Kamal Mehdi Abdullayev
Kamal Abdulla
Kamal Abdulla (full name: Kamal Mehdi Abdullayev) – linguist, literary scholar writer, public figure; Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor, Honorary Scholar;Full Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan (ANAS); Rector of Baku Slavic University (2000-2014); Academic – Secretary of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (2010-2014) ; State Concilor on multiethnic multicultural and religious affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2014-2017); Rector of Azerbaijan University of Languages (since June 1, 2017); Chairman of Azerbaijan Creativity Foundation; Editor – in – Chief of the journal “Turkology” of ANAS; Chairman of the Guardianship Council of Baku International Multiculturalism Center; First grade State Councillor.
Life and Activity
He was born on December 4, 1950 in a noble family in Baku. His father was a teacher, but mother was a doctor.
In 1968 he left secondary school № 190 in Baku.
In 1968-1973 he studied at Philological faculty of Azerbaijan State University.
In 1973-1976 he was a full-time postgraduate in the department of “Turkic Languages” at the Institute of Linguistics of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR.
In January 1977 he defended his Ph. D dissertation “Syntactic Parallelism” (on the language of the Epos “The Book of Dada Gorgud”) in Moscow.
In 1984 he defended his Doctoral thesis “Theoretical Issues of Syntax of the Azerbaijani Language” in Baku.
In 1978-1983 he took the position of junior scientific researcher, then senior scientific researcher and later head of the Department of “Comparative Research of Turkic Languages” at the Institute of Linguistics of ANAS.
Since 1983 author and presenter of a number of monthly and weekly literary and social-scientific TV programs, such as, “The Azerbaijani Language”, “Goshma”, “Defina”, (“Treasure”), “The Mystery of Word”.
In 1984 – head of the Department of “General and Azerbaijani Linguistics” at the Institute of Foreign Languages.
In 1988-1990 – First Deputy Chairman in Culture Foundation (now Azerbaijan Creativity Foundation), in 1990 – Chairman of the Foundation staff.
In 1990 – head of the Department of “General and Russian Linguistics at the Institute of the Russian Language and Literature named after M. F. Akhundov.
From 1993 to 2000 – head of the Department of “General and Azerbaijani Linguistics” at the Institute of Foreign Languages again.
In 1994-1995 – Professor of the Department of “The Turkish Language and Literature” at Bursa Uludagh University (the Republic of Turkey).
In May, 2000 – appointed as the Rector of the Institute of the Russian Language and Literature named after M.F.Akhundov by the Order of the President of Republic Heydar Aliyev.
In June, 2000 – Rector of the newly-founded Baku Slavic University (BSU). Idea man and executor of the series “Library of Philologist – 100”, “Turkology” and “World Prose”, and of the International projects “The Song of Nibelungs” and “The Book of Dada Gorgud”.
Organizer of a number of International scientific and cultural projects.
Idea man and Editor-in-Chief of Azerbaijan Translation Encyclopedia (Baku, 2018).
In 2014 he was appointed the State Councilor on multiethnic, multicultural and religious affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan by the President of the Republic Ilham Aliyev.
Kamal Abdulla – member of the Guardianship Council of the Knowledge Foundation attached to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan was elected the Chairman of the Guardianship Council at the firs meeting of Baku International Multiculturalism Center on November 18, 2014.
Since 2017 he has been Rector of Azerbaijan University of Languages.
Activity
Scientific activity
Author of researcher on ancient epic literature of Turkic peoples.
He delivered lectures and special courses at Universities in different countries (in Russia – at Linguistic University, Pedagogical University, Institute of Linguistics; in Turkey – at Uludagh University, Ege University, Bahcheshehir University; in Georgia – at Tbilisi State University; in Poland – at Warsaw University; in France – at INALCO University, Strasbourg University, in Germany – at Mainz University, Humboldt University; in the USA – at Columbia University Harriman Institute and so on) on “General Linguistics”, “Text Syntax”, “The Culturological Aspects of “The Book of Dada Gorgud”.
