University had 52 instructors 22 of whom were Azerbaijanis. In the 1938/1939 academic year, the number of instructors increased almost 3.5 times and reached 180, while the number of Azerbaijani instructors increased slightly more than 4 times compared to previous years and reached 91 people. There has been a significant increase in the number of instructors who have defended doctoral theses. Specialists with high scientific rank were invited to the University both from various scientific research institutions of the Republic and from abroad. As a result, there were significant qualitative changes in the composition of the academic staff. Whereas in 1935 out of 52 instructors 10 were professors, 14 associate professors, 10 lecturers, and 13 assistants, in the academic year 1938/1939 there were 21 professors, 31 associate professors, 37 acting associate professors, 63 lecturers, and 28 assistants among 180 instructors. Although the number of Azerbaijanis among students was growing every year, this process was rather slow. As in all higher educational institutions of the USSR, teaching activities at the University were regulated by the normative documents of the Communist Party and the Soviet government on higher education.  

The repressions of the 1930s of the 20th century did not pass by Baku State University. In those years, the Azerbaijani people were deprived of a whole generation of bright faces who constituted the intellectual wealth of the nation. It was also a policy of destroying the nation's gene pool, which had been formed over decades, breaking spiritual ties between generations. More than 100 professors, researchers, and instructors of this advanced scientific and educational institution of the Republic, and about 20 students were unreasonably brought to the investigation, intimidated by threats, persecuted, exiled, or shot. Taghi Shahbazi (1926-1929), Museyib Shahbazov (1929), Maksud Mammadov (1929-1930), Mamedkazim Alekperov (1934-1935), Balabey Hasanbeyov (1935-1937), who headed the university in different years, were arrested and shot, and Huseyn Guliyev (1937) was arrested and sentenced to 5 years of exile. Other senior officials of the University were also subjected to repressions, including the academic secretary, secretary of the party organization, chairman of the trade union organization, head of the scientific library, deans of the Faculty of Oriental Studies and the Faculty of History, and heads of 6 departments. 

Aziz Mammadkarim oglu Aliyev, a prominent public-political figure with a special place in the education system of Azerbaijan, became the Rector of the University in 1937, one of the most difficult years in the history of the University. Despite the blows received during the repressions, having focused all its potential on the peaceful construction of the Republic, the University during the Second World War had to not only continue its traditional activities but also mobilize all its forces to help in the defense of the country and mankind from the cruel and merciless enemy—fascism. The years of the Second World War occupy a special place in the history of the University, which from the day of its foundation has been operating under the influence of various political and ideological factors. Faced with new and complex tasks, serious difficulties, and severe trials arising in connection with the defense of the country, professors, instructors, staff, and young students of the University have shown selflessness from the first days.  

On the first day of the war, the Rector of the University, Jabrayil Aleskerov, and graduates of the 1940/1941 academic year, many students and instructors, voluntarily joined the army. During the war years, a total of 1,385 students and instructors of the University were mobilized into the army. Of these, 159 were academic staff, 23 were postgraduate students, and 1141 were students. Of the members of the University team mobilized in the army, 200 were women. The participation of the university's teaching and student staff in the massive military-defense work has also expanded. 

In connection with severe military conditions, several higher educational institutions of the Azerbaijan SSR were temporarily merged into Baku State University. In October 1941, by a joint decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan and the Council of People's Commissars of the Azerbaijan SSR, the Azerbaijan Pedagogical Institute named after V.I. Lenin, then the Correspondence Pedagogical Institute was temporarily merged with Baku State University. At the end of 1941, the Institute of National Economy was named after K. Marx, and in December of the same year, the Azerbaijan State Institute of Physical Culture and the Institute of Teachers of Foreign Languages were merged into one university. As a result of this merging, new faculties were organized in the significantly expanded composition of the University: economics, law, foreign languages, and physical culture. Since several institutions of higher education were merged into one university their administrative and educational buildings, the hostels were located at a distance of approximately 2 km from each other. Previously located in 7 buildings, the University temporarily handed over several of its buildings to military authorities during the war due to military necessity. 

