“I am a Poet. I Have Wings. I Will Fly…” — Eldar Akhadov

Today, we are having a conversation with our compatriot — the renowned writer, mining engineer-surveyor, explorer of the Earth’s depths and Arctic regions, honorary member of the Writers’ Union of Azerbaijan and the Surveyors’ Union of Russia, author of nearly a hundred works of fiction and scientific books, a man whose name is marked on topographic maps as the namesake of two highland tributaries of the Yenisei River basin, discovered by him in the Wild Sayan Mountains — the respected Eldar Ahadov. What has happened in his life over recent years could very well be the plot of a novel. This man, having undergone both physical and spiritual trials, vividly demonstrates that the strength of spirit far surpasses the weakness of the body…

— Our last interview was published on March 12, 2020. What events have taken place in your life since then?

— About a year before March 2020 — in January 2019 — I suffered a stroke. For some time, I was unable to control my right hand and leg. I could neither sign my name nor hold a spoon, and naturally, I could not walk. The period of active rehabilitation lasted several months, after which I told my family that I wanted to fly a paraglider. They tried to dissuade me, saying I hadn’t fully recovered yet, especially since not long ago I couldn’t even hold a spoon to eat soup. But I jokingly replied: “To fly, you don’t need legs, you need wings. I am a poet. I have wings. I will fly…” And so, on the evening of July 4, 2020, I flew. I was flying at an altitude of 300–400 meters over the Sayan ridges and the mountain river called Mana! The flight was recorded on video.

— Your literary activity has also continued over these years. What achievements could you highlight?

— On October 8, 2021, by the initiative of the leadership of the Writers’ Union of Azerbaijan, personally by Anar, I was admitted as an honorary member of the Union and received certificate number 56. By logic, this number meant that from the founding of the Writers’ Union of Azerbaijan on June 13, 1934, until the moment of my induction, there had been only 55 honorary members, and I became the 56th.

— They say there was an interesting incident involving your book The Unknown Pushkin…

— On the afternoon of April 19, 2022, while I was in the hospital, I was waiting for my wife to bring me my new book — The Unknown Pushkin. My room was on the first floor, and she quietly handed me the book through an open window; I happened to be alone in the room at the time. Just as I took the book into my hands, the door opened and a nurse’s voice called from behind: “Pushkin, come in!” The moment left me completely stunned! An elderly man walked into the room, and he looked exactly like the poet’s eldest son, Alexander Alexandrovich Pushkin, in his advanced age. We greeted each other. It turned out that my new hospital roommate was actually named Alexander Pushkin. I immediately signed the book and gifted it to him. Not every writer in our time gets the honor of presenting a book about an unknown Alexander Pushkin to a truly unknown, living Alexander Pushkin…

— You are also known to collaborate with Egyptian writer Ashraf Aboul-Yazid. How did that begin?

— It all started with correspondence and creative collaboration. Then, in September 2022, the internationally renowned Egyptian writer and poet — a gold medalist of the 2021 Eurasian Festival and laureate of the international Korean Manhae Prize — Ashraf Aboul-Yazid flew from Cairo to visit me in Baku. While in Baku, we held the first international presentation of his poetry book Cairo Street, which I translated into Russian.

— Later, you underwent a serious heart surgery…

— A month after that meeting, medical examinations indicated the urgent need for heart surgery. Without it, I would have faced dire consequences in the near future. Due to my condition, I was unable to travel to Russia for the operation, so the procedure — a triple bypass surgery — was carried out at one of the oldest medical clinics in Baku: the Oil Workers’ Hospital. The surgeon, Ramil Aliyev, successfully performed the extremely complex surgery and literally brought me back from the brink. The operation took place on November 7, 2022.

— How did you decide to write the book Kharybulbul?

— While still in the hospital after my surgery, I made a promise to myself to write a book about my homeland — Azerbaijan. I had neither the strength nor the resources to do so — only the will. I wrote a poem in Russian about the 1,500-year history of my people. At the same time, my friend, the talented poet and translator Elvis Aliyev, translated it into Azerbaijani. Another friend and childhood neighbor of mine — the only Azerbaijani Nobel Peace Prize laureate in the world, Bakhtiyar Sirajov — sponsored the initial print run at the country’s top publishing house, “Sharg-Gharb.” The illustrations were provided by my namesake — the wonderful man and artist Eldar Babazade. Thus, on April 23, 2023, the first bilingual presentation of the book Kharybulbul was held.

— A film was made based on the book. Tell us about it.

— In the fall of 2023, based on the book, director Rafik Aliyev produced a film featuring costumed performances by actors from the children and youth theater “Gunay” (led by Larisa Viktorovna Tarusova). The filming took place at the historic complex “Palace of the Shirvanshahs” in Icherisheher, with special permission.

— Your book Where I Will Return… also drew interest. What is it about?

— In the spring of 2024, I wrote the book Where I Will Return… — it is dedicated to the visits of world-renowned writers and poets to Azerbaijan and their impressions of our country. Among them are: Alexandre Dumas, Knut Hamsun, Theodore Dreiser, Alexander Grin, Nazım Hikmet, Sergei Yesenin, Vladimir Mayakovsky, Velimir Khlebnikov, Chinghiz Aitmatov, and others. The book’s presentation took place in April 2024.