Organizator and participant of a number of international symposiums, conferences and tutorials.
In November, 2009 at Strasbourg (in France), Warsaw (in Poland) and Mainz (in Germany) Universities the presentation ceremonies of the book “From Myth to Writing or Mysterious Dada Gorgud” was held and prof.Kamal Abdulla lectured on “Poetics of “The Book of Dada Gorgud” at these Universities.
He has many books on Linguistics, such as, “Проблемы синтаксиса простого предложения в азербайджанском языке” (Baku, Elm, 1983); “Theoretical Issues of Syntax of the Azerbaijani Language” (Baku, Maarif, 1999-2016), “Compound Syntactical Wholes in Azerbaijani” (in co-authorship with a group of authors), “The Russian Language in Azerbaijan” (in co-authorship with I. Hamidov), “The Journey into Linguistics or Linguistics for Non-Linguists”, “Let’s Speak Azerbaijani” (Paris 2008, Bucharest 2010, Budapest 2011).
His books on Literature studies and Literary Criticism “Author-Novel-Reader” (Baku, Yazichi, 1985), “What is Written Nevertheless (Baku, Yazichi, 1990), “The Start and End of the Road” (Baku, Azerbaijan State Publishing – House, 1993), “300 Azerbaijanis” (Baku, Mutarjim, 2007) reflect the problematic aspects of World Literature and shed light on the invisible sides of the ancient and contemporary Literary processes.
His book “Лекции в Бакинском славянском университете” (“Lectures in Baku Slavic University”) (Baku, Mutarjim, 2003) (co-authored with Acad. A. Mirzajanzade) is about issues of Literature and Poetics.
He wrote and published his monographs on Gorgud studies, such as, “Mysterious Dada Gorgud” (1991), “The Epos in Mystery or Mysterious Dada Gorgud – 2” (Baku, Elm, 1999), “From Myth to Writing or Mysterious Dada Gorgud”, “Introduction to the Poetics of “The Book of Dada Gorgud” (Baku, 2017).
In 2015 Acad. Kamal Abdulla (in co-authorship with prof.E.A.Najafov) compiled teaching programs “Introduction to Multiculturalism” (for bachelors) and “Azerbaijani Multiculturalism” (for masters) on the subject of “Multiculturalism”.
He (with prof.E.A.Najafov) is the academic Editor and one of the main authors of the teaching manual “Azebaijani Multiculturalism” for higher educational institutions.
His scientific and publicistic papers are published in Azerbaijan and abroad.
He is the author of more than 200 papers, more than 20 scientific books, teaching aids and monographs. He was the supervisor for tens of masters and post-graduates.
Literary Activity
Kamal Abdulla is the author of many novels, poems and books of stories, such as, “The Incomplete Manuscript”, “The Valley of Wizards”, “There is Nobody to Forget…”.
A number of his books consisting of dramas were published in Azerbaijani, Russian and Turkish. He has Collections of plays: “There is Nobody to Forget” (Baku, Azerneshr, 1995), “The Ghost” (Baku, Azneshr, 1997), “All My Sadness” (Baku, Mutarjim, 2009).
He is the author of the Collection of translations “Mysteries of the Silver Age” (translation of poems written by “Silver Age Poets of Russian Poetry (Baku, Mutarjim, 2001).
All his essays, poems, stories, translations and plays were collected in his book “Sad Selections” (Baku, Mutarjim, 2002).
His collection of stories: “Stories” (Baku, Mutarjim, 2009), “Labyrinth” (Baku, Ganun, 2012), “The Mystery of Time” (Baku, Mutarjim, 2014), “Execution Time Cannot be Changed” (Baku, 2017) were published.
His book “The Incomplete Manuscript” was firstly published in Baku in 2004. The novel was republished in Azerbaijan in 2013.
