On 12 September the Scientific Library of the Dagestan State Medical University hosted a literary and poetic evening dedicated to the 155th anniversary of the birth of Suleiman Stalsky (real name — Suleiman Hasanbekov) — one of the greatest Dagestani poets of the XX century, the founder of Lezgin Dagestani poetry, the People’s Poet of Dagestan.

The event was opened by the library director Venera Musayeva, who drew attention to the book exhibition ‘Writers-Jubilarians’, dedicated to the anniversary of Suleiman Stalsky and Efendi Kapiyev.

Renat Kurbanismailov, Vice-Rector for Public Relations and Social and Educational Work, addressed the students with a welcoming speech. He emphasised the significance of the event, the contribution of the national poet, ashug of Lezgi poetry to the common treasury of Dagestani and Russian literature. He also noted that such events unite all the peoples of Dagestan.

1. Stalsky began to compose poems at a mature age. Suleyman Stalsky began his poetic activity with poems in the Azerbaijani language. ‘Here are my books,’ Suleyman pointed at his fellow villagers, ’they have all the songs I have composed written in their heads. ‘Hey! The song is out!’ — he would shout to the villagers when he came up with fresh verses, and not being surprised at such an intrusion of poetry into everyday life, the peasants always simply and cheerfully gathered round their neighbour to listen to his new song.

Stalsky drew inspiration not from abstract ideas about good and evil, but from the depths of the people’s soul, from people’s suffering. As life showed, Stalsky’s works on moral and didactic themes and philosophical, religious and love lyrics were the most mature in the ideological and artistic sense.

1. Stalsky’s merits were appreciated by the government. Since 1925 Suleiman was a member of the Dagtsik Central Executive Committee, and in 1934 he was awarded the high title of People’s Poet of Dagestan.

In 1934 ‘Selected Works’ by S. Stalsky was published and in the same year he was awarded the honourable title of People’s Poet of Dagestan. For his great contribution to the multinational national literature S. Stalsky was awarded the Order of Lenin, and was also nominated a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the first convocation. His creativity was highly appreciated by his contemporaries — colleagues in writing. At the First All-Union Congress of Writers of the USSR Maxim Gorky rightfully called S. Stalsky ‘Homer of the XX century’.

The poems ‘Forgive me…’ performed by Khadija Azizova, ‘Tavat’ by Kamila Hajiyeva, ‘It doesn’t happen like that…’ were performed at the evening — Mariyat Magomedova, as well as works in the native language.