Keeping place of our heroism history -Memorial Museum

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Published on Saturday, 20 January 2018 17:14

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Every year on the eve of the 20 January tragedy, one of the places which Nakhchivan residents address is the Memorial Museum in Nakhchivan city.

For information, the name of Martyrs’ Museum established on the basis of the Decree of the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Mr. Vasif Talibov in 1997, began functioning with 500 exhibits, was renamed as “Memorial Museum” on August 8, 2000.  Now this museum preserves nearly 2000 exhibits. Each exhibit takes us to the past. They remember us the bloody crimes committed against us in the beginning of the last century.  They suggest us not to forget these incidents. Nearly 400 exhibits are exhibited at the exposition. Chronological sequence is the main factor in the establishment of museum exposition. The copies of decrees signed by the national leader Heydar Aliyev related to the tragedies March 31, 1918, January 20, 1990, February 26, 1992 are kept as valuable documents in the museum. These documents are of great importance as an expression of great respect for the glorious history of our people by the national leader.

This is the corner of the exposition covering the years. It is impossible to look at them without excitement. One can see the materials, photos and documents reflecting the tragedies perpetrated by the Armenian dashnaks against Azerbaijan people in the years 1918-1920. In those years the Armenian invaders attacked our settlements, slaughtered them and killed the people with special cruelty. At that time, Armenians killed only 70,000 people in Baku. The Armenian bandits led by Andranik also attacked Nakhchivan. Yaycı village was completely burned, and the people were in a state of disrepair.  In total, 73 thousand 727 people were killed in Nakhchivan.

In the another corner, the rich information about the Turkish army's fighting against the Armenians in Nakhchivan in 1918-1920, draws attention. These exhibits are a clear proof that we are one nation but two states and the best response for those who want to occupy our lands.

One of the other corners of the museum has the examples reflecting the history of the first democratic republic in the East - the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. The copies of Turkmanchay, Gulustan treaties which witnessed to separate our lands are preserved in the museum.  The copies of Moscow treaty dated March 1921, Kars treaty dated October 13, 1921 which solved the fate of Nakhchivan, are also in the exhibition of the museum.

The materials reflecting the prowess of our people during World War I and II are in the other corner of the museum. More than 700,000 Azerbaijanis fought heroically in this war. 300 thousand our compatriots died, 2000 warriors were awarded with medals and orders. 130 Azerbaijanis were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Three of them were from Nakhchivan. The museum preserves documents, photographs and other materials containing the bravery of Gazanfar Akbarov, Abbas Guliyev and Najafgulu Rafiyev thousands of miles away from their homeland.

The tragedy committed by the Armenian dashnaks in our country in 1948-1953 was a repeat of history. In those years, there was no account of the massacres committed by the Armenian invaders in the villages and districts of Azerbaijan.

At the beginning of the 90s of the last century, this history was repeated again. Armenian dashnaks tried to implement their own desires at this time again. In January 1990, they attacked Sadarak. Hundreds of Azerbaijanis went to the border region. One photograph which draws attention in the corner related to it is very impressive and proud. This is a photo of a volunteer self-defense brigade in Sadarak. Those volunteers were the brave sons coming into the battlefield for the integrity of our lands.

During the bloody battles in Sadarak, we were attacked by the attackers of the army, whom we all knew as the "Golden Army". Unarmed people stood in front of them. Baku turned into a sea of blood. But the killers could not strangle freedom desire of our people. They saw that this nation is the heir of their past. They are ready to sacrifice themselves for every inch of our land. The undeclared war that has begun since then is still going on. The people who were martyred in the battles for our land are the sons of our people. Each of them is an example for today's youth. Because this way is a way to further strengthen our territorial integrity and independence. Our people will never forget them.

8 out of 213 warriors who were awarded the National Hero of Azerbaijan in these battles, were from Nakhchivan. One can get detailed information about those heroes in the museum.

According to the Decree "On further strengthening relations with museums", signed on December 19, 2014 by the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of  Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, the collectives of all the offices, enterprises and organizations of the autonomous republic visit museums. In the memorial museum mentioned here, as well as the place where our glorious history is preserved, detailed information is given about the heroes of the Motherland.

Today, conducting of open lessons are kept in the center of attention at the Memorial Museum. On January 18, the schoolchildren were informed about the 20 January tragedy, our history of heroism and pride in an interactive relationship between the schools of the autonomous republic. It was stressed that on the eve of the 20 January tragedy, the border villages of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic were also subjected to occupation of the Armenian armed forces. At present, there are numerous exhibits reflecting those incidents in Baku and Nakhchivan. In addition, a number of purposeful events are also being carried out, and pupils and students visit the museum. The goal is that today's youth be deeply aware of our glorious history, be proud of this history, grow up in a faithful spirit for the homeland, the state, the independence.

                                                                                Fatma BABAYEVA

                                                                             “Sharg gapisi” newspaper

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