Despite the difficult conditions of the Second World War, the University's teaching staff did not regret its efforts to preserve and further develop higher education in Azerbaijan. In recent years, one of the most important events in the history of the University was the creation of the Department of History of Azerbaijan. Despite the existing difficulties, the  Faculty of Geology and Geography, the Eastern Branch of the Faculty of Philology, the Departments of the History of the Peoples of the Middle East, Middle Eastern Languages, and Philosophy were established. The main focus was on solving scientific and technical problems of a defense nature and raising Soviet patriotism. During the war, the University largely managed to provide itself with teaching staff, and then even provided special services in the organization of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan. Not only did the University with honor withstand the hard trials of the war, but also made a significant contribution to the victory over the enemy. The studies of Yusif Mammadaliyev are of greater importance among the research works carried out by the scientists of the University in the years of war. The new method of production of the main component of aviation fuel that he invented was of important military-defense importance, and a factory for the production of this component was established in Baku with a view to its immediate introduction into production. Professor Abdullah Garayev proposed a method of using naphthalene oil as a wound healing and analgesic. Scientific achievements achieved by the scientists of the university in the name of increasing the military-defense power of the country and the development of the national economy, the training of hundreds of highly qualified specialists, their active participation and dedication in the defense of the Republic, earned the people's deep respect and sympathy. This gave impetus to the post-war development of the University. 

The leadership of the University from 1944 to 1965 by such valuable intellectuals, and major organizers of education and science, such as Abdullah Garayev, Jafar Handan Hajiyev, Yusif Mammadaliyev, Shafayat Mehdiyev, created a new impetus for the development of this institute of higher education. During the years of their university leadership, special attention was paid to the training of highly qualified specialists and scientific-pedagogical personnel. Results were also obtained in the process of formation of scientific schools. At this time, priority issues were the teaching and scientific creative process of the university, strengthening of the logistical and technical base, and training of personnel for foreign countries. The main focus of the University was on the development of training, the increase in the number of students, and the indicators of their success.   

After World War II, throughout the Republic, the University was subjected to persecution and repression. Interestingly, the victims of the repression in this educational institution were not only instructors and students but even the departments that, as victims of the repression, were closing. 

It must be acknowledged that University instructors have played an important role in shaping the courage of the people to raise the voice of protest against injustice, undermining national dignity, and the formation of an independent worldview. With the participation of students of the University, intellectuals Khudu Mammadov, Bakhtiyar Vahabzade, Oktay Eldagez, Ismayil Shikhli, and others who later became the leading figures of science and culture of the Republic and worked for a long time at the University as instructors and with the involvement several officials, a secret "National Liberation Headquarters" was organized in the University. Yusif Mammadaliyev, then Chairman of the Council of Ministers Sadig Rahimov, and other well-known figures also worked in this organization. They tried in various ways to direct the activities of officials in state structures to preserve the national interests of the Azerbaijani people. In those years, the Armenian intention to hand Nakhchivan and Nagorno-Karabakh over to Armenia was not realized, and in this, among other factors, the active work carried out by the Azerbaijani intellectuals was of great importance. In the 1960s, a new generation of national freedom fighters grew up in Azerbaijan. In this respect, the youth of the university was distinguished. The teachers of the university in the 1950s-1960s have fulfilled with honor the tasks assigned to them in the field of preserving the memory of genealogy, and blood memory of the Azerbaijani people, and raising the scientific and intellectual potential of the Azerbaijani people. The instructors of the University in the 1950s-1960s have justified the hopes placed on them.

The coming of prominent statesman Heydar Aliyev to the leadership of Azerbaijan had a great influence on the preservation of the atmosphere created at the University. In Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev not only prevented the complete suppression of the national spirit within the framework of the ideology of the time but on the contrary, maximized all possibilities for its development, gave impetus to the idea of national statehood to become a great driving force in the future. Despite the persecution and pressure on nationally-minded figures of science and culture in the country, Heydar Aliyev, thanks to his courage and unwavering will, created in the Republic favorable conditions for free thought and free expression of opinions by creative people, ensuring sovereignty and independence in the history of the statehood of Azerbaijan. 

