LOVE HAS FOUND ITS REFLECTION IN MY HEART IN THE FACE OF COMPASSION
Today’s interlocutor is Nazila Gultaj — a well-known Azerbaijani poetess, investigative journalist, translator, and writer, who by profession is a doctor and a laureate of the Presidential Award.
— You are a poet, writer, translator, researcher, and also a doctor. Which do you find more difficult: finding a cure for a patient’s physical ailment, or healing their heart with words?
— That is an interesting question. A sick, suffering person carries deep pain and hopelessness inside. As the saying goes: “There are words that can lift mountains, and words that can bring them down.” The noblest quality of a human being is the ability to soothe pain with words. Alongside prescribing medicine, I have always tried to provide relief through words as well. The heart and the body are one organism. If a specialist is knowledgeable and familiar with human psychology, both are easy. If not, both finding a cure and healing with words are difficult.
— When creating poetry, which emotion dominates you the most – excitement, longing, love, or wonder?
— Of course, love. Without love, there can be no wonder, no longing, no astonishment. Love is the source of all our feelings.
— You are highly appreciated both in Azerbaijan and in Turkey. If we compare the readers of these two brotherly nations, what differences do you see in their approach to poetry?
— For many years, I have been closely connected with the literary world of Turkey. Just as in Azerbaijan, there is great interest in poetry and art in Turkey as well. It is one Turkish literary environment here, and another Turkish literary environment there.
— In your book “Raindrops Fall from My Hands” it feels as if words breathe together with nature. For you, is nature a source of inspiration, or does nature itself transform into poetry?
— The true source of art and creativity — whether it be human beings or nature — is beauty. As our immortal poet Hussein Javid said: “My God is beauty, my God is love.”
— The theme of love is very strong in your poetry. Yet this love does not only appear as the feeling between two hearts, but also as love for the homeland, for the people, for nature, and for humanity. In what form has love most clearly found its reflection in your heart?
— Love is born of kinship and compassion. For me, the concept of love is very broad. A person can love even a kitten that has lost its mother. In my heart, love has found its reflection in the face of compassion.
— To step into the literary stage as a woman poet requires both delicacy and courage. In your opinion, what are the greatest challenges faced by women writers?
— Azerbaijan is a sufficiently tolerant country. Since ancient times, among the Turks the name of mother and woman has been held in the highest esteem. Although at certain periods religious influence placed restrictions on women, as we have returned to our Turkic roots, these limitations have disappeared. Today, in science, culture, and literature, there are no obstacles for our women. The brightest example of this is our First Lady, Mehriban Aliyeva. Taking this opportunity, I congratulate her and wish her success on behalf of all women of the Turkic world.
— In your works, you delicately touch upon the secrets of the human heart. Does being a doctor help you to understand the soul better, or does writing poetry shed light on your medical practice?
— My poetry greatly influences my medical practice, and my medical practice also deeply shapes my poetry. A doctor is the poet of the body; a poet is the doctor of the soul. In my life, both complete one another.
— In your poems, images of rain, water, and streams frequently appear. Do these symbols come from your personal life experience?
— I rejoice when it rains. I rejoice that trees, grass, birds, and all that suffer from thirst find relief. I can watch running water for hours without getting tired. It caresses my feelings and my spirit. Whatever passes through my heart, I first whisper it to the water. For me, water is the symbol of purity and cleansing.
— You have introduced the literature of many Turkic peoples to Azerbaijani readers. Do you think these bridges are built only for literature, or do they serve a greater purpose of uniting the spirit of nations?
— Since the opening of borders in 1990, I turned towards the vast Turkic world. My goal was to build bridges of the heart between our peoples. Within the framework of the “Journey of the Heart” project, we have held meetings not only in Turkey, but also in Central Asia. As poets and writers, we wish for peace and security in the world. May no child be left without a father, and no parent lose their child in war. For this, we must stand united.
— You have recently presented your first prose book “Father of a Martyr” to readers. Do you feel closer to prose or to poetry?
— My poems draw strength from the prose of life, and my prose takes inspiration from the poetry of life. My novella “Father of a Martyr” is based on many years of life experience, and it received the Yusif Samadoglu Award in this genre.
— You approach nature and animals with special love. What role does this affection play in your life and in your creative work?
— Humanity begins with love for animals. A person who does not love animals cannot have true conscience. They are entrusted to us by the Creator. I feed and give water to stray animals on the streets. I believe people should show more care for animals, because the salvation of humanity lies in love and compassion.
— For a poet, what is the greatest source of inspiration — divine love bestowed by God, daily sorrows and joys, or the traces of time?
— The world exists in unity. For me, all feelings exist for the sake of balance. The human soul and body unite in the divine love bestowed by God.
— You have participated in many international literary festivals. In your opinion, does today’s world literature lean more towards national spirit, or does a global harmony prevail?
— World literature arises upon national roots. Without national spirit, there can be no globalization. The three colors of our flag symbolize this: one is nationality, one is universality, and one is faith. If we compare globalization to fruit, nationality is its root. A tree cannot bear fruit without drinking from its roots. Without national spirit, global harmony cannot exist.
Jakhongir NOMOZOV,
is a young poet and journalist from Uzbekistan.
He is also a Member of the Union of Journalists of Azerbaijan and the World Young Turkic Writers Union.