His novel “The Valley of Wizards” was firstly published in Baku in 2006.
His novel “There is Nobody to Forget…” was firstly published in Baku in 2011.
His book “Undated Diary” speaks about his school life and was published in Baku in 2005. In 2007 this book was published in Russian in the collection book “Открывая друг друга” under the title “Дневник с заметками на полях”. His book “Undated Diary” was published in the book “Collection of Novels” in 2007 on the initiative of Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Head of the Foundation – First Lady of Azerbaijan Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva. In 2007 this book was published in Bulgarian under the title “Дневник с бележки в полетата” in the collection “Един кьм друг”.
Presentation of the book “The Incomplete Manuscript” was held in different countries, such as, in Paris at INALCO University in 2006, in Moscow in the editor’s of the journal “Иностранная литература” in 2007, in Brazil at Paraiba University in 2012, in Austria with the organizational support of the Institute of the German Language and Literature of Grats University named after Karl and Frants in 2013, in London in “Waterstones” book house with the organization of European-Azerbaijani Society in November 2013, in Berlin at Humboldt University in February 2014.
Books in foreign languages
His plays, stories, novels, essays and poems were published in Azerbaijan and in the following foreign countries:
1. In the USA – in English
2. In Austria – in German
3. In France – in French
4. In Italy – in Italian
5. In Brazil – in Portuguese
6. In Serbia – in Serbian
7. In Montenegro – in Montenegro
8. In Poland – in Polish
9. In Russia – in Russian
10. In Turkey – in Turkish
11. In Kazakhstan – in Kazakh
12. In Kirgizia – in Kirgiz
13. In Georgia – in Georgian
14. In Lithuania – in Lithuanian
15. In Iran – in Persian
16. In Japan – in Japanese
17. In Rumania – in Rumanian
18. In Hungary – in Hungarian
19. In Egypt – in Arabic
20. In Bulgaria – in Bulgarian.
“The Incomplete Manuscript” was published in many countries in different languages, such as, in France entitled “Le Manuscrıt inachevé” (Paris, L’Harmattan, 2005), in Turkey – “Eksik El Yazması” (İstanbul, Ötüken, 2006), in Russia – “Неполная рукопись” (Moscow, Khroniker,2006), in Brazil – “O Manuscrito İnacabado” (João Pessoa, İdeia, 2009), in Poland – “Zagadkowy Rękopis” (Torun, 2009), in Egypt – “رلمخطوطالمبتو” (Cairo, 2012), in America – “The Incomplete Manuscript” (Houston, 2013), in Kazakhstan – “Tолык емес колжазба” (Astana, 2013), in Austria – “Das unvollständige manuscript” (Vienna, 2013), in Kirgizia – “Tолук емес колжазма” (Bishkek, 2014), in Italy – “Il Manoscritto İncompleto” (Rome, 2014), in Montenegro – “Nepotpuni rukopis” (Podgorica, 2015) and in Japan (Shusheyra, 2017).
His novel “The Valley of Wizards” devoted to the life of Sufi santons was published in Baku in 2006, then in Istanbul with the title “Büyücüler deresi” (2010), then in St. Petersburg entitled “Долина Кудесников” (“Zlatoust”, 2010), in Lithuania as “Stebukladarių slėnis” (Vilnius, “Edukologia”, 2013), as well as, in Japan in the “Michitani” Publishing – House in 2013.
His book of poems and plays “Master of the Way” was published in Moscow (Moscow, Rif Roy, 2004).
In 2014 the collection of his latest stories in Moscow entitled “Платон, кажется, заболел...” was awarded with “Gold Delvig” prize.
His plays were staged in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Estonia.
His book “Let’s speak Azerbaijani” was published in Paris in 2008 in French (Parlons Azerbaidjanais. L’Harmattan, 2008, co-authored by Mishel Malerb), then in Rumania in Rumanian (Sa Vorbim Azerbaidjana. Ideea Europeana, Bucharest, 2010), and in Hungary in Hungarian (Budapest, 2011, co-authored by Prof. Mariya Kenneshi).