This process has not remained untraceable in public consciousness, it has found its reflection in scientific research and new scientific approaches. For this reason, it was during this period that the stage of the great rise in the development of Baku State University began. Heydar Aliyev played an important role in the development of the University. Heydar Aliyev was concerned about the University he graduated from. For the first time since the 10th anniversary of the University, the anniversary was also held on his initiative. The celebration of the 50th and 60th anniversaries of the Temple of Science and Education of Azerbaijan at the state level has become a significant event in the history of the University. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its foundation, Baku State University was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on February 11, 1971, for services to the development of science and training of highly qualified specialists, and on March 13, 1980, on the 60th anniversary of its establishment, it was awarded an Honorary Certificate of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR. 

During the 1970s and 1980s, the University had wide opportunities for new developments and progress, comprehensive expansion, and improvement of its activities. This became possible, first of all, as a result of the efforts and policies of the leadership of the Republic aimed at achieving maximum independence within the composition of the USSR. In these years, favorable conditions have been created for strengthening the University's logistical and technical base, improving its educational work, developing science, and expanding the University’s international relations. A computer science and computing center was opened, new academic buildings were built, laboratories and departments, a library, a dormitory, etc. were put into operation. 

Heydar Aliyev noted that the modern development of Azerbaijan was possible precisely based on the achievements of this educational institution. The Great Leader regarded this issue as a priority of public policy. Therefore, the University has been constantly at the center of care for education.  

On November 1, 1969, at the anniversary event held in the current Shahriyar club on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the University, the participation and speech of the head of the state Heydar Aliyev in his mother tongue became a turning point not only for the University team, but also for the entire Azerbaijani society in the direction of awakening the national spirit. This speech lit a candle of hope in the heart of the University team, suffering from the repression and persecution of the totalitarian Soviet regime until that time, setting the start of a new qualitative stage in the life of the University.  

Heydar Aliyev also paid special attention to the studying of talented Azerbaijani youth in the advanced and prestigious institutions of higher education of the former SSSP. Since the beginning of the 1980s, 1000-1400 young Azerbaijanis have been sent every year to pursue higher education outside the Republic. Students of the University were among those young people. Some of the young people who graduated and returned were employed at the University. 

In 1980, the University had 64 specializations, 12 training faculties in 18 specialties, the Faculty of Foreign Citizens' Education, the faculty for the advancement of instructors of higher and secondary schools, the preparatory department, 89 departments, 4 problem laboratories, and the Interuniversity Research and Computing Centre. At that time, the University had more than 13,000 students. The University has done important work on improving the quality of teaching and the development of science, and the international links of the University have been expanded. For this purpose, new structures were created and the Humanitarian campus of the University was put into operation. 

During this period, the university was the main center for the formation of the intellectual potential of the Azerbaijani people. Of the 1137 teaching staff of the University, 116 were doctors of science and professors, including 7 corresponding members of the Azerbaijani Academy of Sciences and 311 associate professors. Among these scientists, who have made a great contribution to the development of all spheres of Azerbaijani society, there are statesmen, figures of science and culture. Academicians Mammad Arif Dadashzadeh, Feyzulla Gasymzadeh, Ismail Huseynov, Alisohbat Sumbatzadeh, Professors, Doctors of Pedagogical Sciences Ahmed Seyidov, Aghammad Abdullayev, doctor of historical sciences Adham Shahmaliev, honored scientist  Sarah Ashurbayli, the first researcher of our material culture, who discovered the Gobustan rocky drawings Ishak Jafarzadeh and others made invaluable contributions to Azerbaijani science. 

