Today marks the 189th anniversary of the birth of Hasan bey Zardabi, the founder of the Azerbaijani national press, a great educator, and intellectual.
According to sea-news.az Hasan bey Zardabi was born on June 28, 1837, in the village of Zardab, Goychay district. After finishing secondary school in Tbilisi, he received higher education in natural sciences at Moscow University.
While working as a teacher in Baku, Zardabi did significant work for the development of enlightenment. In 1873, together with his colleagues, he staged the comedies of M. F. Akhundzade, thereby laying the foundation of the Azerbaijani theater. He also actively participated in the opening of the first school for girls in Baku in 1901.
His greatest historical service was the publication of the first national newspaper, “Ekinchi,” on July 22, 1875. Although the newspaper operated for only two years, it played a major role in the enlightenment of the people. In later years, Zardabi continued to publish scientific articles in newspapers such as “Ziya,” “Keshkul,” and “Kaspi.”
The great thinker passed away on November 28, 1907, and his grave is currently in the Alley of Honor. Today, the Azerbaijan Museum of Natural History and institutions under the Ganja State University (formerly the Pedagogical Institute) bear his name.