Republications:
His book “Yarımçıq əlyazma” (“The Incomplete Manuscript”) was republished in different languages and different countries, such as, “Le Manuscrit inachevé” – in France (Paris, L’Harmattan, 2013), “Eksik El yazması” – in Turkey (Istanbul, Ötüken, 2014), “İl manoscritto incompleto” – in Italy (Rome, İoleggoperche, 2015), “Неполная рукопись” – in Russia in the book “Романы” (“Novels”) (Moscow, Khudojestvennaya literatura, 2013) and in the book “Под сенью Карагача” (“Sheltered by Karagacha”) (Moscow, Khudojestvennaya literatura, 2016).
He is written about:
The following books were published about Kamal Abdulla in Azerbaijan:
“The Mystery of Sadness” (by Elchin Seljug); “Kamal Abdulla: Morphology of Choice” (by Asif Hajily); “Kamal Abdulla: From Writing to Myth” (by Rustam Kamal); in Turkey “Kamal Abdulla’s works in Turkish” (by Mehman Musaoghlu), in Rumania “Kamal Abdulla: Philosophy of Completeness” (by Lyudmila Bejenaru).
Many articles and papers concerning his scientific and literary activities were published in Russia, Turkey, France, Italy, Brazil, Poland, Lithuania, USA, Kazakhstan, Kirgizia, Japan and so on.
Relations with Foreign Institutions:
He is one of the idea men and organizers of the International project “The Book of Dada Gorgud” and “The Song of Nibelungs” which was realized in 2009 together with Mainz University of Germany and Volkenstain Society;
Full Honorary Member of Turkic Language Society;
Full Member (academician) of Ukrainian International Personnel Academy;
Member of Russian PEN-Club (Moscow);
Honorary Doctor of Moscow City Pedagogical University (MCPU);
Honorary Professor of Poltava University of Economy and Trade;
Laureate of the Supreme award of Sofia University “Honorary Blue Ribbon Insignia”;
Full Member, academician of International Academy of Sciences of Turkic World Researches;
Honorary Doctor of Ural Federal University of Russia;
Full Member of Georgian Academy of Education Sciences.
Prizes and Awards
He was awarded:
on December 2015 “Shohrat” Orden by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan for his useful activity in the field of education;
in 2007 Pushkin Medal of the Russian Federation;
in 2007 “Humay Award” in Azerbaijan;
in 2007 “The Novel of the Year” Prize by the 525th Newspaper;
in 2007 “Literary Man of the Year” by the Monitoring Group;
in 2009 “Karl Kramej” Medal for his exceptional role in the development of relationships between Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic;
in 2009 “Great Cross” Cavallier Orden presented by the President of Poland Mr. Lech Kaczynski;
in 2009 a Special Diploma of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland for his exceptional services in promoting the positive image of Poland;
in 2010 – the “National Dada Gorgud Award” by Dada Gorgud National Foundation and “Gold Medal” “Vatan Ovladi” founded by the international journal “World of Azerbaijan”;
in 2010 – the award “The Literary Work of the Latest Ten Years” for his book “The Incomplete Manuscript” in the III Nasimi National Literature Contest;
on May 21, 2015 the “Award for His Scientific Activity” in the V Congress of Qafqaz Universities Union (KUNIB) in Tabriz, Iran;
on September 21, 2015 – Special Prize on Literature of “Scanno” (“Skanoprize”) Award founded by one of the biggest Italian foundations – Rikardo Tanaturri Foundation;
in 2016 – the highest “Gold Delvig” Prize in Russian Literature for his book of stories “Platon Seems to Fall Ill..” (Platon, kajetsa zabolel…”) published by the popular Russian Publishing – House “Khudojestvennaya Literatura".