At the same time, several structural reforms were carried out at the University, the Department of “Civil Process and Financial Law” (1985), “The Teaching Methodology of Chemistry (1987), “Mathematical Cybernetics” (1988), “Folklore” (1989), “The Mathematical Methods of Management Theory (1990), “The Study of Operations and Mathematic Modeling”, “Probability Theory and Math statistics” (1990) were put into operation. The Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography named after M.M.Huseynov was opened (1986). In addition, scientific research laboratories such as "Prognosis, Search, and Evaluation of Gold Deposits" (1989), “Azerbaijanis of the World: Historical Demographics” (1989), and “History of Material Culture of Azerbaijan” were created. 

Despite the processes taking place in Azerbaijan, the political processes that began in Soviet society in the mid-1980s have further exacerbated the crisis in the economic, social, and spiritual spheres, as well as in national relations. None of the measures taken by the ruling Communist Party to prevent the bankruptcy of the country did not give the expected result, on the contrary, “reconstruction” and “publicity” more vividly raised all the contradictions in the Soviet Empire, accelerated the country’s failure, and gave a powerful impetus to the development of the democratic movement. 

The fact that in 1987-1991 there were 3 new appointments to the post of rector in the University testifies to the unstable and difficult situation in these years both in the Republic and the University. This situation, of course, could not have hurt the harmonious rhythm of teaching and research at the University. But, despite all this, the University, as always distinguished by its rich traditions and dedicated intellectuals working in the fields of science and education, with honor continued its historic mission from the moment of its foundation, overcoming all difficulties. As a result, the University took a place in the vanguard of the national liberation movement of the Azerbaijani people. 

Employees of the Department  of Theory and Practice of Journalism: Famil Mehdi, Nasir Imanguliyev, Akif Rustamov, Mahmud Mahmudov, and Adygozel Gambarov (1987) 

In the late 1980s, when the separatist movements of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh intensified and Azerbaijanis were forcibly expelled from the lands of Western Azerbaijan, which is now called Armenia, the indifference and incompetence of the republican leadership seriously worried the University staff, as well as every patriot of Azerbaijan. Despite all the mechanisms of pressure from Soviet ideology, freedom-loving people were quite active at the University. It was because of their struggle that the students of the University were the main activists of the mass meetings and demonstrations that took place at the time in Baku. The main purpose and task of these young people was to prevent violations of the rights of our people, to expose the insidious plans of the Armenian provocators and their patrons, and to protect the territorial integrity of the Republic. The audience discussed the independence of Azerbaijan, relations with the Turkish world, and other topics. In January 1988, the students of the University held the first protest action against the forced deportation of our compatriots from Armenia. The University has allocated for the resettlement of refugees its training and production base located in the Guba district. To meet their needs, a special account called “Help” was opened and significant funds were raised by the University team. In addition to the regular mass meetings of the University’s teaching staff and the students in front of the main educational building of the University, the professors and instructors regularly delivered speeches on radio, and television and published articles in the press. Because of the situation in the Republic, it was not possible to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the University, although the preparations were being carried out.   

The Academic Council of the University, taking into account the numerous demands, decided on 27 October 1989 to rename the University to the Baku State University, and the street on which it is located,  to "University". By the decision of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Azerbaijan SSR on 19 February 1990 and by the Order of the Minister of National Education on 1 March 1990, the historical name of the University was restored.  

In the tragedy of 20 January, which is written with golden letters in the history of the struggle for freedom of our country, the members of the University’s teaching staff and students were also in the front rows of those who resisted the offensive army units. Even after the tragedy, the University staff took an active part in mass protest actions conducted in the Republic. 

Despite all this, the selfless commitment to science and education spoke for itself. Since the ideas of Marxism-Leninism that did not justify themselves in practice and the beliefs based on them put society in a critical situation, it became necessary to form public consciousness based on the requirements of the new era and completely reorganize the humanitarian education system. 

Despite the difficulties, reforms have been carried out to improve the quality of teaching and research, as well as to optimize governance. During these years, the Lankaran and Sheki branches of the University were established. To train personnel according to the requirements of the time, the faculties of International Relations and International Law, Social Sciences, and Psychology were established based on the Faculty of History (1991). Many new departments and laboratories were established

Materials from the book “Baku State University.

Centennial Temple of Science and Education”

(Baku, 2019) have been used.