— You also visited Khankendi and Shusha. What stood out from that trip?

— In September 2024, as a member of the Association of Azerbaijani Scientists of the World, I was invited to Baku to attend the first forum of this organization. As part of the forum, we visited Khankendi and Shusha. The impressions from that trip formed the basis of my first book of poetry and prose written entirely in the Azerbaijani language — Jidir Duzyu. The book is being published in these very days of May 2025 by “Science and Education” Publishing House. Perhaps, inshallah, even tomorrow!

— Recently, you were elected to a leadership position in an international organization. Can you tell us about that?

— As of May 15, 2024, I assumed the role of Head of the Coordinating Council of the World Organization of Writers (WOW). The organization was officially registered on December 25, 2023. The first WOW Congress took place in April 2024 in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. The President of WOW is Margarita Al, and the Chair of the Board of Directors is Alexandra Ochirova. In Abuja, I was also awarded the international silver medal “For contribution to the development of world literature” for my active role in establishing the World Organization of Writers and fostering communication among writers and poets across numerous countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania.

— What literary awards have you received over the past five years?

— From March 12, 2020, to the present day, I have received several awards for my international and national literary contributions:

• Vincenzo Padula Prize (2022, Calabria, Italy)
• Naji Naaman International Prize (2024, Lebanon)
• Certificate of Appreciation from the Union of Writers of Russia (2022)
• Honorary Diploma from the Ministry of Culture of Krasnoyarsk Krai (2020)
• Certificate of Appreciation from the Legislative Assembly of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (2022)
• Letter of Gratitude from the Governor of Krasnoyarsk Krai (2025)

— Your books have been recognized as “Book of the Year” in various regions. Tell us about that.

— In 2020, one of my books was named “Book of the Year” in the Tyumen Region, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. In 2022, another book received the same title in Krasnoyarsk Krai.

— An article about you was included in the Great Russian Encyclopedia. What does that mean to you?

— Since July 2023, information about me has been featured on the portal of the Great Russian Encyclopedia. This recognition came after some of my works were translated and published in 45 countries around the world, and my books were released in Russian, Azerbaijani, English, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, and Serbian — in Russia, Azerbaijan, Canada, the USA, Serbia, India, Egypt, and Mexico.

— In addition, there was a presentation of your book on toponymy, and I personally attended that event.

— Yes, you know about the presentation of the toponymy books because you yourself were present at the event, which took place on April 25, 2025.

— What are Eldar Akhadov’s latest achievements in Russia and India?

— The first news came from the Ermakovsky District of Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russian Federation. About two months ago, on March 18, I had a meeting with readers at the local library of this district. Even though some time has passed, the “ripples on the water” from that meeting continue to spread throughout the region. Today, the local newspaper Niva published an article about my creative work, the event, and the books I donated to the library. This attention and interest mean a great deal to me.

The second news came from distant India, from the esteemed Professor Prithviraj Thaur. He is the head of the Department of Marathi Language, Literature, and Culture at Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, located in the city of Nanded in the state of Maharashtra. The professor informed me that preparations have begun in India to publish my book Baku – Zurbakan in English, with a planned release in September of this year. I received this news with great pleasure and gratitude.

I truly value this attention and trust. Knowing that my work is being received with interest in different corners of the world inspires me even more.

— What inspires you?

— Life. Faith in God and in the love between all people. Faith that nothing is impossible if you truly and sincerely desire it.
Once, in the Arctic tundra, I wrote the following lines:

Девять жизней
Девять жизней за моей спиной —
Жизней тех, кто вслед идёт за мной.
Что бы ни случилось на пути,
Мне нельзя и думать не дойти.
Ни упасть, ни крикнуть «Не могу!»
И зарыться где-нибудь в снегу,
И сказать «я выдохся, друзья» —
Можно всем, и только мне — нельзя.
Мне нельзя: за мной идут сквозь снег
Девять жизней, девять человек.
Если же совсем не станет сил,
Об одном бы Бога я просил:
Чтобы Он средь ветра и зимы
Ненадолго дал их мне взаймы,
Чтоб дошли до дома и огня
Девять жизней, верящих в меня.
Кто-то Незримый находится рядом и непременно даёт нам силы в такие экзистенциальные
мгновения. Проверено на себе.
На прощание напомню то стихотворение, которое я впервые прочитал недавно на открытии выставки,
вдохновлённый Вашим приглашением.

БЕССМЕРТИЕ
Не важно кто, не важно где,
Однажды каждый встретит это:
Как дождь – с кругами на воде,
Жизнь растворится в чаше света.
Кем были или станем мы –
За гранью зыбкой неизвестно,
Но там, вдали, за бездной тьмы,
Есть и сияющая бездна,
Где звёзд несметная пыльца
Всё так же радостно сверкает,
Где без начала и конца
Есть то, чего никто не знает.

Author:

Dear Saida Musaeva,
Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Fortuna magazine